Honda Will Expand Takata Airbag Recall by 3.5 Million Cars Worldwide

Last week, Honda announced that it is expanding its safety recall involving vehicles with Takata airbags as part of an investigation into the brand’s safety in the United States, a move that the federal government called for. Now, the company advises that it will expand its safety recall across the world.

The Japanese automobile manufacturer has issued numerous safety recalls.  In the event of an accident, a defective Takata airbag can explode sending shrapnel flying towards the driver and any passengers.  The explosion is caused when the defective airbag’s inflators fail. Since 2008, Honda has recalled 19 million vehicles due to safety issues with the Takata airbags. Honda announced on December 9th that, as part of its investigative safety recall, the company is recalling 2.6 million more cars in the US – 3.5 million globally – increasing the overall US safety recall to 8.74 million Honda vehicles.

Mazda has also stated that it will soon expand its safety recall of vehicles installed with Takata airbags. Mazda has not yet stated when that expanded safety recall will begin.

Last month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) demanded that Takata issue its own recall for airbags, after an investigation showed that five people around the world – four of whom were US citizens – died after the Takata airbags suddenly ruptured and sent shrapnel flying into their bodies. The NHTSA has also tracked at least 17 complaints about shrapnel directly related to failing inflators in the Takata airbags, which can corrode over time due to moisture in the air.

Despite these reported issues, Takata refused to issue its own safety recall, challenging the NHTSA’s findings and insisting that automobile manufacturers are responsible for recalls of their vehicles, even if one company is responsible for the failing part. Takata also insists that the real cause of the airbags’ failure is still unknown.

“We cannot depend on Takata to find the cause,” Honda Motor Co. President Takanobu Ito told Japan’s Nihon Keizei Shimbun newspaper. “We should have taken action based on the view that it’s a vehicle problems instead of a parts problem.”

Takata also stated last month that the company is not sure if there will be enough parts to fix the airbags. In response, Honda said they have begun discussions with two other airbag manufacturers.

“If no one else helps, we will have to do something,” Ito said. “If Takata becomes unable to supply airbags, not just Honda but all automakers will be in trouble. We will ensure Takata can keep supplying.”

The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Personal Injury and Vehicle Recalls

If an airbag defect in your vehicle caused a car accident, you may not know immediately what recourse you have. Although the law is complicated, you do have legal recourse against the vehicle’s manufacturer. It is important for manufacturers to pay attention to the quality of their products and issue vehicle recall notices in a timely fashion – however, not all automobile manufacturers will do so, and consumers can be seriously injured or killed.

If you have experienced a problem with a defective product in your automobile, especially if a defective part has led to an auto accident or personal injury, and a proper vehicle recall notice has not been issued, you may be entitled to compensation. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help. We can help you with complicated auto insurance claims, and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve to help you with lost income and medical bills. Our attorneys are licensed to practice in South Carolina, Georgia, and New York. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case, so contact us today at (803) 252-4800.