A new Volkswagen airbag recall has been issued for more vehicles that have the potentially defective Takata airbags installed.

The recall shows that newer models of Volkswagen are not immune to the airbag defects, as the latest recall affected 2016 and 2017 vehicles along with other model years. The previous recall that was initiated affected cars from model years 2002 to 2015.

Consumers were made aware that the Takata airbags installed in the front may actually explode, and several reports indicate that drivers and passengers have been killed following the explosion from improperly inflated airbags.

The mechanism behind the Volkswagen airbag recall appears to be the inflator for the airbag itself.

Rather than rapidly inflating to a proper amount, the inflator apparently works with incredible force to rapidly fill the airbag, and the metal cartridge that houses the propellant can burst, causing pieces of metal to fly out from the cartridge and into the vehicle, potentially harming vehicle occupants.

Reports have indicated that the defects in the airbag inflator mechanism seem to be more prominent with changes in weather, particularly in conditions of high humidity and heat.

These factors apparently cause degradation in the propellant, which happens to be ammonium nitrate, a chemical used to make bombs. As one can imagine, this presents major safety issues.

Studies into the airbag inflating mechanism have also indicated that the airbags lack sufficient amounts of a drying agent which is used to allow the airbag to inflate with the proper amount of force, and not over-inflate like has been observed with the Takata airbags.

Takata’s defective airbags that have affected so many cars in various recalls, not just with Volkswagen and Audi, that it faces many product liability lawsuits alleging manufacturing and design defects. Regulatory agencies have also imposed fines against Takata, and combined, the company will likely be filing bankruptcy as a result.

Delays in Volkswagen Airbag Recall Notice Raise Questions

Volkswagen and Audi are currently under scrutiny as consumers wonder why the Volkswagen airbag recall notice came with such delay when other vehicle manufacturers have taken more proactive approaches to dealing with defective airbags.

Other vehicle companies have responded by offering vehicles to replace the recalled vehicles or has loaned out vehicles to customers while they are airbags are replaced.

In addition to the delay in announcing the Volkswagen airbag recall, vehicle owners have also stated that when they go in for repairs, Volkswagen has lacked the parts necessary to complete the airbag repairs, and have they failed to assist owners financially with costs associated with the Takata airbag recall.

It is unsafe for vehicle owners to drive their vehicles with the defective Takata airbags in place, as they could face a potentially deadly situation in the event of an accident.

However, many owners have difficulty paying rental fees for cars or finding an alternate form of transportation while their vehicles are serviced to replace the airbags, and are stating that VW is not doing enough to help customers out for a problem that is not the vehicle owner’s fault.

As a result, more owners are planning to take legal action following the allegedly improper response by the company following the Volkswagen airbag recall. Not only are plaintiffs concerned about the defective airbags, they are concerned about the apparent lack of an appropriate response by VW to correct the situation.

If you are a vehicle owner who has been affected by the Volkswagen airbag recall, you may be able to seek legal compensation. An attorney can help review your case for free in a no-obligation consultation as you prepare to decide if taking legal action is right for you.