Recently, Honda expanded its recall of its cars affected by the Takata air bag recall. Honda has added another 104,871 vehicles, including “nearly 89,000 Pilot SUVs from the 2008 model year, as well as about 11,000 Civics from 2004 and 5,000 Accords from the 2001 model year.” In total, Honda alone has recalled approximately 5.5 million vehicles affected by Takata air bags.
Takata Air Bag Recall
In November of last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a national recall involving vehicles with certain driver’s side frontal air bags made by Takata. At least five people have been killed as a result of Takata air bags allegedly malfunctioning. In some car models, Takata air bags allegedly explode with too much force, which can rip metal parts loose and shoot them into occupants in the vehicle. While the incidents are most likely to occur in high humidity areas, the NHTSA has issued a national recall.
There are 10 vehicle manufacturers that use Takata air bag inflators, including BMW, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, and Toyota. Excluding Honda, these automakers have recalled approximately 17 million vehicles in the United States and about 22 million worldwide.
Lawsuits Related to Takata Air Bags
There have been dozens of lawsuits filed against Takata and car manufacturers in connection with the allegedly defective air bags. Over the past several months, more than 70 proposed class action lawsuits have been filed. The lawsuits claim that the allegedly defective Takata air bags can improperly explode and spray metal debris at the driver and other passengers. According to the lawsuits, Takata, as well as automakers, allegedly knew of the problem for years, but failed to take any action, even in the face of warnings from customers and regulators.
In February of this year, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered that the lawsuits related to the Takata air bags be consolidated in a U.S. District Court in Florida. Several prominent car makers are named in the lawsuits, including Honda Motor Co, BMW, Ford Motor Co, Nissan Motor Co Ltd, Subaru Co Ltd and Toyota Motor Corp. The plaintiffs in the lawsuits are seeking damages relating to lost resale value.
Contact a Greenville Personal Injury Attorney for Legal Advice
If you or someone you know has been injured by a defective product, it is important to reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney in Greenville SC who can help you investigate your case and understand your rights. David R. Price, Jr. has experience helping injured victims obtain compensation in a variety of personal injury lawsuits, including car, bicycle, and motorcycle accidents, defective products, dog bites, and slip-and-fall claims.
Contact David R. Price, Jr. for a free initial consultation and case evaluation. You can call us today at 864-271-2636 or visit our office at 318 West Stone Avenue in Greenville.