Takata Airbag Recall Obstacles

Recalling 10 million motor vehicles is not that easy, especially when language barriers and company bankruptcies complicate matters

Saturday, June 30, 2018 - It is hard to believe that the largest motor vehicle in US history has been underway for the last five years and less than half of those affected have complied and brought their car or truck in for repairs. This is tragic, literally, since the malfunctioning Takata airbag is responsible for at least 23 deaths and countless serious injuries. Because Takata airbags are more likely to explode in geographic locations that are subject to high heat and humidity, South Florida is of particular concern to regulators. South Florida is now the focus of the NHTSA, Chrysler, and Fiat's airbag recall efforts. More motor vehicle occupants have died in Florida than in any other state due to the state's hot and humid climate. Over 1 million South Florida residents have not as of yet complied with the recall and the state has declared July as "Airbag Recall Month." South Florida drivers are urged to check the NHTSA website to determine if their vehicle has the deadly Takata airbag installed and if so to immediately park the vehicle and not to drive it again until the airbags are replaced. Three South Florida auto dealers, Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep have the necessary parts and tools to change out any make or model of car or truck and will come out to your location to do the repairs at no cost to you. (1)

South Florida's Language Barrier

One of the problems the NHTSA faces getting South Florida automobile drivers to check and comply with the airbag recall is that the majority of drivers in South Florida read and speak Spanish only and did not fully comprehend reading the recall notice that was sent out in English. Hispanics account for 23% of all Florida residents and that number gets higher the further south you go. In Florida's southern-most county, Dade, "58.5 percent of the county's 2.4 million residents speak Spanish - and half of those say they don't speak English well. English-only speakers make up 27.2 percent of the county's residents, " according to NBC News and the US census. (2)

Airbag Parts Shortages

Takata's bankruptcy has made it more difficult for automobile dealerships to get the necessary parts needed to replace the Takata airbag on every type of vehicle. When the parts are just not there, the vehicle owner could wait for weeks or a month or more before their vehicle is repaired. Auto dealers will provide vouchers free of charge for auto owners to purchase a temporary rental car at no charge, however, this presents a problem for younger drivers as car rental agencies only rent to people 25 years old or older. (3)

Every motor vehicle passenger's life is at risk due to the ammonium nitrate airbag propellant canisters exploding and sending shrapnel through the vehicle's cabin with the force and velocity of a shotgun blast. Most of the Takata airbag's 23 deaths were from passengers or driver that bled to death from a severed carotid artery in the neck. Other Takata airbag injuries include losing an eye, blindness, deep facial lacerations, broken facial bones and teeth, whiplash, concussions and traumatic brain injuries. Those injured and the loved ones of those who have died have hired Takata airbag lawyers and filed claims against Takata alleging the company knew in advance that the Takata airbag could be deadly and did nothing to warn consumers of this fact.

(1) https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article214002364.html

(2) http://www.nbcnews.com/id/24871558/ns/us_news-life/t/miami-spanish-becoming-primary-language/

(3) https://www.wptv.com/news/region-n-palm-beach-county/tequesta/ford-drivers-car-sits-in-driveway-waiting-on-takata-airbag-recall-parts

More Recent Takata Airbag Lawsuit News:

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• Used Car Dealerships Are Responsible For The Millions of Vehicles That Have Not Complied With The Takata Airbag Recall | 3/8/2019
• Takata Executives Sold Shares Anticipating Bankruptcy Filing | 3/4/2019
• The NHTSA Recommends Airbag On/Off Switches in Some Vehicles | 2/28/2019
• More Reasons The Takata Airbag Recall is Not Succeeding | 2/24/2019
• Many Obstacles Stand In The Way of Effectively Replacing The Takata Airbag | 2/18/2019
• Millions of More Vehicles Were Added to the Takata Airbag Recall in February 2019 | 2/12/2019
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• Automaker May Fail to Take Takata Airbag Recall Seriously | 1/21/2019
• General Motors Was Told That Takata Airbags Were Dangerous as Early as 1999 | 1/17/2019
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• Toyota Offers Gift Card For Referring Takata Airbag Replacement Candidates | 1/2/2019
• General Motors Claims Their Takata Airbags Will Not Hurt You | 12/6/2018
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• Takata Airbag Disposal Presents Enoumous Challenge | 11/28/2018
• General Motors is Questioning The Takata Airbag Recall | 10/31/2018
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• Many Are At Fault For Takata Airbag Recall Failures | 9/28/2018
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• Auto Industry Whistle Blowers Can Save Lives | 9/26/2018
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• Congress Considering Automobile Safety Recall Bill | 9/22/2018
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• Certain Cars and Trucks At Extreme Risk in Takata Airbag Recall | 7/23/2018
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• Mazda Issues Emergency Takata Airbags Vehicle Recall | 7/11/2018
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• Why You Should Check The Takata Airbag Recall Status Of Your Vehicle | 6/14/2018
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• Takata Employee Whistle Blower Triggers Vehicle Recall | 5/30/2018
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• What Does The Takata Bankruptcy Mean For Consumers | 4/24/2018
• Takata Defective Airbag Vehicle Recall Update | 4/10/2018
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• Takata Airbag Recall Update | 4/2/2018
• Takata Executives Knew of the Defective Airbags | 3/29/2018
• Takata Corporation Airbag Lawsuits | 3/26/2018
• Takata Airbag Injuries | 3/21/2018
• The Defective Takata Airbag | 3/13/2018
• A Summary of the Takata Airbag Recall | 3/5/2018
• Takata Class Action Lawsuits Continue to Grow | 6/26/2017
• Exploding Takata Airbag Canisters Causes Injuries and Death | 6/19/2017
• Takata Airbag Malfunction and Who Can Sue | 6/12/2017
• Takata Executives Indicted for Falsifying or Discarding the Damaging Information | 6/5/2017

No-Cost, No-Obligation Takata Airbag Lawsuit Case Review

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