In the worst auto safety crisis in U.S. history, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has expanded the recall of Takata-produced airbags, following the confirmation of a ninth fatality caused by a ruptured airbag inflator.
The recall covers as many as 24 million cars from manufactures such as Ford, Audi, Honda, Saab and Mercedes-Benz. Many consumers across the U.S. are affected by the recall and could potentially be in danger.
All of the recalled airbags are equipped with unstable ammonium nitrate propellant, which is thought to be the root cause of the airbag failures. Some inflators have exploded sending shrapnel into drivers and passengers, causing injuries and death.
The latest recall was triggered by the recent fatal accident involving a 2006 Ford Ranger pickup truck in South Carolina. Inspectors confirmed that the inflator in the driver’s side airbag ruptured, killing the driver.
Overall, faulty airbags made by Takata have now been blamed on the deaths of nine people in the U.S., and one in Asia. More than 100 have been seriously injured. With the potential for more injuries or deaths likely, an NHTSA spokesman called the breadth of the airbag problem ”the most significant safety issue in the history of the United States.”
If you have been injured in a car accident, contact the Iowa Law Offices of Stoltze & Updegraff, PLC. for help. If you have lost a loved one in a fatal accident in Iowa or have been injured as a result of the negligence of another, we are here to help you explore your legal options. Contact us today to arrange a free initial consultation with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys.
Source: New York Times, “Takata Airbag Flaw Linked to 10th Death; 5 Million More Vehicles Recalled”, By HIROKO TABUCHI and DANIELLE IVORY, January 22, 2016.
