Last week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) increased its recall of the potentially deadly Takata Corp. airbag inflators by an additional 35 million units. Previously the recall involved 28.8 million units, but this latest expansion makes it the largest recall in U.S. history. Fourteen different automakers have recalled vehicles, model years 2002 – 2015, to replace frontal airbags on either the driver’s side or passenger’s side – or both. These airbags may deploy explosively, injuring or even killing car occupants. The affected airbags have been linked to at least 10 deaths and 100 injuries in the United States.
At the heart of the problem is the airbag’s inflator, a metal cartridge loaded with propellant wafers, which in some cases has ignited with explosive force. If the inflator housing ruptures in a crash, metal shards from the airbag can be sprayed throughout the passenger cabin causing a disastrous outcome.
“The science clearly shows that these inflators become unsafe over time, faster when exposed to humidity and variations of temperature,” said Mark Rosekind, NHTSA Administrator. Consumers should check the recall list at https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/takata-recall-spotlight. Every recall is serious, so it is important to contact your dealer as soon as possible if your vehicle is on the list.
If you were the driver or a passenger in one of these recalled vehicles and were injured in a crash, please call us at 251-471-6191 for legal advice. We will evaluate your potential case, free of charge.