Toyota and Nissan Recall Millions Of Vehicles For Defective Takata Airbags

Japanese automakers Toyota and Nissan issued a massive safety recall for 6.5 million vehicles equipped with Takata airbags that could explode and cause serious injuries.

According to a news report in The New York Times, the new recalls included more recent models than the companies had previously said needed fixing.

Toyota said that the airbag mechanisms in some cars may be deteriorating over time. So far, about 25 million vehicles by various manufacturers have been recalled over the Takata airbag issues.

The defective airbags have been linked to six deaths and more than 100 injuries.

The faulty inflators in these airbag systems can burst when triggered, spraying shards of metal at a vehicle’s occupants.

Toyota said in an email that during an inspection certain Takata airbag inflators were found to have a potential for moisture intrusion over time. This could cause the inflators to not work properly during a crash.

About 5 million of the vehicles included in this recall are Toyotas. The recall affects 35 models including top sellers such as the Corolla.

Nissan’s recall covered 1.5 million vehicles.

Slow to Provide Repairs

Under the law, automakers are required to provide repairs free of charge to consumers for recalled vehicles.

However, in the case of the Takata recall, automakers have been slow to provide fixes. Last month, federal regulators announced a $14,000 fine a day for Takata in an effort to speed up its response.

With this most recent recall, the backlog could grow even more. Another recall is also expected this month from Honda, but the number of vehicles is still uncertain.

Dangerous Auto Defects

It is frightening to think about the number of vehicles with defective Takata airbags that might be out there on our roadways – those that have been recalled and those that have not been recalled.

Then, there are the vehicles that have been recalled, but not repaired.

If you are in the market for a used car, be very careful about the vehicle you end up buying. Research the vehicle on the federal website, safercar.gov to check if it is part of a recall.

If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a defective Takata airbag, please contact an experienced auto product liability attorney to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.