Takata, airbag manufacturer, is a worldwide leader in airbag safety features. Takata is involved in dozens of lawsuits, alleging that the Japanese corporation used an inferior metal that blasts shrapnel when the airbags are set off. The metal shards cut through the airbag fabric and fly into the faces of drivers and passengers. This causes severe bodily harm, disfigurement, or death. This has affected over 34 million cars in the United States. Takata airbags have caused 100 injuries, and 9 deaths.
Affected vehicles include BMWs, Chevrolets, Chryslers, Fords, General Motors, Hondas, Mazdas, Mitsubishis, Nissans and Toyotas. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urges consumers affected by the over 17 million recalls to take their vehicles to the dealership and service them. In addition, the NHTSA has a website dedicated to Takata recalls with updates, recall lists and information regarding the ongoing investigations about Takata recalls.
Following the recalls, Takata wrote a letter to the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation however, “Takata wants to assure you that it will work with each manufacturer that agrees to conduct a field action to develop a schedule for that action, based on parts availability. In addition, Takata plans to continue its wide-ranging investigative efforts to better understand the causes of these inflator incidents, and it will keep ODI informed of the progress of those efforts.”
Whether that statement is true is in doubt, as reports have stated that Takata knew the defects and is hiding the problem. Specifically, Takata did not due their due diligence in research and development of its airbags
