Details About the Takata Airbag Recall, the Largest in U.S. History

Posted On June 14, 2017 In Personal Injury

You may have heard about the Takata airbag recall, an issue affecting 42 million vehicles in the United States with exploding airbags, but do you know the details about the case? The recall has been ongoing since 2013, and has continued to grow in scope during its lifetime. A long road riddled with safety negligence and unaccountability make the number of vehicles that are affected difficult to track. Announced in April 2013, initially only six vehicle makes were identified as being affected. Reports have come out that Takata and Honda have allegedly known about the dangerous airbags since 2004, but failed to report the issues. A Takata plant in Mexico was found to be allowing a defect rate that was six to eight times the acceptable limit.

One of the main contributors to the shrapnel explosions is high humidity, and many vehicles in hot and humid climates have had to be recalled. Takata denies the New York Times report that they found out about the issue in 2004 and destroyed the evidence. Now the scope of vehicles affected has grown to encompass many more makes and brands of cars, operating in different climates. This issue has not only affected Takata, as many vehicle manufacturers have had to pay owners for economic losses and personal injury issues. Many makes and models affected were only found after a dangerous explosion occurred.

How Can You Check Your Vehicle for Recalled Parts?

An auto manufacturer is legally required to notify all the owners of affected vehicles that they know of within sixty days the recall is reported. Once you receive the notice, details of how to remedy the issue for free should be included in the letter. If you are suspicious that your vehicle may have a defective part, you can check on safecar.gov to see if there are any existing recalls on your vehicle. In many cases, recalls are started because of consumer reports.

How Do You Report a Potential Auto Defect?

You can file a report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) online, by filling out a form. Providing the make, model, your vehicle identification number, and any photos or police reports that support your claim will help. You can also call the Vehicle Safety Hotline, powered by the NHTSA, to document your claim. The NHTSA reviews consumer reports and determines if it is necessary to contact an auto manufacturer about a potential recall. You may also report the issue to your vehicle manufacturer.

Lufkin product liability attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC have years of experience proving product liability in the event of a vehicle accident or injury.