The number of defective Takata airbag deaths was in the double digits as of the end of 2022.
Several years after the first recalls of defectiveTakata airbags began, by the end of 2022, many of these dangerous airbags remain in vehicles across the United States. The number of Takata airbag deaths is rising and may continue to increase as long as millions remain unreplaced despite a massive and ongoing recall.
Takata Airbags Recalled
The dangerous Takata airbags in question were installed in cars mostly from model years 2002 through 2015. Millions have been recalled since 2008, when it was discovered that some of the airbags could deploy explosively and potentially injure or kill car occupants.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) once called the Takata airbags recall “the largest and most complex safety recall in U.S. history,” and the recall has grown to include 67 million airbags from more than 42 million vehicles across the country.
How Many Takata Airbag Deaths Have There Been?
As of early February 2023, to date, there have been 24 deaths and more than 400 injuries due to dangerous Takata airbags. According to Consumer Reports, that number increased after FCA (aka Stellantis) announced in December 2022 that a third fatality involving one of their recalled vehicles had occurred.
That number could continue to rise because 11 million Takata airbags are yet to be replaced. As recently as February, Honda issued a “Do Not Drive” warning for some 2001-2003 Honda Accord, Civic, CR-V, Odyssey, and Pilot models Acura TL and CL cars fitted with unrepaired Takata Alpha driver-side airbag inflators.
Cars Impacted by the Takata Recall
Models noted as being at severe risk of a potentially dangerous airbag explosion include specific 2001 to 2003 Honda and Acura models containing “alpha” airbags, and the 2006 Ford Ranger and Mazda B-Series pickup trucks, Consumer Reports revealed. The 1999 BMW 323i and 328i are also at risk.
Previously, the NHTSA found that a “combination of time, temperature fluctuations, and humidity contribute to the breakdown of the PSAN propellant in the inflators. This breakdown can cause the propellant to burn too quickly, which creates more pressure than the inflator can withstand. In extreme cases, this causes the inflator to explode and send shrapnel through the airbag toward vehicle occupants.”
Please use the NHTSA’s VIN lookup tool to check your particular vehicle if you are concerned it’s included in the Takata airbag recall. The tool covers safety recalls conducted over the past 15 calendar years.
Call Phillips Law Group
If you or a loved one was injured as a result of a defective Takata airbag, the skilled attorneys at Phillips Law Group can help. You may be able to join a class action lawsuit against Takata.
Please call our team to discuss your legal options – we can offer a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your situation. We are committed to aggressively defending the rights of our clients and seeking justice for the harm done to you or your loved ones.
