Air bag manufacturer under pressure in massive recall
New Jersey residents may be aware of a recall that affects nearly 8 million vehicle air bags. The manufacturer of the defective auto parts, Takata, is facing pressure to increase its production of replacement parts needed to fix the problem in affected vehicles. A deputy administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has written to the company about the concerns.
The defective air bags may be responsible for at least two deaths. The air bags have the potential for spewing metal and plastic parts upon deployment. As Takata works to produce new replacement canisters, the NHTSA is seeking information about how much production can be increased so that automobile manufacturers can effectively facilitate repairs for those driving affected vehicles. At the same time, NHTSA is endeavoring to expedite manufacturer notifications to ensure that owners are aware of the hazard.
An individual who drives an affected vehicle might face serious risk in case of an accident. While some owners might review the NHTSA website for product recall information from time to time, those who have not heard or read news about their vehicles could drive without knowing about potential problems. Manufacturers of parts and vehicles play an important role in providing such information to those who could be harmed by product problems.
If an individual is injured in a car accident due to a defective auto part, he or she might be able to file a lawsuit against the car or part manufacturer. A personal injury attorney might be able to review police and reconstructionist reports to determine if a defective part caused a wreck, and he or she could possibly use the reports as evidence to support a plaintiff’s case.
Source: USA Today, “Takata pressured to speed up air bag recalls“, Chris Woodyard, October 30, 2014
