There are many Massachusetts motorists who do not realize that their vehicle may be under recall due to the type of installed air bag. Certain Takata air bags where identified a few years ago as the ultimate cause of several unexplained automobile accidents over the course of the past decade. While most of the original recalled vehicles were manufactured by Japanese car companies, other American company models were found to have them installed as well. The Ford Motor Company decided in 2019 to recall another group of air bags that could also deteriorate over time and explode without any impact.
The original recall
The original recall of vehicles with Takata air bags was filed in 2016 and mostly included Nissan and Honda vehicles manufactured between 2000 and 2012. Takata was the leading manufacturer of the defective air bags that have now been redesigned for more effective deployment. Product liability attorneys found after independent investigations in the first set of cases that bags were exploding with no external impact while the vehicle was still in transit. The defective air bag explosions resulted in severe harm to vehicle passengers and others on the highway who were involved in collisions, prompting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue the mandatory recall.
The later Ford recall
The Ford recall early in 2019 added a huge number of cars to the list of those containing the Takata bags as original equipment, which could easily result in a significant number of more accidents on U.S. highways. Ford made the decision as a potential mitigation step in avoiding the assured product liability claims that will happen when bags installed in Ford vehicles explode unexpectedly.
People who have been harmed when their vehicle air bag device has engaged without impact should consult with a personal injury attorney for further investigation regarding a potential product liability claim. Additionally, anyone owning a Ford manufactured after 2000 should contact a local Ford dealership for more information.
