New Takata Airbag Recalls Affect VW, Mercedes, and SAAB
The most recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) vehicle recall for defective Takata airbags has now brought the number of recalled vehicles up to 28 million from 14 different auto manufacturers, including Volkswagen, Mercedes, and Saab — all car makers which had not previously been known to be affected.
The defective Takata airbags in question contain an inflator that can deploy with too much force and explode the airbag during inflation, spraying metal shrapnel into the passenger compartment. Evidence shows that Takata knew about the dangers these airbags posed to consumers — which have injured at least 160 people and killed at least six — and took steps to cover up this knowledge. Lawmakers have already called for a criminal investigation of the company.
In January, NHTSA administrator Mark Rosekind said to Automotive News’ World Congress that even though more than 19 million cars and trucks were already under recall at the time, the number was “very likely to grow, perhaps by a lot.”
Rosekind, who was speaking about a week before the latest airbag recall, said, “the fact that this crisis festered for so long, that some made efforts to obscure its seriousness, should sober everyone in this industry.”
If you’ve been injured by a defective Takata airbag or any other defective product, please call Hossley & Embry at (866) 522-9265 or send us an email at newcase@hossleyembry.com. We offer quality legal representation to victims of defective products. We provide free consultations and have the resources available (including charter aircraft) to travel throughout Texas and the United States on short notice to investigate your potential claim.
An up-to-date list of vehicles affected by Takata air bag recalls is available here. The NHTSA also provides an FAQ for consumers about the defective airbags and related recalls here.
References
Beene, R. (2014, November 7). Reports of Takata coverup ‘require a criminal investigation,’ lawmakers say. Automotive News. Retrieved from http://www.autonews.com/article/20141107/OEM11/141109863/reports-of-takata-coverup-require-a-criminal-investigation-lawmakers
Chicago Tribune Editorial Board. (2014, December 4). Takata non grata. The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved from http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-airbags-takata-edit-20141204-story.html
Rosekind, M. R. (2016, January 12). Remarks: Automotive News World Congress. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Retrieved from http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Speeches,+Press+Events+&+Testimonies/mr-an-world-congress-01122016