Four major Japanese automakers recently announced recalls of several models of vehicles manufactured between 2000 and 2004. The recalls were announced in response to evidence of a manufacturing defect in the vehicle’s airbag components, which can cause serious injuries or death if it is not fixed.
The defect affects the operation of the propellant that inflates the airbags in the vehicle if a crash occurs. In some crashes, the airbag may not inflate at all, failing to protect the person in the front passenger seat. In other situations, the airbag may inflate or inflate partially when there is no accident. Since airbags typically inflate quickly and with some force, a person sitting in the front passenger seat or who is entering or exiting the vehicle may be injured due to a sudden and unexpected airbag inflation. Finally, some defective parts have been linked to vehicle fires, which pose risks to everyone in the passenger compartment as well as to those who are outside the vehicle but near it.
All four automakers are facing the same defect because all four purchased and used airbag assembly parts from the same manufacturer: Takata Corp., the world’s second-largest supplier of parts for airbags and seat belt assemblies. Takata Corp. believes the defective airbag parts were manufactured in one of its Mexico plants.
If you’ve been injured by a vehicle defect, The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. can help. Call us today at (719) 475-2555 to learn more about your legal rights and options. Your initial consultation with our experienced Colorado injury attorneys is free and confidential.