Kentucky Injury Law News
Kentucky motorists might have heard that Mazda is recalling 79,402 vehicles due to faulty Takata air bag inflators. The recall is part of a worldwide recall effort that involves 19 automakers and 100 million vehicles, including 2.7 million added by Takata in July.
The Takata air bag inflators contain a propellant that can decay over time, which could potentially cause the air bag to rupture and shoot shrapnel into the vehicle’s passenger compartment. Vehicles that have had prolonged exposure to high temperatures and high humidity are more likely to experience the problem. Mazda is recalling certain CX-7, CX-9 and Mazda 6 vehicles from model years 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2012. The recall supersedes one made by the automaker in January that offered a temporary fix for air bags that were most at risk of failure. This time, dealers will permanently replace the faulty air bag inflator.
Takata has known about the faulty air bag inflators since at least 2000. However, the company attempted to cover up the problem with false and fraudulent documents.
Individuals injured by a defective auto part, such as a faulty airbag inflator, might want to seek the advice of an attorney who has experience with these types of product liability lawsuits. It could become advisable to file a lawsuit against the automaker and/or the manufacturer who made the defective part if the insurance company offers a settlement that is inadequate to cover the plaintiff’s medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other applicable amounts.
Source: M Live, “Mazda recalls nearly 80K vehicles connected to Takata air bag inflators“, Aug. 15, 2017