Chrysler Recalls Fiat Vehicles for Defective Airbags

Chrysler has issued an auto defect safety recall for select 2014 and 2015 models of the Fiat 500L. According to a safety bulletin from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), some of those vehicles may contain defective airbags. The bulletin states that the company that manufactured the driver’s knee airbag folded the bag improperly. Airbags in vehicles must be folded and positioned in a precise manner to ensure that they deploy quickly and effectively protect vehicle occupants.

 Airbags May Not Deploy

These airbags were not folded and/or positioned properly. So, the automaker says they may not deploy in the event of the crash and occupants risk serious injury or death during a collision. The automaker has said that a problem will only arise with the airbags if a vehicle occupant is not wearing a seatbelt. So far, Fiat has not received complaints about the issue and no accidents, injuries or fatalities have been reported as a result of these faulty airbags.

It is also important to mention here that these airbags were not made by Takata, the Japanese manufacturer whose explosive airbags have been involved in eight deaths and more than 12 million recalls over the last two years. Fiat’s airbags were manufactured by Poland-based TRW Automotive. The recall includes only those models of the 500L that were built between March 3, 2012 and July 25, 2014. Chrysler will start notifying owners by the month’s end. Owners can then take their vehicles to a Fiat dealer who will replace the faulty airbags free of charge. For more information, call 800-853-1403.

 Auto Product Liability Issues

When airbags fail to deploy during crashes, vehicle occupants face the serious risk of suffering traumatic injuries that could prove catastrophic or even fatal. We have come to count on our vehicle airbags to offer us that extra layer of protection in the event of a collision. Whether airbags fail to deploy or deploy inadvertently, vehicle occupants could become seriously injured.

If you have been injured as a result of an airbag defect or any other auto defect, it is important that you preserve the vehicle in its current condition unaltered so that an expert can thoroughly examine it for defects, malfunctions, and design flaws. If you or a loved one has been injured, it is also critical that you contact an experienced auto defect attorney who will ensure that you are fairly compensated for your losses. The best auto product liability law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured victims and their families.