What Vehicles are Under Investigation for Non-Deploying Airbags?

Some 12 million vehicles are currently being investigated for non-deploying airbags, according to federal regulators.

Are some vehicles equipped with non-deploying airbags?

In April 2019, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation into certain airbags manufactured by ZF-TRW. National Public Radio reports that the airbags were sold to several auto makers including FCA, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota.

After receiving several reports of airbags not deploying during a crash, the NHTSA determined that the ZF-TRW airbags may share a common problem. According to the agency’s investigation, the problem may stem from the airbag control unit (ACU), the computer controlling when and how an airbag is deployed.

“These control units may suffer electrical overstress due to harmful signals (electrical transients) produced by the crash event, causing the unit to stop working during the crash,” the NHTSA explains in its investigation summary.

The NHTSA will reportedly be investigating the susceptibility of ZF-TRW airbags when it comes to potentially harmful electrical signals. Based on the outcome of the investigation, the NHTSA may order a mass recall of the products or make other regulatory changes to help keep drivers and passengers safe.

Which Vehicles are Under Investigation for Non-Deploying Airbags?

Federal regulators are investigating all vehicles equipped with a ZF-TRW airbag, including countless vehicles from Acura, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Mitsubishi, Ram, and Toyota product lines. The NHTSA estimates that around 12.3 million vehicles are included in its investigation.

If you are not sure whether or not your vehicle is equipped with a ZF-TRW airbag, a full list of affected vehicles is available on our ZF-TRW airbags investigation page.

Have Other Airbags Experienced Similar Issues?

In recent years, airbag manufacturer Takata has been at the center of the largest automotive recall in United States history. Airbags from the manufacturer began to be recalled in 2014 after they were found to explode and launch shrapnel at drivers and passengers. The issue reportedly killed 15 people in the U.S. and injured more than 180 people worldwide.

Despite the recent historic recall, the NHTSA reportedly failed to learn from the issue. Jason Levine, executive director for the nonprofit consumer advocacy group Center for Auto Safety, told NPR that the industry needs to improve its response.

“A single supplier of an important safety component provided what appears to be a defective part across multiple manufacturers and 12 million cars,” Levine said. “While the first fatality reports emerged three years ago, it has taken a higher body count for more significant action to be taken by NHTSA, and most impacted manufacturers remain silent. The industry needs to do better.”

Do I have a legal claim?

Even if you were not injured as a result of non-deploying airbags, you may have a legal claim simply based on the defective nature of the airbags. If ZF-TRW airbags are defective, you may be able to take legal action against the manufacturer for distributing a defective product and car makers for equipping their products with defect airbags.

A defective airbag lawsuit could recover penalties and damages for the defective nature of the airbags along with compensation for injuries, accidents, and deaths. A lawyer can help evaluate your claim and eligibility.

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.

Look Up Your Vehicle

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