11th Death Linked to Defective Takata Airbags

Posted on behalf of Jeff Pitman on October 21, 2016 in Product Recalls
Updated on April 25, 2024

broken airbagThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has confirmed another death linked to defective Takata airbags, bringing the U.S. total to 11.

The latest victim was driving a 2001 Honda Civic when she was involved in an accident in Riverside County, California, in September. According to reports, the woman’s vehicle was struck head-on by a Chevrolet pickup truck making a left turn. The woman was rushed to a nearby hospital where she died from her injuries.

Honda has stated that the woman’s Civic had been involved in several recalls since 2008 and that the company had mailed about 20 recall notices to the owner of the vehicle. Records indicate, however, that the repairs were never made. The woman purchased the car in 2015.

In June, the NHTSA urged the owners of 313,000 Honda and Acura vehicles to immediately stop driving the vehicles and have them repaired after tests indicated that the airbags in certain models were particularly dangerous.

The NHTSA issued an urgent advisory for the following vehicles:

  • 2001 – 2002 Honda Civic
  • 2001 – 2002 Honda Accord
  • 2002 Honda Odyssey
  • 2002 Honda CR-V
  • 2002 – 2003 Acura TL
  • 2003 Acura CL
  • 2003 Honda Pilot

Tests indicate there is as much as a 50 percent chance that the inflators in these vehicles could explode during a crash. About 70 percent of the airbags in these vehicles have been replaced, but there are still approximately 300,000 that have not been repaired.

More than 69 million Takata airbag inflators have been recalled in the United States, making this the largest auto recall in U.S. history. The inflators, which are made with ammonium nitrate, can inflate with too much force, causing the metal canister that is meant to contain the explosion to blow apart, sending shards of shrapnel throughout a vehicle.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a vehicle with a Takata airbag, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact our experienced team of defective product lawyers today to learn more about your legal options.

Call 414-333-3333 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form.

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