BMW Recalls Vehicles In Which Airbags May Fail To Deploy
BMW Recalls Vehicles In Which Airbags May Fail To Deploy
BMW of North America is issuing an auto defect recall for about 91,800 Mini Coopers in the United States to repair a problem with the floor mat, which could potentially prevent the passenger airbag from deploying.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall affects about 59,270 Mini Cooper and Cooper S models manufactured from January 2005 to November 2006, and about 32,530 Mini Cooper convertibles and Cooper S convertibles made between January 2005 and July 2008.
The problem, according to NHTSA’s safety recall report, involves an occupant detection mat sensor on the passenger side of the vehicles that may not work properly.
In the event of a crash, the front passenger airbag may not activate even when the seat is occupied.
Germany-based Johnson Controls GmbH, a unit of Johnson Controls Inc. manufactured the part involved in the recall.
Dangerous and Defective Airbags
Airbags have become a critical part of vehicle safety systems. It’s hard to imagine a car, truck or SUV without an airbag. Airbags give vehicle occupants an additional layer of safety in the event of a crash.
However, there are times when airbags don’t work as intended.
We’ve seen a number of recalls involving airbags that fail to deploy and we’ve also seen airbags that deploy inadvertently injuring vehicle occupants or causing an accident.
Over the last year, millions of vehicles have been recalled for airbags manufactured by Takata that can explode and release shrapnel into the vehicle compartment, injuring or killing occupants.
If Your Vehicle Has Been Recalled
If you suspect that your vehicle is part of an auto safety recall, please do not ignore the matter. Your safety depends on it and it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
To check for a recall, go to NHTSA’s website safercar.gov. You could use your vehicle identification number or VIN to find out if your vehicle is part of a safety recall. If it is, take it to an authorized dealer to get the recommended repairs.
If the part is not available right away, try not to drive your vehicle until it has been fixed. The dealer is required under the law to do the repair at no charge.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective auto, please ensure that the vehicle is preserved in its current state, unaltered so an expert can examine it thoroughly for defects, malfunctions and other evidence.
Injured victims can seek compensation by filing a product liability lawsuit against the automaker or the company that manufactured faulty parts.
It takes an auto defect law firm that is not only resourceful, but also passionate about pursuing justice for injured clients and holding negligent automakers accountable.
