March 27, 2024
Understanding The Risk Of Airbag Recalls
According to our friends at Herschensohn Law Firm, PLLC, airbag recalls have become a pressing issue in recent years, impacting both vehicle owners and manufacturers. Malfunctioning airbags pose a serious threat to the safety of drivers and passengers. It is crucial to understand who is at risk and the potential implications of airbag recalls on road safety.
Takata Airbag Recall
The Takata airbag recall is one of the most mentioned recalls. These airbags have a problem with their inflator where it can explode, sending shards of metal into the front and back seats of the vehicle. Throughout the world, this defect has led to many injuries and deaths. If you are unsure if this affects your vehicle or not, it is best to contact a mechanic or service center for help.
Other Manufacturers
The Takata recall is much hyped, but other recalls occur from other producers for their own airbag related difficulties, such as timing of deployment, inflation problems, or lapses activating certain functions due to the malfunction of software.
Who Is At Risk?
Owners Of Older Vehicles
Vehicles from 2002 through 2015 are usually the most likely to have a vehicle affected by the recall. If your vehicle falls into these model years, look it up on the NHTSA database or call your car’s local dealer for quick answers.
Second-Hand Vehicle Owners
If you have purchased a used car, you may not be aware of the recalls it has gone through. You can investigate a car’s recall status by going to the NHTSA’s website or calling its manufacturer for confirmation.
People In Humid Climates
According to a truck accident lawyer, the defect gets more serious over time and is worse in regions with high humidity, because moisture makes the airbag inflator become less strong, so people in areas of the U.S. with high humidity should make tracking an airbag recall a priority.
What Can You Do?
Check For Recalls
If you take your care to a service center at a dealership you can ask them to look up any important recall information. Be sure to keep an eye on the news for the latest information on possible recalls as they happen quite frequently.
Respond To Recall Notices
By checking your VIN number weekly for recalls and visiting the NHTSA site and your local dealership when an airbag recall is announced, you can save yourself an ordeal due to a recall and the time a car spends in the shop receiving repairs.
Stay Informed
You, your passengers (including pets) and those on the road are in danger when the airbags in a car function improperly or not at all. Stay informed of the most likely times for airbag recalls to increase, check for recalls and respond to notice of any recall by taking your car to the local dealer.
If you get into a car accident and have issues with your airbags deploying due to a recall that was missed — or one that should be enacted in the future to save people’s lives — reach out to a lawyer near you for help immediately.
