Posted on Nov 21, 2014
The first class actions have been filed against airbag maker Takata Corporation after consumers learned that the propellants used in Takata airbags caused the airbags to explode and spew shrapnel inside cars rather than protect car passengers from danger. The airbags have been linked to at least 4 deaths and 139 injuries when they exploded with too much force. Thornton Law Firm is actively investigating claims for consumers affected by these potentially fatal defects.
Takata Corporation, TK Holdings, Inc., and Highland Industries, Inc. (Takata) have been named in multiple class actions in federal courts nationwide alleging that Takata designed, tested, manufactured and sold millions of airbags that could kill car occupants when they deploy in an accident. Another class action accuses Takata of discovering the airbag defect in 2004 and then destroying the records of those tests. Takata began using ammonium nitrate in its airbags in the late 1990s. (You may recall ammonium nitrate as one of the ingredients in the truck bomb used in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995). Takata, which is the only airbag maker to use ammonium nitrate, claims to have favored the chemical because it allowed them to make smaller airbags, but the lawsuits claim the switch was made because ammonium nitrate is a much cheaper propellant. The class actions also name the car manufacturers because as the ultimate sellers they are responsible for any defect in the car.
Investigators from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) believe that the ammonium nitrate in the airbags is reacting with moisture from humidity, which is why the first recalls of the airbags are in more humid areas of the American south. But the recall may well expand to every Takata airbag and most major carmakers. Honda is Takata’s largest customer for airbags, but the car manufacturers known to have used Takata airbags include BMW, Ford, and Toyota. Here’s the full list of the cars involved:
Makes & Models that contain defective Takata Airbags
BMW:
2000 – 2005 3 Series Sedan
2000 – 2006 3 Series Coupe
2000 – 2005 3 Series Sports Wagon
2000 – 2006 3 Series Convertible
2001 – 2006 M3 Coupe
2001 – 2006 M3 Convertible
Chrysler:
2003 – 2008 Dodge Ram 1500
2005 – 2008 Dodge Ram 2500
2006 – 2008 Dodge Ram 3500
2006 – 2008 Dodge Ram 4500
2008 – Dodge Ram 5500
2005 – 2008 Dodge Durango
2005 – 2008 Dodge Dakota
2005 – 2008 Chrysler 300
2007 – 2008 Chrysler Aspen
Ford:
2004 – Ranger
2005 – 2006 GT
2005 – 2007 Mustang
General Motors:
2003 – 2005 Pontiac Vibe
2005 – Saab 9-2X
Honda:
2001 – 2007 Honda Accord
2001 – 2005 Honda Civic
2002 – 2006 Honda CR-V
2003 – 2011 Honda Element
2002 – 2004 Honda Odyssey
2003 – 2007 Honda Pilot
2006 – Honda Ridgeline
2003 – 2006 Acura MDX
2002 – 2003 Acura TL/CL
2005 – Acura RL
Mazda:
2003 – 2007 Mazda6
2006 – 2007 MazdaSpeed6
2004 – 2008 Mazda RX-8
2004 – 2005 MPV
2004 – B-Series Truck
Mitsubishi:
2004 – 2005 Lancer
2006 – 2007 Raider
Nissan:
2001 – 2003 Nissan Maxima
2001 – 2004 Nissan Pathfinder
2002 – 2004 Nissan Sentra
2001 – 2004 Infiniti I30/I35
2002 – 2003 Infiniti QX4
2003 – 2005 Infiniti FX35/FX45
Subaru:
2003 – 2005 Baja
2003 – 2005 Legacy
2003 – 2005 Outback
2003 – 2005 Baja
2004 – 2005 Impreza
Toyota:
2002 – 2005 Lexus SC
2002 – 2005 Toyota Corolla
2003 – 2005 Toyota Corolla Matrix
2002 – 2005 Toyota Sequoia
2003 – 2005 Toyota Tundra
Thornton Law Firm is investigating claims on behalf of several consumers across the country who own cars which contain Takata airbags. If you believe you may have a defective Takata airbag in your car, or have suffered a personal injury from an explosively deployed Takata airbag, call our consumer class action attorneys at 888-491-9726 or tell us your story here. All consultations are free and confidential. Legal claims have short time limits so do not delay seeking legal advice.
