Breaking News: Ford, Honda Add Over 1 Million Cars to Takata Airbag Product Recall
On Thursday, January 12, 2017 it was announced that Honda Motor Co. is issued a product recall for an additional 772,000 Honda and Acura vehicles in the U.S. for defective front passenger seat air bag inflators made by Japanese supplier Takata Corp. Ford is recalling more than 816,000 vehicles in North America in the product recall.
Since the initial announcement, the recall has tripled in size. The industry estimates that the inflator recall will impact 42 million vehicles in the U.S., with the total number of defective airbags reaching between 64 and 69 million.
More than 100 million vehicles manufactured by 17 automakers have been recalled worldwide since the initial recall. The sheer volume of the vehicles affected could cause a years-long backlog for airbag replacements.
Owners concerned that their vehicle may be part of the recall, should visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter their 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN). If your vehicle is part of the recall, immediately schedule a free airbag replacement with your nearest dealer.
Why are the airbags part of a product recall?
The issue with the Takata airbags centers around the inflator, a metal cartridge loaded with propellant wafers and lacking a chemical drying agent, which may ignite and explode in a forceful car crash. The explosion sends metal shrapnel into the passenger compartments, sometimes into passenger or driver faces and necks. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), environmental moisture, high temperatures and age exacerbate the defect. Honda and the NHTSA are particularly focused on a group of “alpha” inflaters found in 2001-2003 Honda and Acura vehicles that have a rupture rate as high as 50 percent.
Injuries and deaths related to defective Takata airbags
As many as 16 people have been killed and 180 have been injured worldwide; in some cases the injuries were horrific. Ford states that it is not aware of any injuries involving the newly added Ford vehicles.
Reporting by the Times alleges that Honda and Takata knew about the defective airbags since 2004 but failed to notify NHTSA in previous recall filings, which began in 2008.
Product liability law
Defective and dangerous products cause thousands of injuries every year. If you were involved in a car crash caused by a defective part, contact a product liability lawyer today; they may be able to help you recover damages for your losses and injuries.
In successful product liability cases, a product manufacturer, distributor or seller is held liable for the injuries caused by the defective or dangerous product. Product liability laws vary by state but generally require that a product meet ordinary consumer expectations that a product be free of defects or dangers. When a product fails to meet this threshold, it could end up as part of a product liability lawsuit.
If you or a loved one is dealing with an accident or injury, you have enough on your plate. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the justice and compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
