Consumers File Airbag Class Action Lawsuit After NHTSA Expands Investigation

Federal regulators have recently announced that they are investigating several different automakers and certain car models that may have contained faulty ZF-TRW airbags, which may not inflate during a collision.

This investigation has already spurred legal action, with over a dozen consumers already coming together to file an airbag class action lawsuit.

The class action lawsuit alleges the reportedly defective ZF-TRW airbags had put them at potentially fatal danger in case of car accidents and caused them inconveniences when they discovered their vehicles were not safe.

Overall, the lawsuit alleges the claimants overpaid for their purchase or lease on their vehicles, with these cars allegedly failing to meet reasonable safety information. The plaintiffs involved in this lawsuit include, but are not limited to:

• Florida plaintiff Andrea A. says she purchased a new 2015 Toyota Corolla on July 17, 2015, for approximately $18,040.56. The value of her vehicle was reportedly diminished due to the allegedly ZF-TRW defective airbags, with the claim stating would not have purchased the car if she had been aware of this problem.
• Florida plaintiff Krystina B. says she purchased a new 2016 Toyota Corolla on Oct. 14, 2017, for approximately $16,452.75. The value of her vehicle has reportedly diminished due to the allegedly ZF-TRW defective airbags, with the claim stating she would not have purchased the car if she had been aware of the problem.
• Florida plaintiff Yoni B. says he purchased a new 2017 Toyota Corolla in September 2017 for approximately $17,000. The value of his vehicle has reportedly diminished due to the allegedly defective ZF-TRW airbags, with the claim stating Yoni would not have bought the car if he had been aware of the problem.

Each of the claimants all alleges they suffered out of pocket expenses due to the recall, including taking time off work, paying for rental cars, and arranging other transportation options.

Overview of Defective Airbag Problems

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced it would be expanding its investigation on April 2019, after discovering the allegedly defective ZF-TRW airbags may also affect seat belt pretensioners.

The NHTSA made the decision to expand the recall after two car accidents were reported in conjunction with the problem, with the airbags reportedly failing to deploy. Those crashes involved 2018 and 2019 Toyota Corollas, with one person dying from the incident.

ZF Friedrichshafen AG (ZF-TRW) is a worldwide supplier of driveline and chassis technology for cars and commercial vehicles, including active and passive safety technology. This includes airbag control units, which have been supplied to various automakers including Honda, Kia, Toyota, and Mitsubishi. The allegedly defective nature of the airbag system’s wiring caused problems with the component’s ability to send signals to the airbag inflator during a collision.

The problem reportedly stems from unwanted electrical signals that are released during the crash itself, which can disable the airbag control circuit (ACU) in the passenger compartment of the car. More specifically, the ACU monitors signals from crash sensors. If the ACU fails, the airbag will not deploy. According to the NHTSA, every vehicle has an ACU component but the level of security surrounding the circuit varies between vehicles.

NBC News reports that approximately 12.3 million vehicles may be affected by these allegedly defective airbags, with the NHTSA currently gather date from automakers about which vehicles the affected airbag control units were installed in.

This Airbag Class Action Lawsuit is Case No. 1:19-cv-21681-MGC, in the U.S. District Court of Southern Florida, Miami Division.

Join a Free Defective Vehicle Airbag Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you own a vehicle with a defective ZF-TRW airbag, you may qualify to join this defective airbag class action lawsuit investigation. You don’t need to have been in an accident to participate. See if your vehicle is included by looking it up on our investigation page.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented 
for informational purposes only.