The decision comes after confirmation of the root cause behind the inflators’ tendency to rupture. Takata airbag ruptures are now tied to ten deaths and over 100 injuries in the US.
Takata is required to make a series of safety defect decisions, under the Amended Consent Order issued to Takata this week that will support vehicle manufacturer recall campaigns of an additional estimated 35-40 million inflators, adding to the already 28.8 million inflators previously recalled.
The additional recalls will be phased between May 2016 and December 2019. The expanded recall now includes all Takata ammonium nitrate-based propellant driver and passenger front air bag inflators without a chemical drying agent (a desiccant) to be added to the recall.
The U.S. DOTs action is a significant step in the aggressive oversight of Takata on behalf of drivers and passengers across America is based on scientific evidence and will protect all Americans from air bag inflators that may become unsafe due to environmental factors.
The five recall phases are based on prioritization of risk, determined by the age of the inflators and exposure to high humidity and fluctuating high temperatures that accelerate the degradation of the chemical propellant.
This recall is at least a year ahead of where it would have been if NHTSA waited for the research, and as a result, all of the most dangerous inflators responsible for the deaths and injuries are already under recall.
NHTSA and its independent expert reviewed the findings of three independent investigations into the Takata air bag ruptures and confirmed the findings on the root cause of inflator ruptures. A combination of time, environmental moisture and fluctuating high temperatures contribute to the degradation of the ammonium nitrate propellant in the inflators. Such degradation can cause the propellant to burn too quickly, rupturing the inflator module and sending shrapnel through the air bag and into the vehicle occupants. For the full report please follow this link to NHTSA
Auto accidents are only compounded when a vehicles protective measures inflict even more damage, or even death. If you or a loved one has suffered injury or death, due to a dangerous product in Lake Charles, the financial burden associated with the injury from a product defect, such as medical bills, lost wages, and other damages should be covered by the manufacturer of the product. To this end, our product liability attorney N. Craig Richardson may represent you in the pursuit of financial compensation from the negligent parties that contributed to your injuries.