Toyota Says it Has The ‘Final Remedy’ for the Takata Airbag Safety Saga

Here we go again.

Toyota is recalling some 900,000 vehicles to remove and replace Takata airbags. This time around, the Japanese automaker says it has the “final remedy” for the long-running saga over faulty airbags that caused at least a handful of deaths and a spike in safety concerns.

The vehicles involved in the recall – which include Toyota, Lexus and Scion models – previously had Takata airbags removed and replaced with new, temporary Takata airbags. Those airbags are now being swapped out, as part of a previously announced plan and ahead of the schedule set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to the company.

A wide range of car manufacturers started recalling vehicles with defective Takata airbags some six years ago. They noted that defects could cause bags to deploy and explode unexpectedly, sending shards of metal and other debris flying without warning. A driver was killed in 2013 when the airbag in his Ford Ranger exploded while he was driving on a highway in South Carolina.

Takata filed for bankruptcy and was later sold after agreeing to pay $1 billion to settle a Justice Department inquiry.

But Takata airbags continue to pop up in cars. Honda in March said it was recalling 1.1 million vehicles because of concerns about defective Takata airbags. Those airbags had been used as replacements for other Takata airbags. There have also been reports of “recycled” Takata airbags ending up in used cars.

How the California Lemon Law Works            

The Takata fiasco is a sad reminder of the serious defects with which some cars leave the factory floor. These defects can pose significant safety hazards for anyone on the road.

The California lemon law offers some important protections to car buyers and lessors in the Golden State. It requires manufacturers to make certain repairs to cars while they are under warranty and to buy back cars when those repairs are not successful. There is no set number of repair attempts that a manufacturer must make before the buyback requirement kicks in.

A car manufacturer can also offer to replace the vehicle, but it is ultimately the owner or lessor’s decision whether to accept that offer.

Talk With a California Lemon Law Attorney

If you are a car owner or lessor who is grappling with a manufacturer over repairs, an experienced California lemon law attorney can help. A lawyer can help you weigh your rights and options to ensure that the carmaker is held fully accountable.

At the Bickel Law Firm, we have represented hundreds of clients in defective vehicle cases in Southern California and across the state. We work tirelessly to get the people we represent the compensation they deserve.

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 California lemon law attorney today.