Mazda Recalls Cars & Pickup Trucks Over Exploding Takata Airbags
Mazda is recalling nearly 540,000 older cars and pickup trucks for defective Takata airbags adding to the growing list of models under recall for airbags that can potentially explode with too much force and cause serious injury or death.
According to an Associated Press news report, the Japanese automaker is recalling nearly 503,000 cars to repair the driver’s side airbags and 35,000 small pickup trucks to fix passenger airbags.
Affected models with potentially faulty driver’s air bags are the 2003-2008 Mazda 6, 2006 to 2007 MazdaSpeed 6 and the 2004 to 2008 RX-8.
Mazda is also recalling 2004-2006 B-Series pickup trucks to replace passenger side inflators.
The vehicles involved in this recall are equipped with airbag inflators manufactured by Takata Corporation.
These airbags explode with too much force sending metal and plastic shrapnel into the passenger compartment.
So far, six deaths and more than 100 injuries have been linked to this issue.
Expanded Recall
Last month Takata and U.S. auto safety regulators agreed to double the number of airbag inflators recalled to 33.8 million. This expanded recall has made it the largest auto recall in U.S. history.
So far, 11 automakers have been affected by these recalls. Takata has been slow to make the repairs.
So, as a result, we have millions of vehicles on the roadways that are still equipped with these faulty airbags.
The best way to tell if your car or truck is being recalled is to visit the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) safercar.gov website and type in the Vehicle Identification Number or VIN.
Auto Product Liability Issues
These are extremely dangerous defects, which have the potential to cause serious injuries including laceration, burn injuries, bleeding and death.
It is also a cause for deep concern that Takata is still using ammonium nitrate, the controversial explosive chemical in its airbag inflators.
This is the chemical that has been linked to these potentially deadly explosions.
If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a defective Takata airbag, you can seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, pain and suffering and emotional distress.
Victims or families would also be well advised to contact an experienced auto product liability attorney who will help them better understand their legal rights and options.