Takata Airbag Recall Expansion Encompasses Additional 3.3 Million Vehicles
On Sunday, January 8, 2018, former Japanese auto giant Takata Corp. issued a recall expansion involving an additional 3.3 million vehicles due to their faulty airbag inflators. This is the largest recall to affect the automobile industry in United States history.
Takata Corporation entered the airbag manufacturing game in 1988, and quickly became a force to be reckoned with in the automotive industry, claiming 20% of the market for itself. This momentum came to a screeching halt, however, in 2013 when automakers began issuing recalls for Takata-produced airbags, with complaints that the airbags were deploying with too much force, showering drivers and passengers with bits of shrapnel.
During the summer of 2014, the Takata Corporation admitted that they had made an egregious error in the decision of how to store sensitive materials & chemicals at their production facilities around the world. The explosive propellant used in the manufacturing process of their airbags is highly volatile when stored improperly. Fast forward to when this airbag is involved in an auto accident – instead of protecting drivers and passengers, it’s spraying the vehicle’s occupants with shards of metal.
“We take this situation seriously, will strengthen our quality control and make a concerted effort to prevent a recurrence, ” the company stated in a press release.
Over 180 people have been injured worldwide due to their faulty airbags, 20 of them fatally.
In the years since the initial recall, three Takata executives face criminal charges, stating that they knowingly concealed airbag crash test data. The fallout from these charges and subsequent convictions cause the Japanese automaker to file for bankruptcy.
This latest recall involves the following vehicles from 2009, 2010, and 2013:
- Audi
- BMW
- Daimler Vans
- Fiat Chrysler
- Ford
- GM
- Honda
- Jaguar Land Rover
- Mazda
- Mercedes-Benz
- Mitsubishi
- Nissan
- Subaru
- Tesla
- Toyota
Vehicle owners are encouraged to visit the National Traffic Safety Administration here for additional information about specific makes and models involved in this latest recall.
For over thirty-five years, the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham, P.A. has been fighting for the rights of product liability victims. If you have been injured by a faulty Takata airbag, contact us today at 877-FL-INJURY to schedule a free initial consultation.
Read More:
3 Takata Executives Face Criminal Charges Over Exploding Airbags
Takata air bags recall expands to 3.3 million vehicles
Takata Corporation
Takata air bag recall expands by 3.3 million
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James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.