Two deaths and 7 serious injuries have been linked to ARC airbags that exploded and shot out metal shrapnel. These airbags were used by Maserati and 11 other auto-makers.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Maserati airbag induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured or died when a Maserati 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?
About 52 million defective airbag inflators “could explode, hurl shrapnel and injure or kill people,” according to a warning from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Does My Maserati Have a Defective Airbag?
ARC airbag inflators were used in vehicles sold by Maserati and 11 other auto-makers, but there is not yet a full list of vehicle makes and models because only limited recalls have been announced so far.
When Were The Airbags Manufactured?
The airbag inflators were manufactured in Tennessee by ARC Automotive Inc. and licensed by another company, Delphi Automotive Systems, between the year 2000 and January 2018.
ARC Automotive Refuses to Recall Airbag Inflators
ARC Automotive refused to recall the airbag inflators, blaming any issue on “isolated” manufacturing problems that are inevitable in any high-volume production process. However, the NHTSA disagreed, and is seeking to force the company to recall 52 million airbag inflators.
What is the Problem?
Metal that shoots out an ARC airbag inflator is extremely dangerous, because the metal can hit drivers and passengers in the face, neck, chest, or body. These injuries may look like stab-wounds or gunshots.
2 Deaths & 7 Serious Injuries Linked to ARC Airbag Explosions
Two people were killed by metal from an ARC airbag in the U.S. and Canada, and 7 people were severely injured, according to the NHTSA. These injuries and deaths were reported between 2009 and 2023.
What is the Risk?
- Metal shrapnel injuries
- Injuries look like gunshots or knife-wounds
- Bleeding
- Lacerations
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Blindness
- Chest wounds
- Brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Impact injuries due to airbag failure
- Death
ARC Airbag Ruptures Linked to Manufacturing Problem
Manufacturing problems during the welding process can create a type of debris called “weld slag,” which gets left behind inside the airbag inflator’s metal canister, according to the NHTSA.
This “weld slag” is dangerous because if it is big enough, it can plug up a hole that is supposed to allow gases to escape from the airbag inflator to fill up the airbag.
Instead of filling up the airbag, the gases get trapped inside the airbag inflator’s metal canister, causing it to pressurize and blow apart. Sharp pieces of metal can shoot out of the airbag module and directly into a driver or passenger’s face, neck, chest, or body.
Another Safety Problem: Airbag Fails to Inflate Properly
Another problem is that the airbag fails to inflate properly. In a serious accident, people inside the vehicle may suffer life-threatening injuries or death when they hit the steering wheel or other parts of the vehicle.
List of Maserati Vehicles From 2000-2018 Model-Years
- Maserati 3200 GT (1998 – 2001)
- Maserati Quattroporte V6 Evo (1998 – 2001)
- Maserati Quattroporte V8 Evo (1998 – 2001)
- Maserati 3200 GTA (1999 – 2002)
- Maserati Coupé (2002 – 2007)
- Maserati Spyder (2001 – 2007)
- Maserati GranSport (2004 – 2007)
- Maserati GranSport Spyder (2005 – 2007)
- Maserati Quattroporte V (2003 – 2012)
- Maserati Quattroporte V S (2008 – 2012)
- Maserati MC12 (2004 – 2005)
- Maserati GranTurismo (2007 – 2019)
- Maserati GranTurismo S (2008 – 2019)
- Maserati GranCabrio (2010 – 2019)
- Maserati Ghibli III Diesel (2013 – 2020)
- Maserati Quattroporte Diesel (2013 – 2020)
- Maserati Ghibli (M157) (2013 – Present)
- Maserati Ghibli S (M157) (2013 – Present)
- Maserati Levante GT (2016 – Present)
- Maserati Levante Modena (2016 – Present)
- Maserati Levante Modena S (2017 – Present)
- Maserati Levante Trofeo (2018 – Present)
- Maserati Quattroporte GT (2018 – Present)
- Maserati Quattroporte Modena (2018 – Present)
Do I have a Maserati Airbag Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Maserati airbag induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured or died when a Maserati 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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