Largest Automotive recall in US history linked to faulty airbags from Takata

Largest automotive recall in U.S. history issued in response to hundreds of reports of injuries and deaths linked to Takata Airbags!

Texas is a “top-priority” state for the NHTSA!

Nationwide recalls have been issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) affecting nearly two dozen vehicle brands and several millions of vehicles with Takata-made airbags installed.

What is the problem with these defective airbags?

According to the NHTSA, the problem with these airbags is the airbag inflator. The inflator is a metal cartridge that contains propellant wafers. This inflator is supposed to inflate the vehicle’s airbag when the vehicle is involved in a collision. However, the faulty airbags involved in this recall use an ammonium-nitrate based propellant without a chemical drying agent. This mixture is a problem in certain environments and has resulted in a defect that improperly inflates the airbags. When the vehicle is involved in a crash, the airbag ruptures at speeds it should not, due to the chemical issues in the inflator. The airbag inflates at dangerous speeds and can cause the metal cartridge to explode, sending metal shrapnel at the occupants of the vehicle.

Who is affected by the faulty airbags?

The recall has affected over 100 million vehicles worldwide. However, the Takata inflators are rupturing at a higher rate in the Gulf Coast states, especially Texas.

NHTSA has organized the states into three zones of priority to process the recalls. Texas is in Zone A, the highest level of priority! The high humidity and temperatures in Texas make the airbag inflator more likely to rupture in a car wreck.

The recalls have touched almost every automaker. The major brands include Honda, Toyota, General Motors, Chrysler, Ford, Chevrolet, BMW, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and more!

How have faulty airbags affected people?

The number of reported deaths and injuries nationwide are growing so rapidly it is hard to keep up. To date, there have been at least 10 confirmed deaths and over 100 injuries linked to the defective Takata airbags. Most recently, in April of 2016, a 17-year-old girl from Richmond, Texas was killed by metal shrapnel after the airbag in her 2002 Honda Civic ruptured in a car wreck. The collision was a moderate accident that everyone would have likely walked away from without life threatening injuries, had the airbag not malfunctioned.

What can you do to make sure your family is safe?

Check to see if your vehicle is on a recall list. The NHTSA is constantly expanding the recall list as new information develops revealing more models of vehicles affected by the Takata airbag defect. Check back often to make sure your vehicle has not been added.

Click Here to check your vehicle VIN! https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/

If your vehicle is on any of the NHTSA recall lists, get your defective airbag changed immediately. Especially in Texas, it is important that you do not ignore a recall letter sent to your home regarding your vehicle. Changing your airbag will not cost you any money!

If your vehicle is not on any NHTSA recall lists and you or a loved one have been injured by your airbag, do not worry! Just because your vehicle is not on a recall list now, does not mean that you do not have a case!

What do you do if you or a loved one were injured by a defective airbag?

First, seek appropriate medical attention! Even if you think your injuries are minor, you should see a doctor to receive proper treatment and document your injuries!

Next, call an attorney at Arguello Law Firm if you or a loved one have been injured by a faulty airbag! It does not matter who was at fault for the crash or how minor the injury was! You may be entitled to damages for your injuries, pain and suffering, and lost wages!

Contact one of our attorneys at Arguello Law Firm at (281) 532-5529 or toll free at 1-800-257-8676, or complete the intake form below and we will contact you promptly.

Consultations with our office regarding these matters are free! We are here to help!

Click here for our Intake form

Sources: Consumer Reports, Car and Driver, NY Times