Several of the major automakers with models affected by the massive Takata Airbag recall are voluntarily expanding the recall beyond what’s required of them to better assure the safety of their buyers. The latest among them is BMW, which in December expanded a US regional recall for certain models with driver-side airbag inflators made by Japan’s Takata to cover the entire country.
The German luxury carmaker recently informed officials with the US’s National Highway Transportation Safety Administration that it will replace driver-side front air bags in about 140,000 2004-2006 model year BMW 3 Series vehicles in the US, free of charge. BMW follows the lead of Honda Motor Co., Mazda Motor Corp., Ford Motor Co. and FCA US LLC (formerly Chrysler Group LLC and a unit of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N) – all of whom previously expanded the recall for their customers.
BMW also was among at least seven major automakers that recently met in Detroit to discuss the selection and hiring of a third-party investigator to examine the issue. Takata-made airbags can deploy with excessive force, exploding and sending sharp-edged shrapnel throughout a vehicle’s cabin. Thus far, five deaths and scores of injuries have been linked to the defective airbags, and officials say that a change in the chemical mix of the airbags’ inflators may be to blame.
BMW officials say that thus far, none of its vehicles have been involved in incidents of improper airbag deployments, but the risk warrants a proactive move. At present more than 20 million vehicles worldwide and 13 million in the US are affected by the recall.
If you own or drive a vehicle that may contain one of the faulty airbags, please heed warnings and take your vehicle to a dealership for a free repair. And, if you or your loved ones are injured in an accident involving an improper airbag deployment, get medical treatment immediately. Then, call 407-999-8995 to speak with an experienced product liability attorney with Orlando’s Todd E. Copeland & Associates.
