Some vehicle owners might be aware a national car recall is underway by multiple car companies that were experiencing critical issues with Takata airbag malfunction in a variety of car models. The recall quickly ballooned to take the title of the largest automotive parts recall in the history of recalls in the American auto industry. Currently, the recall involves 10 multi-national car manufacturers and well over 6 million vehicles.
Defective Car Part
The recall was necessitated by the occurrence of a malfunctioning airbag that would spew metal bits at the operator and front seat passenger if they airbag was deployed. These defective airbags were identified to have come from the Takata Corporation in Japan. Takata also manufactures a range of auto parts including steering wheels and seatbelts.
Takata Identifies Defect
Takata Corp. issued a report identifying that the defect stems from the charge agent in the airbag’s inflator possessing too much power, and with the result being the projectile of the metal shavings identified as shrapnel. Takata Corp. also noted that they have discovered that regions with high levels of humidity hold a more severe risk of the faulty airbags malfunctioning. Thus, vehicles in Florida are particularly at risk.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Gets Involved
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a statement advising the public to not ignore the severity of the recall. Vehicle owners are advised to contact their automotive dealer immediately if their car model and year is included on the recall list
The companies named in the recall are Toyota, Honda, Mazda, BMW, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Chrysler, Ford and General Motors.
NHTSA Database for the Recall
Consumers can access a NHTSA database for access to the list of all the models and manufacture years of the vehicles affected by the recall. Consumers should search by their VIN (vehicle identification number) to ascertain if their vehicle is included in the recall.
Vehicle owners may also call the NHTSA Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
How to Handle Your Recalled Vehicle
If a consumer confirms that their vehicle has been named in the recall it is urgent that they take the vehicle to the place of purchase to have the defective parts replaced. If these safety issues are not remedied, they could result in serious or fatal injuries to not only the driver and other passengers present but to others on the road as well.
Recall Does Not Guarantee the Manufacturer’s Liability
Issuing a recall does mean that the manufacturer is automatically liable for any harm or injuries incurred from the defective products. Plaintiffs in any action must still prove that the product was defective and, as such, the resulting injuries occurred.
Recall Does Not Indemnify the Manufacturer from Liability
On the other hand, issuing a recall does not serve to automatically negate any liability claims made against the manufacturer. The manufacturer may not use a recall to automatically defeat any claim brought against it. The manufacturer has the burden of proof to show that particular plaintiff directly received notice of the recall and that the communications offered sufficiently warned the plaintiff of the dangers posed by the defective product.
The legal team at Reed & Reed in Florida is always available to give you more information about your defective car part case. Contact us today for help. From our office in Brandon, we help clients in Tampa, New Tampa, Plant City, throughout east Hillsborough County and the state of Florida. Contact Reed & Reed for a free consultation.