Mercedes-Benz Announces Recall of Cars with Defective Takata Airbags

Mercedes-Benz has issued a massive recall of motor vehicles in connection with the larger Takata airbag recall.
Takata Corporation, the Japan-based automotive parts company, previously announced that it will be recalling as many as 40 million airbag inflators due to a manufacturing defect that causes serious risk of injury or death in the event of a car accident.
The product defect in the airbags can result in shrapnel flying out of the airbag inflators during a crash. Basically, instead of inflating the airbag, the faulty parts cause metal to leave the airbag, putting the vehicle driver and passengers in jeopardy.
The airbag problem is exacerbated in warm weather climates because ammonium nitrate, a chemical used as a “propellant” for the Takata airbags, can cause ruptures in the auto parts when exposed to heat and moisture.
Takata supplies the airbags used in vehicles made by Mercedes-Benz and other auto manufacturers. A lot of these car manufacturers have recently come under fire due to the lack of urgency with which they are replacing the defective airbags in their vehicles.
As many as one million Mercedes-Benz cars, including sedans, convertibles and cargo vans, may be affected by the defective Takata auto parts, prompting the recent recall. Mercedes-Benz expects to replace all of the faulty airbag inflators in their vehicles.
To date, there have been no reports of injuries in Mercedes-Benz vehicles in connection with the airbag defect. However, other types of vehicles with the Takata airbags have been involved in several fatal accidents, resulting in personal injury lawsuits, product liability lawsuits and wrongful death claims against a number of auto manufacturers.
For additional information about this motor vehicle recall, check out the CNET.com article, “Mercedes-Benz Recalls nearly 1 Million Vehicles for Takata Airbag Issues.”
 
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury due to use of a defective consumer product or a defective auto part, you should speak with a qualified product liability attorney immediately. The experienced, knowledgeable personal injury and product liability lawyers at Lombardi & Lombardi can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation at one of our offices in Edison, Brick or Freehold, NJ.