Takata Acknowledges Defects with its Airbags, Recall Expands to 34M Vehicles

Takata has officially admitted that some of its airbags are defective and that a massive national recall for these defective airbags is necessary, according to a recent announcement from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

As part this announcement, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx also explained that:

• The Takata airbag recall has been expanded to include close to 34 million vehicles in the U.S.
• The NHTSA has issued Takata a Consent Order, which will require the Japanese manufacturer to “cooperate in all future regulatory actions that NHTSA undertakes in its ongoing investigation and oversight of Takata.”
• NHTSA officials are initiating the formal legal process associated with the recall, namely organizing and prioritizing the replacement of the defective airbags. Vehicles that are older and in “higher risk” areas (i.e., humid regions) will likely be prioritized for repair first.

Defective Takata Airbags: Background on the Problem

The central problem with the defective Takata airbags is that they contain a propellant that, over time, can degrade can cause airbag ruptures. In fact, these ruptures can occur without a collision/impact, and they can result in small metal fragments (similar to shrapnel) shooting out at the occupants of vehicles.

To date, the defective Takata airbags have reportedly killed six people.

Although some have pointed to moisture infiltration into the airbags as being a potential cause of the defects, researchers have yet to pinpoint a definitive root cause of these malfunctions.

Regulators Comment on NHTSA Actions

Noting the importance of the NHTSA’s oversight of the Takata airbag recall, Secretary Foxx has stated that:

Today is a major step forward for public safety… The Department of Transportation is taking the proactive steps necessary to ensure that defective inflators are replaced with safe ones as quickly as possible, and that the highest risks are addressed first. We will not stop our work until every air bag is replaced.

NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind supported Foxx’s statement, commenting that:

From the very beginning, our goal has been simple: a safe air bag in every vehicle…The steps we’re taking today represent significant progress toward that goal. We all know that there is more work to do, for NHTSA, for the auto makers, for parts suppliers, and for consumers. But we are determined to get to our goal as rapidly as possible.

Mount Vernon Personal Injury Attorneys at the Law Firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C.

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