Honda, Toyota, Mazda, and Nissan Issue Vehicle Recall for Airbag Problems
Four major automobile manufacturers – Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and Mazda – are issuing a vehicle recall notice for 3.4 million cars worldwide because they all have the same airbag defect.
According to the vehicle recall notice, a faulty airbag inflator can cause the front-seat airbags to deploy, or activate the automatic seatbelt restraints. The faulty inflator could also catch fire. If the inflator bursts the airbag, plastic pieces can fly into the vehicle and injure passengers.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported, although incidents involving the airbags have come to the manufacturers’ attention.
All four major car manufacturers get their airbags and seatbelts from one company – Takata Corp, the world’s second-largest supplier of safety restraints for cars.
Toyota, a company that has been plagued by vehicle recalls in the last few years, has issued a vehicle recall notice for 1.7 million cars worldwide, with 580,000 in the United States. Their recall is for the Corolla, Tundra, and Lexus SC, produced between 2000 and 2004. Toyota said that it has received complaints of airbag defects, three in the US and two in Japan. However, no consumers have been injured.
Honda is recalling 1.1 million vehicles globally, 680,000 of which are in North America. Their recalled models include the Civic, CR-V, and Odyssey. Honda has also issued several vehicle recalls in the last few years, which has tarnished their reputation. Most of their vehicle recalls have been related to airbag defects as well, which raises serious concerns among consumers about their vehicles’ safety during an accident.
Nissan is recalling 480,000 vehicles worldwide. Affected models include years 2000-2004 of the Maxima, Infiniti FX, Infiniti QX4, Sentra, and Pathfinder.
Mazda has also issued a vehicle recall for 45,000 vehicles globally, although there are no model details released yet.
According to the manufacturers’ reports, the problem stems from two human errors during airbag production. A worker forgot to turn the switch for a system that weeds out defective parts, and the parts were improperly stored, so they were exposed to humidity.
Consumers will be notified and can take their vehicle into a local dealership for inspection and replacement parts, at no cost to the owner.
The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Defective Products and Vehicle Recall Cases
To protect yourself and your family, it’s important to know what products have been recalled because they are defective or unsafe. Federal agencies such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the CPSC (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) frequently issue recalls for medical devices, drugs, and products that may be harmful to consumers.
If you have experienced a problem with a defective product in your automobile, especially if a defective part has led to an auto accident or personal injury, and a proper vehicle recall notice has not been issued, you may be entitled to compensation. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help. We can help you with complicated auto insurance claims, and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve to help you with lost income and medical bills. Our attorneys are licensed to practice in South Carolina, Georgia, and New York. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case, so contact us today. 803.252.4800.
