Continental Airbag Recall Affects 5 Million Autos

February 19, 2016

In the wake of the recent Takata airbag scandal, a new airbag recall is underway that could impact more than five million vehicles.

The German manufacturing company, Continental Automotive Systems, has stated that millions of its airbags are defective and prone to malfunctioning.

If moisture enters the airbags’ computerized control unit, the unit may deteriorate and corrode. Such corrosion may cause the airbags to inflate at random, or it may cause the airbags to remain deflated in the event of a crash.

Although Continental reportedly informed automakers of the defective airbags in 2008, it failed to inform automotive safety regulators.

According to federal law, if a manufacturer uncovers a product defect that is a safety concern, they are required to inform regulators. The manufacturer must also inform regulators of their recall plans.

Continental’s delay in reporting caused concern about how manufacturers process and oversee defective products and subsequent recalls.

What Consumers Should Know

Injuries associated with defective Continental airbags have triggered a massive recall, with nine injuries being reported so far.

A five million vehicle recall will be issued by Fiat Chrysler and Honda, while Mazda has stated it is still currently investigating the issue. Volvo Trucks has declined to comment on its recall course of action.

Although Kia was included in the original Continental airbag recall plan, Continental did so in error.

The vehicles that are currently affected by the recall are the 2009 Dodge Journey, 2009 Volkswagen Routan, 2009-2010 Honda Accords, 2008-2009 Chrysler Town & Country minivans, and 2008-2009 Dodge Grand Caravans.

Honda stated that owners will be notified about the issue by mail, but the repairs will take time to complete.

If you have suffered injuries due to a defective product like a Continental or Takata airbag, contact the experienced product liability lawyers at Phillips Law Group right away to discover your legal options.

Call 1-800-706-3000 or fill out ourFREE Case Evaluation Form