Last week, Japanese automaker Toyota announced that they have expanded their Takata recall by 198,000 cars across the U.S. That expansion brings their Takata airbag inflator recall in the country to more than three million cars.
As CNBC reports, the expansion is due to concerns that even more Toyota models have been outfitted with defective Takata Inc. airbag inflators. Takata's airbags have been at the center of an unprecedented auto industry recall that spans numerous countries and involves a still-expanding number of vehicles. According to CNBC, 19 million vehicles could be affected in the United States alone.
The Toyota models included in last week's announcement include:
- 2008 Corolla
- 2008 Lexus SC430
- 2009 Lexus SC430
- 2010 Lexus SC430
“70 Million to 90 Million”
Despite the urgent actions of both car makers and regulators, the media continues to report an expanding number of possibly affected cars. Recently, Reuters revealed that U.S. auto safety regulators were considering widening the Takata recall to include 70 million to 90 million more vehicles.
Takata's ammonium nitrate-based inflators have now been tied to a number of malfunctions that have harmed vehicle occupants—drivers and passengers alike. The inflators deploy with too much force, throwing shrapnel in the vehicle cabin. There have been 139 reported injuries linked to the airbags, including two deaths that occurred inside Honda vehicles. It is believed that Takata knew about the inflator defects as early as 2004, but that Takata executives stopped company engineers from researching the issue.
If you or a loved one has been hurt due to a Takata airbag inflator, then you may have grounds to seek compensation. At Shoop | A Professional Law Corporation, our dedicated Los Angeles product liability attorneys have been industry recognized for their work in this practice area. Our firm has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of consumers who were harmed by companies who put their bottom lines before public safety and are ready to help you assess your legal options today.
Call us at (866) 884-1717 to request a free case evaluation to get started.
