After discovering Japanese manufacturer Takata had for years supplied them with airbags prone to malfunction, Acura issued a recall for several car models, including the 2002-2003 CL and TL, 2003-2006 MDX, and 2005 RL. The defects are believed to have arisen from moisture seeping into the airbag inflator, making the chemical explosive used to deploy the airbag unstable.
The corruption of these explosive chemicals may have caused the airbags to deploy during minor accidents. Additionally this destabilization led to the metal canisters containing the airbags can rupture during a deployment, causing shrapnel to strike the occupants and causing serious and sometimes deadly injuries.
Part supplier Takata knew back as far as 2001 the metal canisters which house the airbags could become unstable and deploy with too much force, sending deadly shrapnel at a vehicle’s occupants. Former employees have revealed tests performed in 2004 on airbags gathered at scrapyards showed the potential for malfunction. These tests were allegedly conducted in secret, outside of company work hours and on holidays. Instead of sharing these results with Federal authorities the data was instead allegedly destroyed along with the airbags used in testing.
Calls for criminal investigations by the U.S. Justice Department have been issued by U.S. Senators Blumenthal and Markey into what they described as “credible and shocking” allegations of Takata’s concealment of fatal airbag deployments. Stating that if the reports are held to be true then Takata “must be held accountable for the horrific deaths and injuries that is wrongdoing caused.”
The models include the 2002-2003 CL and TL, 2003-2006 MDX, and 2005 RL. In all, 273,000 vehicles have been issued for recall by Acura parent company Honda and could be expanded to over 600,000 since vehicles specifically affected cannot be easily identified. Recalls have also been issued for more than 2,400 Honda and Acura vehicles which had replacement airbag inflators installed.
Nationwide the numbers have totaled 14.2 million vehicles from a dozen different manufacturers in 12 states and territories. Honda issued a release to its customers on October 28 acknowledging concerns of Takata airbags directing them to the recalls page on the Acura website.
If you believe that you or your family may have been harmed during an accident in which a Takata airbag failed to deploy properly then The Cochran Firm, D.C. can help. Our team of experienced injury and product liability attorneys are actively investigating claims arising from faulty Takata airbags in Acura cars. We are currently offering free, confidential, and prompt case consultations to individuals who suffered injuries as a result of these defective airbags. Please call 202-682-5800 or fill out a contact form for a free case review. Because strict time deadlines apply, we strongly recommend contacting us at your earliest convenience in order to preserve your rights.
