Airbag Defect Possibly Responsible for Multiple Fatalities found in Fiat Chrysler, Honda, Toyota, and More

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recently expanded their investigation of a possible defect in airbags found in vehicles manufactured by Fiat Chrysler, Honda, Hyundai, Kia Mitsubishi, and Toyota. Found in over 12.3 million vehicles total, this defect could be preventing airbags from deploying. The suspected airbag defect is linked to as many as eight deaths.

NHTSA reports that the airbags in questions were installed in some of the vehicles produced by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Honda Motor Co., Hyundai Motor Co., Kia Motors Corp., Mitsubishi Motors Corp., and Toyota Motor Corp. between 2010-2019. The possible airbag defect is linked to the airbag control units, produced by TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. The worry is that the airbag control units may fail because of “electrical overstress” and could keep the airbag from deploying properly in a collision.

This is not the first investigation process by the NHTSA involving these airbag defects. In 2018, the case was first opened. According to the AP, the preliminary evaluation included four deaths from Hyundai-Kia vehicles and three deaths from Fiat Chrysler vehicles. Two collisions involving recent model Toyota Corollas led to the recent expansion of the investigation. In each collision, the airbags failed to deploy. This led to one fatality.

Atlee Hall has decades of experiences in representing clients in auto products liability cases, including instances of airbag defects. By holding negligent auto manufacturers accountable for their unsafe products, the entire auto industry becomes safer. Therefore, making everyone on the road safer.