GM Recalling 7 Million Cars Over Explosive Airbags
» Posted December 7, 2020 • Resources | Share This Post
General Motors is being forced to recall some 7 million pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles over an airbag defect that has been linked to at least 26 deaths around the world.
GM had already recalled nearly 800,000 vehicles with faulty Takata airbags that could explode, sending shrapnel flying into vehicle interiors and causing accidents. More than 40 million vehicles across manufacturers have been recalled in the U.S. alone as a result of the defect since reports of accidents began in 2013.
But GM has been arguing that the airbags in the cars covered by the new recall are not risky because they use a different inflator device than the deadly airbags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rejected that claim.
“NHTSA concluded that the GM inflators in question are at risk of the same type of explosion after long-term exposure to high heat and humidity as other recalled Takata inflators," the agency said, according to CNN.
The recall comes after investigators recently linked a 26th death to exploding Takata airbags. A driver was killed in Mesa, AZ. in August when the airbag inflator in his 2002 Honda Civic ruptured, NHTSA concluded. That marks the 17th death linked to defective Takata airbags in the U.S. alone.
Unfortunately, this may not be the end of the tragic deaths caused by malfunctioning airbags. Takata airbags have been “recycled” into cars that were not included in the recalls, according to news reports. Some of those drivers of those vehicles may not even know that their cars have Takata airbags.
Dealing With Car Defects and Owners’ Rights in California
The Takata airbag saga is a tragic reminder of the serious safety threats that vehicle defects can pose to everyone in a car and on the road.
The good news for car owners and lessors in California is that the state’s lemon law offers some valuable legal protections.
The Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act requires car manufacturers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. The law also obligates a manufacturer to buy back or replace a vehicle that the company is unwilling or not able to properly repair.
A seasoned California lemon law attorney can help you understand your rights and options under the law.
Speak with a Los Angeles Lemon Law Attorney
If you are feeling stuck with a defective vehicle or are locked in a dispute with your car’s manufacturer over repairs, it is vital to have an experienced lawyer by your side.
Los Angeles lemon law attorney Brian Bickel and his team at the Bickel Law Firm have represented hundreds of clients in defective vehicle cases across the state. We are committed to working aggressively on behalf of the people we represent and ensuring that car manufacturers are held responsible.
Our offices are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco. Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a Los Angeles lemon law attorney today.
