Expert Advocacy

NHTSA Warns Motorists, Repair Shops to Avoid Counterfeit Airbags

After a San Diego car accident, your car may need repairs, including the replacement of the airbags if one or more them activated during the crash. However, not all airbags are created equal. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warns car owners and repair shops to use only certified, original parts when replacing or fixing airbags – not generic or counterfeit parts that can cause greater harm.

Some counterfeit air bags look nearly identical to their genuine counterparts. In testing, however, the NHTSA found that the counterfeit versions did not work correctly in many cases. Some counterfeit airbags failed to activate at all, while others ejected pieces of metal shrapnel as they activated, which can cause serious injuries or even death. The NHTSA has not received any reports of actual deaths caused by these defective auto parts to date.

San Diego Auto Defect Lawyers

When you buy a car, you expect to be able to depend on its safety and viability to get you from Point A to Point B and through life. However, when there is something wrong with its design or manufacture, that defect can cause serious problems for you and for those around you. These sorts of problems are hard to pinpoint, and you might not realize that there is a problem until it’s too late.

By federal law, automobiles must meet certain basic, minimum safety standards. In addition, automobile manufacturers are required to take reasonable precautions in the design and manufacture of their vehicles. However, big manufacturing car companies like Toyota or Ford sometimes fail to correctly check their cars for maximum safety. As a result, you end up stuck with a “lemon.”

Common Forms of Car Defects

Seatbelt injuries
Brake malfunction
Sudden/unintended acceleration
Tire defects
Airbag defects
Child car seat defects

Who Oversees Automobile Defects?

The Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has the authority to require manufacturers to recall vehicles with safety-related defects or that do not meet safety standards.

That means that the defect (1) poses a risk to motor vehicle safety and (2) may exist in a group of vehicles of the same design or manufacture.

What if My Car has a Safety Defect?

It is unsafe to drive and the dealer has an obligation to attempt to fix it. If your car is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, there is no charge. If it is no longer under the warranty, you may have to pay out of pocket for the fix and submit the bill to the reimbursement once the recall has been issued.

How Do Defects Happen?

From the moment a car is designed, it has the potential of being subjected to errors that may make it unreliable. Design problems, manufacturing errors, inspection negligence, and repair mistakes may cause a vehicle to become unsafe.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed because of a flaw in your car, you need a specialist to examine the vehicle and check for problems. The San Diego product defect attorneys will conduct design tests and file a claim against the automaker to get you the money you need for your damages and for a safe, new vehicle. Call us to set up a free consultation.