Despite the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations insistence that Takata Corp. expand its airbag recall, the corporation has refused to comply with the administrations demands. So far, 14 million vehicles have been recalled worldwide due to these dangerous airbags that can explode and injure drivers and passengers. Eight million of the recalls are in the U.S. The government wants Takata and auto manufacturers to extend the recall that is currently limited to areas with high humidity. Takata argues that increasing the recall will only make it more difficult for vehicle owners whose vehicles have already been recalled to effectively repair their vehicles there is already a shortage of airbag replacement components. The NHTSA has called Takatas reply to their request disappointing and will be reviewing the response to determine what to do next to ensure the public's safety. Some automakers are taking matters into their own hands. Honda is prepared to expand its recalls across the nation while Toyota and six other automakers are teaming up to hire an independent engineering company to investigate the cause of the problem with the airbags used in their vehicles. In Japan, the Ministry of Transportation has launched its own investigation into the cause of the malfunction to determine if more vehicles need to be recalled. A scrapyard in Japan has noted hearing airbag explosions that sounded like a gunshot. In one incident the airbag rupture was so intense that metal shrapnel penetrated the vehicles windshield and punched a hole in the ceiling of the hall where the airbag detonation took place. At O'Connor, Acciani & Levy, our Takata airbag recall lawyers have been monitoring the latest updates on these dangerous airbags. If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident by a defective airbag, contact a personal injury lawyer from our law firm to determine what your legal options are.
Airbag Manufacturer Refuses To Comply With NHTSA Request To Expand Recall