Tag Archives: Chicago auto defect accident

NHTSA Orders GM To Recall 5.9 Million Vehicles

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) announced this week that General Motors is to recall up to 5.9 vehicles due to a defect in the Takata airbags in many of their lines of vehicles.

The NHTSA states that GM must recall their 2007-2014 model year trucks and SUVs because the inflators in the airbags “are at risk of the same type of explosion after long-term exposure to high heat and humidity as other recalled Takata inflators.”

The defect, which leads in rare instances to air bag inflators rupturing and sending potentially deadly metal fragments flying, prompted the largest automotive recall in U.S. history of about 63 million inflators. Worldwide, about 100 million inflators by 19 major automakers were recalled. The vehicles in the recall includes some Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra and GMC Yukon vehicles built over an eight-year period.

GM has denied that the airbags are defective and that the do not pose a risk drivers. Regardless, they have stated they will comply and make the necessary changes.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a Chicago auto defect accident or Chicago truck accident, then call Chicago injury lawyer, Aaron J. Bryant for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.

Ford Orders Recall Based On Door Latch And Seat Belt Defects

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It was reported this week that Ford Motor Company has recalled 205,000 of its’ 2010 to 2013 model Taurus vehicles based on a door latch issue.

Ford says a door latch spring can become unseated, allowing the door to unlatch in a side-impact crash. The company says it knows of no injuries from the problem. Dealers will inspect the latches and replace door handles if needed.

The second recall covers just over 16,000 Transit Connect small vans in the U.S. from the 2014 model year. Seat belt fasteners can loosen, causing the belts to malfunction.

It has not been reported that either of these auto defects have caused in any injuries from auto accidents.

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured from a Chicago auto defect accident or Chicago car crash, then contact Chicago personal injury attorney, Aaron Bryant, for  a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.

NHTSA Calling For Nationwide Takata Airbag Recall

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Wired magazine, among other news outlets, reported last month that Takata, a manufacturer of airbags, are recalling their product on 7.8 million vehicles. The recall is based on a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NTSA”), which states that airbags that could explode with too much force when they inflate. Extra force can be enough to rupture the airbag’s container, sending plastic and metal fragments into passengers.

The car manufacturers affected by the recall include more than 50 models from Toyota, Honda, Mazda, BMW, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors, made between 2000 and 2011. NHTSA is telling drivers of affected vehicles to “take immediate action,” meaning get themselves to a car dealership and get their airbags checked out. It’s especially concerned about drivers in Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, Virgin Islands and Hawaii (all hot, humid spots).

The New York Times reported today that the NHTSA is now calling for a nationwide recall rather than specific states or territories that are more prone to humid weather. The agency said a recent airbag failure outside the regional recall area had prompted it to take the action.

What does this all mean for Takata and the automakers? For one, it is going to cost a lot of money for the millions of airbags that need to be replaced. Second, both Takata and the automakers have or will face wrongful death lawsuits that are attributed to flaws in the airbags. At least five (5) deaths have been attributed to faulty airbags. This could increase the longer these faulty bags are being used.

If you have a vehicle that you believe contains a faulty airbag you should click here to determine if the year, make and model contain a Takata airbag.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a Chicago auto defect accident or Chicago car crash, then call Chicago personal injury lawyer Aaron Bryant for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076.