California car defect attorneys are paying close attention to a recently-issued recall by automakers Honda, Toyota, Nissan, and Mazda. The recalls cover a total of 3.4 million vehicles, according to a report by NBC News. The recall is based on a defect in the vehicles’ airbag systems that may cause the vehicle to catch fire or may cause the airbags to inadvertently inflate, injuring those inside the vehicle.
The recalled vehicles were manufactured between 2000 and 2004 in most cases, according to the automakers. They include Toyota’s popular Camry Corolla, Tundra, and Yaris models, the Honda Civic, CR-V crossover, and Odyssey, the Nissan Maxima and Cube, and several Mazda models. The recalls are expected to affect up to half a million vehicles made by each automaker in the U.S. alone.
The four automakers all used airbag components manufactured by Takata Corp., the second-largest supplier of airbags and seat belts in the world. The components used, however, contain a manufacturing defect in the propellant used to inflate the airbags quickly in case of an accident. The defect can cause a fire to start in the front passenger side of the vehicle or cause the airbag to inflate improperly, posing a risk to the person in the front passenger seat.
According to the airbag manufacturer, some of the defective airbag parts were also shipped to non-Japanese vehicle manufacturers, including possible shipments to Daimler AG and to Ford Motor Company. However, no recalls for these vehicles have yet been issued, and more details on which companies received which airbag components have not yet been released.
Owners of the affected vehicles may take them to a dealership for a free repair. Automakers have more recall information at their websites, as well.
