Cars Recalled Due to Defective Airbags

More than 2,700 vehicles have recently been recalled due to a problem with the vehicles side air bags. Federal safety regulators and The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have been investigating the problem they believe to be caused from defective parts. According to the investigation, “the recalled vehicles could have an ineffective mixture of the gas that inflates the side curtain air bags in a crash. That mix could mean air bags on one or both sides of the cars won’t inflate, increasing the risk of injury.” As of now, no one has been hurt but several companies have issued recalls. Regulators first noticed the problem at the end of January during a production parts tests at minus-22 degrees Fahrenheit, after further testing, results showed malfunctions at low temperatures.

The inflators were made by the Swedish Autoliv Inc, who stated to have shipped around 10,500 defective inflators to automakers and to two other air bag manufacturers. The recall includes Toyota, Honda, Subaru, and Nissan vehicles but more may be recalled soon. Other than the companies who have already recalled their vehicles, Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co., Kia Motors America and Suzuki Motor Corp. also received the defective parts but have not yet recalled any vehicles. For a detailed list of the recalled vehicles, please click on the following link – recalled vehicles.
The NHTSA is continuing to look closely into the investigation in order to keep all drivers safe. As we all know, it is critical to have air bags in cars, they can save lives. With the advancement of technology and the improvement of safety features in cars, fortunately, we have seen a slight decrease in the number of fatal accidents on the road. According to records provided by NHTSA, in 2008 Texas had 3,476 fatalities due to traffic accidents. The number of fatal accidents decreased by 12 percent in 2009, resulting in 3,071 fatalities. Traffic fatalities have dropped by 10 percent from 2008 to 2009 for the nation as a whole. We hope to continue to see a decrease in the number of fatal accidents.

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If you or a loved one have ever experienced a car wreck and feel the car was somehow defective, don’t hesitate to contact an attorney to discuss your legal options. At Borchardt Law Firm we have seen and dealt with many cases where the driver is not at fault. We wish that no family has to ever experience a serious injury or the loss of a loved one from a car accident, but we also feel the work we do will continue to protect future generations of Texans. Feel free to give us a call.

Toll Free: 866.832.9300
Phone: 817.332.9300
Fax: 817.332.9301
firm@attorneysmb.com
1300 South University Drive, Suite 500
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
Sources:

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpps/news/feds-investigate-side-air-bag-problems-dpgapx-km-20120221_18136351

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811402.pdf