Airbags typically make us feel a little safer when we’re driving on our commute to work or just down the street to get groceries. Unfortunately, there are times where airbags are found to be defective and could actually do more harm to us than good. For some Dallas residents, the risks associated with defective airbags are becoming a harsh reality.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), high Texas temperatures can actually cause the recalled Takata brand airbags to explode once deployed. This is due to the increased amount of heat and humidity in the air, which acts as a chemical propellant within the airbags and causes them to explode. An estimated 45,000 vehicles in the Dallas area still contain recalled airbags, which can explode shrapnel into drivers, already linking them to 23 known deaths worldwide.
North Texas auto dealers launched an airbag defect awareness campaign urging drivers to be alert and to get Takata airbags replaced as soon as possible. Moe Sami, manager of a local auto dealership backs up NHTSA’s information, stating, “Airbags, compressors, radiators, AC hoses—we see more hoses blow because it’s just too hot for these parts to handle the job,” and that “With the heat, it speeds up that process. There’s fluid in it that helps it ignite.”
Takata airbags have been responsible for the one of the largest auto industry safety recalls in history. The majority of auto manufacturers placed the defective airbags in vehicles between 2003 and 2013.
NHTSA has a full section its website dedicated to the Takata recall. To determine if your airbag is included in the recall, simply type in your vehicle identification number. Luckily, getting a replacement is free and easy at any dealership.
Automotive defects can endanger everyone on the roads—not just vehicle occupants, but also those driving alongside them. If you or someone you know was injured in a car accident and you suspect a faulty auto part was to blame, contact the Lubbock auto products liability attorneys at Liggett Law Group today for a free consultation.