The saga surrounding the Takata airbag recall has recently gotten more complicated – and possibly more serious for certain vehicle owners. That’s because, as authorities at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have announced, the defective Takata airbags in some types of vehicles may be far more likely to rupture than others.
In fact, NHTSA officials have explained that “new test data” indicates that “certain model-year 2001-2003 Honda and Acura vehicles show a far higher risk of ruptures during airbag deployment.” The specific models of Honda and Acura vehicles associated with the higher risk of airbag rupture include:
-
![Some Takata Airbags More Likely to Fail, Authorities Report]( "Some Takata Airbags More Likely to Fail, Authorities Report")
Some Takata Airbags More Likely to Fail, Authorities Report
2001 & 2002 Honda Civics & Accords
- 2002 & 2003 Acura TLs
- 2002 Honda CR-Vs & Odysseys
- 2003 Honda Pilots & Acura CLs.
These findings are now prompting regulators to issue an “urgent call” to the owners of these vehicles, pushing them to get their airbags fixed ASAP to prevent more injuries and deaths.
Why Certain Takata Airbags Are More Likely to Rupture
The reason that the Takata airbags in certain models of Honda and Acura vehicles are more susceptible to rupturing is a “manufacturing defect.” This defect reportedly increases the possibility of a rupture if the airbags in these vehicles deploy during a crash by as much as 50 percent.
When faulty Takata airbags rupture, they can spew small fragments of metal at the occupants of the vehicle – similar to shrapnel. Regardless of the make and model of the vehicles containing these airbags, it’s already been discovered that high humidity can trigger a higher risk of ruptures.
According to authorities, there are still about 313,000 high-risk Honda and Acura vehicles that remain unrepaired.
Commenting on these findings, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has stated:
With as high as a 50 percent chance of a dangerous air bag inflator rupture in a crash, these vehicles are unsafe and need to be repaired immediately… Folks should not drive these vehicles unless they are going straight to a dealer to have them repaired immediately, free of charge.
What do you think about the latest development in the Takata airbag recall saga? Has your vehicle been impacted by this recall? Tell us your opinions and experiences on Facebook & Google+.
Contact a Cleveland Personal Injury Lawyer at the Piscitelli Law Firm
If you have been injured by a defective Takata airbag – or by any faulty piece of vehicle equipment (or other consumer product), contact a Cleveland personal injury lawyer at the Piscitelli Law Firm to find out more about your best options for recovery.
For well over 20 years, Cleveland Lawyer Frank Piscitelli has been dedicated to standing up for injured people’s rights and working diligently to help them secure the compensation and justice to which they are entitled. Known for our aggressive advocacy and record of success, we are ready to help you financially recover so you can focus on getting better and putting the accident behind you.
To learn more about your rights and find out how we can help you, call our firm at (800) 931-7071, or email us to set up a free case evaluation. If you choose to move forward with us, you will not have to pay any legal fees until or unless you obtain a settlement in your case.