New Jersey Personal Injury Blog
Category – Air Bag Defect
Could be Record Year for Airbag Recalls
The amount of recalls concerning vehicle airbags in the past six months has put 2013 on track to break records. As reported by AOL Autos, the past six months have seen more than double the amount of recalls compared to the same time period in 2012.
In the past 5 months, there have been 15 manufacturer recalls related to airbags, while during the same time period one year ago there were only 10 or less. In 2012, automakers issued a total of 23 recalls affecting airbags, setting an all-time record. However, there have been 15 recalls issued in 2013 so far, putting the year on track to shatter the current record.
Of the most recent recalls, 13 different auto manufacturers have been affected, along with seven different suppliers. The models affected have ranged from cars manufactured 12 years ago to those from the 2013 model year. A recent airbag recall affected 3.4 million Japanese automobiles including Honda, Toyota, Mazda, and Nissan. Recently, BMW issued an airbag recall affecting 42,000 of its 2002-2003 3 Series models.
Airbag defects have caused numerous types of hazardous conditions by virtue of their failures to deploy during a crash, deploying without a cause, and flying shrapnel/debris in the midst of deployment. The reasons behind such harmful events vary widely. However, as airbag systems have become more complex over the years, that complexity gave rise to additional sources of potential failure.
The time between discovery of a potential defect and issuing a recall may span years. During this time, auto manufacturers may delay reporting the dangers, investigating the causes, and testing the vehicles for hazards. During this period, numerous accidents may occur where airbags malfunction, resulting in injuries to drivers and passengers.
Airbags save thousands of lives every year. However, a defective safety device may actually create greater hazards and lead to serious injury or death. Those affected by these hazards can learn more about their rights and potential legal options by calling the New Jersey airbag defect liability lawyers from Blume Goldfaden at (973) 635-5400. Through a consultation, you can receive insight into the idiosyncrasies of your potential claim.
3.4 Million Vehicles Recalled by Honda, Toyota, and Nissan for Air Bag Defect
A total of six automakers, including Toyota, Nissan, General Motors Co., Honda, and BMW AG have all been subjected to a major recall totaling approximately 3.4 million vehicles. A report from The Washington Post indicates that the recall stems from defective airbags manufactured by Takata Corp., a small parts supplier in Japan.
These defective front passenger air bags have been found in vehicles sold in North America, Europe, Japan, and Germany. Due to a faulty inflator mechanism, gas is not properly routed into the air bags. As such, a deployment can launch plastic and metal parts through the air, striking passengers that were supposed to be protected.
Since many of the manufacturers used the same parts in multiple makes and models, there are numerous types of vehicles affected by this recall. Toyota will be inspecting 1.7 million vehicles from model years 2001-2003 worldwide, including Corolla compacts, Matrix hatchbacks, Sequoia SUVs, Tundra pickups, and Lexus SC 430 sports cars.
Additionally, 1.1 million Honda vehicles include the Civic compact, CR-V small SUV, and Odyssey minivan, all manufactured from 2001 to 2003. Nissan is recalling 480,000 vehicles from model years 2001 through 2003, including the Nissan Maxima midsize sedan, Pathfinder SUV, Sentra compact, Infiniti FX crossover, and QX4 SUV.
While there have been no reported injuries, at least six incidents of improper airbag deployment have been found by automakers.
To learn more about your rights and potential legal options, get in touch with the New Jersey air bag defect lawyers at Blume Goldfaden. Through a free consultation with our legal team, you can learn more about your options to seek compensation for your losses. For more information, call us at (973) 635-5400.
Violation of FMVSS No. 208 Prompts Recall of Over 150,000 Ford Fiesta Vehicles
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Ford Motor Company is recalling 154,604 Ford Fiesta vehicles due to a violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, “Occupant Crash Protection.” The recall was necessitated by the vehicle’s passenger-side air bag failing to deploy in the event of some side impact crashes when the vehicle’s front passenger seat is unoccupied. Even though the side curtain air bag system was designed to not deploy in the event that the front passenger seat is empty, this is not explained in the Fiesta vehicle’s owner’s guide, as is required under FMVSS No. 208.
The risk of injury to the right rear seat occupant of the vehicle increases should the side curtain air bag fail to deploy on that side of the vehicle in a side impact collision when the front passenger seat is empty.
The Fiesta vehicles included in this recall are model year 2011 to 2013 that were produced from November 3, 2009 through September 21, 2012.
Ford will notify owners of the recall and dealers will reprogram the vehicle’s software so that the side curtain air bag deployment is no longer suppressed when the front passenger seat is empty, and is consistent with the function-ability noted in the owner’s manual. Dealers will perform this repair at no cost. While there is no specific date, this recall is expected to start soon. For additional information, owners may call Ford at (866) 436-7332.
If you have sustained injury due to an air bag defect in New Jersey, the NJ air bag defect attorneys at Blume Goldfaden can help you determine whether you may be entitled to take legal action. To speak to one of our lawyers about your potential claim, call (973) 635-5400 for a no-cost consultation.
Kia Recalls over 70,000 Vehicles due to Air Bag Defect
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced the recall of 72,568 Kia vehicles as the result of a defect in the front air bag sensor and control module.
The occupant sensor in the front passenger seat mat could experience fatigue cracking; if this cracking is sufficient, the sensor can no longer function and will not be able to detect that a child is in the seat. This defect can result in a malfunction causing air bag deployment during an accident when a child passenger is in the front seat, increasing the risk of serious injury to the child.
The vehicles included in this recall are model years 2006 – 2008 Rio passenger cars manufactured from February 20, 2005 through December 9, 2007. Kia will notify owners of the recall and dealers will replace the occupant classification system seat sensor at no-cost. This recall should begin during July 2012. If owners would like additional information, they may contact the Kia Consumer Assistance Center at (800) 333-4542 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236. The campaign number for this recall is SC097.
If you have suffered injury as the result of an air bag defect in New Jersey, the NJ air bag defects attorneys at Blume Goldfaden can help you understand your legal rights and options. To find out whether you may have a meritorious claim, contact us at (973) 635-5400 for a no-cost consultation.
Toyota Recalls Almost 500,000 Vehicles due to Air Bag Defect
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Toyota Motor North America, Inc. is recalling 495,470 vehicles due to a defect in the driver’s side air bag. Over time, the spiral cable assembly, also known as the clockspring, which powers the driver’s side air bag module may become damaged by steering wheel vibration. If such damage occurs, the air bag warning light will turn on and the air bag may deactivate and fail to deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of suffering serious injury.
This recall affects model year 2005-2009 Tacoma vehicles that were manufactured from September 14, 2004 through August 29, 2008. Toyota will notify owners of the recalled vehicles and dealers will replace the defective spiral cable assembly at no-cost. The recall is expected to start at the beginning of April 2012. For additional information, owners can call Toyota at (800) 331-4331.
Air bags are important safety features of a vehicle. When functioning properly, they can effectively protect vehicle occupants from serious injury. However, air bags which are defective or malfunctioning increase the risk of injury. In some cases, defects may cause an air bag to deploy inadvertently, in which case the injuries a vehicle occupant suffers may be directly caused by the air bag. If the air bag fails to deploy entirely, then the vehicle occupant is not adequately protected against the force of a crash.
If you or a loved one has been injured in New Jersey as the result of a defective air bag, the experienced New Jersey defective air bag attorneys at Blume Goldfaden can examine the details of your accident in order to determine whether you may have a valid claim against the vehicle’s manufacturer. To find out whether your potential claim may have merit, call us at (973) 6350-5400 for a no-cost consultation.
NHTSA Announces Recall of Honda Vehicles due to Air Bag Defect
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the American Honda Motor Company is recalling 974 vehicles due to a defect in the passenger-side or driver-side side curtain airbag inflator, which may fail to deploy in a collision. Airbag deployment failure increases the risk of serious injury in the event of an auto accident. The recall involves model year 2012 Crosstour, Accord, Civic, and Acura MDX vehicles.
Honda will replace the passenger-side or driver-side side curtain airbag as necessary at no-cost. For additional information, owners can call Honda at (800) 999-1009 and/or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.
Airbags are essential pieces of safety equipment and can protect vehicle occupants from serious injury in the case of an accident. However, when airbags malfunction or are otherwise defective, they not only may fail to protect the vehicle occupants from injury in a crash, but may also potentially cause injuries themselves. Failure to deploy and inadvertent deployment are the most common defects associated with airbags and can result in serious injuries.
When a consumer buys a car, he or she trusts that it has been sufficiently safety tested and that every component is in proper working order and designed/fit for the purpose intended. Manufacturers rely upon that trust of consumers, and need to produce their products comporting with safety and other industry standards so that they function properly and safely.
If you have been injured as the result of an airbag defect, you may be able to pursue compensation for the losses you have suffered. Contact the experienced airbag defect lawyers in New Jersey at Blume Goldfaden to determine whether your potential claim may have merit, at (973) 635-5400.
Honda Expands Recall to Over 1.5 Million Vehicles due to Airbag Defect
The American Honda Motor Company, in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has expanded the recall of vehicles affected by a defective front airbag to approximately 1,709,477 vehicles. The original recall began at the end of June 2011.
This recall is result of a defective driver’s side airbag inflator, which, in the event of a crash requiring deployment of the airbag, could inflate with an inordinate amount of internal pressure. Subsequently, the pressure could cause the inflator to rupture and release metal fragments that can strike and injure the driver and other vehicle occupants. The vehicles included in this recall include the:
- 2003 Acura CL
- 2002-2003 Acura TL
- 2001-2002 Honda Accord
- 2001-2003 Honda Civic
- 2002-2003 Honda CR-V
- 2001-2003 Honda Odyssey
- 2003 Honda Pilot
Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified and dealers will inspect vehicles for a defective airbag inflator and replace it, if necessary, at no-cost. Owners of vehicles in the expanded recall will be notified this month. For additional information, owners may call Honda at (800) 999-1009. This recall is related to the following recall campaign numbers: 08V-593, 09V-259, and 10V-041.
The purpose of airbags is to provide the driver and passengers with a level of safety in the event of a crash. Safety features must operate correctly, be fit for the purpose intended, and not create hazards themselves by their very use.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective airbag, contact the experienced New Jersey air bag defect lawyers at Blume Goldfaden to learn more about your legal rights and options. We have successfully obtained settlements and verdicts for clients with meritorious claims and can help you determine if your claim may be viable to pursue. Call (973) 635-5400 for a no-cost consultation.