GM Airbag Recall Adds 7M Vehicles to Record Breaking 60M Recall

In November 2020, General Motors announced that the company was adding 7 million SUVs and trucks to a recall of vehicles with potentially malfunctioning airbags due to a vehicle defect. The recall has been in effect for more than a decade, and includes tens of millions of vehicles manufactured by several automakers.

What is the GM Airbag Recall?

The recent GM airbag recall is part of the largest auto recall in the history of the U.S., which includes more than 60 million vehicles manufactured by multiple companies. The recall was initially announced in 2008, after an airbag manufactured by the auto parts company Takata exploded inside of a Honda Accord.

Although Takata called the incident an anomaly, 4,000 Honda vehicles were recalled in order to repair the potential airbag issue. Although initially only Honda Accord and Honda Civic vehicles were recalled, the recall was expanded in 2010 to include several more models of Honda vehicles. Over the past ten years, millions of more vehicles have been added to the recall due to potential issues with Takata airbags. In addition to vehicles manufactured by Honda and its division Acura, cars, trucks, and SUVs manufactured by Infiniti, Nissan, Toyota, BMW, GM, and their divisions have also been affected.

At least 100 million vehicles are estimated to be affected by the Takata airbag defect and eligible for repair under the recall. As of November 2020, more than 63 million of these vehicles have already had their airbags replaced. The most recent 7 million vehicles to be recalled include GMT900 vehicles manufactured between 2007 and 2014.

These vehicles include the Cadillac Escalade, GMC Sierra and Yukon, and Chevrolet  Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban and Tahoe. Although GM stated that the recall was unnecessary, the company agreed to abide by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s decision to add the additional 7 million cars and trucks to the recall.

What is the Takata Airbag Defect?

The Takata airbag defect potentially present in the recalled vehicles causes these airbags to degrade after being exposed to extreme weather such as high heat or extreme humidity. This degradation of the airbag may lead the airbag to over inflate and explode inside the vehicle unexpectedly.

When they explode, they may be so pressurized by the degradation that they blow apart the metal canister containing them. These explosions may send shrapnel and pieces of metal or plastic into the passenger compartment of the vehicle, potentially injuring or killing drivers and passengers. At least 18 people have been killed by exploding Takata airbags in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Worldwide, 27 people have been killed by the airbags.

The NHTSA has warned consumers about the dangers of potentially affected vehicles, and advises owners of these vehicles not to drive their cars unless they are taking them to a dealership to be examined and have the airbag replaced. Even owners of these vehicles who have not been harmed by their airbag may be entitled to have their vehicle repaired or receive compensation for being put at risk by their vehicle.

If you own a Cadillac Escalade, GMC Sierra or Yukon, or Chevrolet  Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban or Tahoe manufactured between 2007 and 2014, your vehicle may be covered by the GM airbag recall. Even if you have not been injured by an exploding airbag, you may still be entitled to compensation. Speaking with an experienced attorney may aid you in determining what your legal rights are, and whether you qualify to join or file a class action lawsuit against the manufacturers of these potentially dangerous vehicles.