The U.S. government is ordering 85 million Takata Corp. airbag inflators to be replaced by the Japanese parts manufacturer, unless they are able to prove they are safe for consumers.
There are already 28 million inflators under recall by Takata Corp. that must be replaced due to the propensity to explode and cause serious injuries and death. So far there are 11 known deaths resulting from explosive airbags and more than 100 injuries.
The massive recall is expected to cost the company billions of dollars and was already the largest automotive recall in US history.
The Takata airbags differ from those made by other manufacturers as they use ammonium nitrate as a propellant to fill the bags with air during a crash. The trouble is this particular chemical has a tendency to burn too fast, potentially causing an explosion so volatile that it can blow apart the metal canister and cause metal shrapnel to fly into the faces of drivers and passengers in the vehicle.
Owners of vehicles equipped with these potentially lethal airbags are scrambling to get them replaced, but there is currently a parts shortage and many of the cars are still on the roads with these “ticking time bombs” inside, said Attorney James Johnson.
“Consumers have everything to lose if they are injured or someone dies due to these defective airbags,” Johnson said. “There has to be a push by Takata to step up the recall and make these vehicles safe and if not they could potentially face lawsuits by future victims of these dangerous devices.”
Additionally, many dealerships do not have the parts available to replace the defective airbags. Consumers often have no choice but to continue driver their vehicles and put themselves at risk of injury or even death, Johnson said.
Johnson Attorneys Group is a California law firm that handles both lemon law and personal injury cases on behalf of consumers here in the Golden State. Our law firm has experience with both Honda and Takata Corp. involving airbags, but we are not permitted to disclose any details. If you have legal questions involving Takata airbags, call us for a free case evaluation at 800-235-6801.
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