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Toyota Airbag Lawsuit

Toyota Airbag Lawsuit

Toyota and other auto-makers may be forced to recall 52 million vehicles with defective ARC airbag inflators that can explode and shoot out deadly pieces of metal.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Toyota airbag induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured or died when an airbag exploded or failed to deploy, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

What is the Problem?

Safety officials in the U.S. are warning that 52 million airbag inflators used by Toyota and 11 other auto-makers between 2000 and 2018 are defective because they can explode and shoot out metal, causing severe injury or death to people in the vehicle.

Does Toyota Use ARC Airbags?

Yes. However, Toyota has not released a full list of vehicle makes and models that are equipped with defective ARC / Delphi airbag inflators because they have not been recalled yet.

NHTSA Safety Investigation Into ARC / Delphi Airbag Inflators

After an 8-year investigation that began in 2015, auto-safety regulators concluded that certain frontal driver and passenger airbag inflators made by ARC Automotive and Delphi Automotive Systems between the year 2000 and January 2018 are defective because they can explode and eject metal shrapnel.

ARC / Delphi Refuse to Recall Airbag Inflators

The NHTSA requested a recall in April 2023, but ARC Automotive refused. According to ARC, no defect exists in the inflators, and any problems are related to “isolated” manufacturing problems.

“Specifically, ARC characterized the ruptures as ‘isolated events’ and ‘an inevitable part of any volume manufacturing process,” according to the NHTSA investigation report.

In response, the NHTSA scheduled a public meeting in October 2023, which is a mandatory step before they force ARC and Delphi to issue a recall.

How Many People Were Injured or Killed?

At least 7 people have been injured and 2 people have been killed by rupturing airbag inflators in the U.S. and Canada, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These injuries and deaths were reported between 2009 and March 2023.

Why Do ARC Airbags Explode?

NHTSA believes that the inflators can rupture due to excess debris called “weld slag” that is produced by the manufacturing process.

If there is too much weld slag left behind in the metal canister that contains the airbag inflator, it can block an exit hole that is supposed to allow gases to escape from the inflator and fill up the airbag.

According to the NHTSA:

“A blockage of sufficient size will cause an over pressurization and rupture of the inflator, leading to the potential forced propulsion of shrapnel or metal fragments from the inflator into the passenger compartment.”

ARC Automotive updated their manufacturing process in January 2018 to reduce the risk of weld slag being left behind in the inflator. No injuries, deaths, or ruptures have been reported since January 2018.

What is the Risk?

  • Metal shrapnel injuries
  • Lacerations
  • Bleeding to death
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Injuries resembling gunshots or knife-wounds
  • Blindness
  • Wounds to the face, neck, head, chest or body
  • Injuries related to airbag failing to deploy
  • Death

Do I have a Toyota Airbag Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Toyota airbag induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured or died when an airbag exploded or failed to deploy, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

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