New Jersey Personal Injury Blog
Category – Auto Product Liability
Britax Recalls over 14,000 Child Restraint Systems due to Harness Defect
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced the recall of 14,220 child safety seats by Britax Child Safety, Inc. due to a defect in the harness adjuster, which can cause it to detach from the shell of the seat. Consequently the child may not be restrained properly and suffers an increased risk of injury or death in the event of a crash.
The recalled child safety seats were produced from September 1, 2010 through April 30, 2011 and include the following Chaperone child restraint system models and colors:
- E9L692J, Black/Silver
- E9L692L, Cowmooflage
- E9L692K, Red
- E9L692M, Green
Britax will notify owners of the recalled child safety seats and provide repair kits at no cost. The recall is expected to begin, and repair kits expected to be mailed, on or about February 6, 2012. If the harness adjuster detaches before this date, the seat will be replaced. For additional information, owners may call Britax at (888) 427-4829, and/or the NHTSA at (888) 327-4236.
Defects in products can be the result of a manufacturer’s negligence in using poor quality materials, poor design, or errors in the manufacturing process. If a child suffers injury as the result of such negligence, then the at-fault manufacturer may be held liable for any losses the child and/or the family suffers..
If your child has been injured by a defective child restraint system in New Jersey, or any product, you may have cause to pursue legal action. Contact the dedicated New Jersey car seat defects lawyers at Blume Goldfaden at (973) 635-5400 to determine whether your claim may have merit.
BMW Recalls Almost 90,000 Mini Coopers due to Fire Hazard
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), BMW of North America, LLC, is recalling 86,911 vehicles due to an engine defect involving the electrical auxiliary water pump in charge of cooling the vehicle’s turbocharger. An electronic circuit board on this pump may malfunction, causing the engine to overheat and thus increasing the risk of a vehicle fire. The affected BMW vehicles were manufactured from November 14, 2006 through January 18, 2011 and include the following passenger cars:
- 2007-2011 Mini Cooper S;
- 2009-2011 Mini Cooper S Convertible;
- 2008-2011 Mini Cooper S Clubman;
- 2009-2011 Mini Cooper JCW;
- 2009-2011 Mini Cooper JCW Convertible;
- 2009-2011 Mini Cooper JCW Clubman; and
- 2011 Cooper S Countryman.
The recall is expected to start in February 2012. BMW will notify owners of the affected vehicles and dealers will replace the defective water pump at no-cost. For additional information, owners may call BMW at (866) 275-6464, or the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.
If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of an auto manufacturing or design defect in New Jersey, the experienced NJ auto product liability lawyers at Blume Goldfaden can examine the details of your claim to determine whether you have cause for civil action against the negligent auto manufacturer or designer. To find out whether your claim may have merit, contact us at (973) 635-5400 for a no-cost consultation.
Ford Recalls Nearly 245,000 Vehicles due to Braking System Defect
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the voluntary recall of 244,530 vehicles by the Ford Motor Company due to a braking system defect which could leak brake fluid onto the antilock brake system (ABS) module wiring harness connector. This leak could cause corrosion, and possibly result in melting, smoke, or fire.
The affected vehicles are equipped with a brake master cylinder reservoir cap that could leak brake fluid and include model year 2001 and 2002 Ford Escape SUVs that were manufactured from October 22, 1999 through July 19, 2002.
Owners of the recalled vehicles should expect to be notified by Ford beginning the week of January 23, 2012. Dealers will modify the ABS electrical system and replace the brake master cylinder reservoir cap; however, due to a delay in securing parts, the repairs may also be delayed. In that case, owners will be instructed to park their vehicles outside until the necessary parts are available. For additional information, owners may call Ford at (866) 436-7332. The recall campaign number is 07V-156.
If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of an auto manufacturing or design defect, you may have cause to pursue legal action. The experienced auto product liability lawyers in New Jersey at Blume Goldfaden can help you understand your legal rights and options. To speak to one of our attorneys about your potential claim, contact us at (973) 635-5400 for a no-cost consultation.
NHTSA Makes Statement, Opens Investigation Regarding Chevy Volt Fire Risk
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released a statement announcing their investigation into a potential defect in the Chevrolet Volt, which poses a significant post-crash fire risk, as well as General Motor’s (GM’s) remedy to the defect.
As a safety agency with the task of reducing motor vehicle injuries and fatalities on the nation’s roadways, the NHTSA has begun an investigation, in collaboration with Department of Energy and Department of Defense experts, into a Chevy Volt defect which increases the risk of a vehicle fire after an accident. The investigation, though not completed yet, has come to the preliminary conclusion that both coolant leakage and battery intrusion must occur to create a fire in the Volt after an accident.
To remedy the defect which may cause the referenced post-accident fires, GM has designed a steel reinforcement device. NHTSA crash tests with a Volt retrofitted with the device produced successful results, as the tested Volt did not experience battery intrusion or coolant leakage. Once the NHTSA analysis is complete, it will report its findings and recommendations to the public.
A fire-causing vehicle defect is extremely dangerous. The occupants of a vehicle may survive a motor vehicle accident; however, if a defect causes the vehicle to catch fire after the accident, then the odds of survival significantly decrease. Even if the vehicle occupants survive the initial impact, the likelihood of suffering catastrophic burn injuries is increased.
If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in a New Jersey auto accident caused by a manufacturing or design defect, you may be entitled to financial compensation. At Blume Goldfaden, our experienced auto product liability attorneys in New Jersey can examine the details of your claim to determine whether your case may have merit. To discuss your potential claim, call us at (888) 635-5400 for a no-cost consultation.
Ford Recalls Almost 130,000 Vehicles due to Wheel Defect
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Ford Motor Company are recalling 128,626 vehicles as the result of defective wheel studs, which may fracture and cause an increased risk of an injury accident. If multiple stud fractures occur while driving any of these vehicles, the driver may feel vibration and/or wheel separation, which increases the likelihood of an injury crash.
This recall follows an Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) Preliminary Evaluation which was opened on January 21, 2011. The ODI became aware of 29 complaints related to the wheel stud defect, as well as four incidents of wheel separation as of July 26, 2011. The preliminary investigation was followed by an engineering analysis, which eventually lead to the current recall.
Ford is recalling 2010 and 2011 Mercury Milan and Ford Fusion vehicles which are equipped with 17-inch steel wheels. They were manufactured from April 1, 2009 through April 30, 2009 and from December 1, 2009 through November 13, 2010. This recall is expected to begin in January 2012.
Ford will notify owners of the affected vehicles and dealers will replace the brake discs as needed. The wheel lug nuts will also be replaced. For additional information, owners may call the Ford Customer Relations Center at (866) 436-7332. The NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline is also available at (888) 327-4236.
At Blume Goldfaden, our knowledgeable auto product liability attorneys in New Jersey have the experience required to comprehensively investigate and pursue meritorious injury claims. If you have been injured as the result of auto manufacturer negligence, contact us for a no-cost consultation at (973) 635-5400.