More Airbags Recalled Due to Threat of Explosions in Crashes

Rather than saving lives in auto crashes, the Takata airbag is believed by investigators to be taking lives and causing injuries. The recalls of the airbags keep rising, with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles adding 88,346 Dodge Challengers to the totals. The Challengers manufactured from 2008-2010 have been recalled to replace the driver-side airbags.

Consumer Reports says the recalls are due to defects in the airbag’s metal inflators, which are filled with propellant wafers. In some cases, the propellant has ignited in crashes, blowing metal shards throughout the inside of the vehicle. The result, says Car Connection: “scores of injuries and at least eight deaths.”

Car Connection says Americans are known for two things: our refusal to adopt the metric system and our willingness to take businesses that do us wrong to court. It’s true. Part of the American spirit is willingness — and an ability — of the individual to fight for his or her rights against large corporations that sell defective products that harm innocent consumers.

Takata is so far refusing to create a fund to compensate victims and the families of victims, according to the Takata airbags recall.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has compiled a list of vehicles and automakers affected by the Takata recalls. The list includes Honda (affecting various editions of its Civic, Accord, CR-V, Element, Pilot and Acura, among others), BMW (328i, M3, 325Cic, 325Xi, 330Xi, 540i, 540iT and other models), Mazda (B-Series Truck, Mazda 6, RX-8 and others), Nissan (Maxima, Sentra, Pathfinder, Infiniti FX45 and others), Subaru (Impreza, Outback and others), Ford (Mustang, GT and other models), Toyota (Corolla, Sequoia, Tundra and others) and GM (Silverado, Sierra and others).

For those injured by a defective product, whether it is an airbag or other item, a conversation with a Pittsburgh personal injury attorney can help clarify your situation. In some cases, an experienced defective products attorney can get an injured party full and fair compensation by negotiating with an insurer. In other circumstances, litigation is required in order to hold the responsible party accountable.