Airbags were designed to cushion the impact of a crash, but recent recalls of tens of millions of vehicles equipped with Takata airbags have shown that sometimes there is quite the opposite result.
Airbag explosions have been linked to at least five deaths and multiple injuries.
These defective airbags may explode during a crash and send shrapnel spraying out into the faces of drivers and passengers in the vehicle.
The most recent recall for these defective airbags was issued this week after Toyota learned that the Japanese-made Takata Corp. airbags in some vehicles could abnormally deploy or rupture when moisture seeped into the airbag inflators. Unlike other airbag manufacturers, Takata’s inflators use a different propellant made with ammonium nitrate that has been found to burn too quickly when it comes in contact with moisture.
This new recall issued today differs from previous ones where the issue with the airbags involved too much force when they were deployed.
Roughly 6.5 million cars manufactured by Toyota and Nissan worldwide are being recalled for this new defect.
UPDATE: Honda and Daihatsu recall 5 million cars due to airbag defect
Toyota Motors Corp. is recalling about 5 million vehicles including 637,000 in the United States that were made between 2003 and 2007 due to the airbag malfunction. The recall affects 35 different models of Toyota cars and brings the total number of their vehicles recalled over airbag problems to date to 8.1 million vehicles.
The recall also affects 1.56 million vehicles including 326,000 in North America made between 2004 and 2008 by Nissan.
Other manufacturers such as Honda are investigating this new defect to determine whether they will also have to join the recall.
Do you Own a Car with Defective Airbags?
People who are driving vehicles recalled for defective airbags are at risk for injury or even death if they continue to drive them without getting them fixed. If you have been hurt by an airbag in a collision you should consult an experienced attorney to find out what your legal rights are.
Johnson Attorneys Group has both a personal injury and Lemon Law division to assist consumers who have been injured in a collision or who have a defective vehicle that qualifies as a lemon under California Lemon Laws. Find out how to protect your rights.
Contact us today for a free, honest case evaluation with an attorney at 800-235-6801.
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