5 Biggest Auto Recalls of 2015

LAW BLOG  •

August 25, 2015

Auto recalls pop up in the media regularly. Most are due to relatively benign issues with vehicles that take very little time and effort to remedy. Others, however, put driver and passenger safety at risk and create long and drawn out legal battles over injury causing accidents. 2015 has been a big year for major auto recalls that have damaged vehicle brand names, put lives at risk, and cause injurious and fatal accidents.

Here’s what you need to know about the current top five auto recalls of 2015:

  1. Takata airbag recall. The Takata airbag recall is the largest in auto history. To date, 30 million vehicles in the U.S. by 10 different automotive manufacturers have been recalled. The recall focuses on frontal airbags on the driver and passenger sides of vehicles that were manufactured between 2002 and 2008. The airbags pose a serious risk of explosion because the inflator inside the airbag compartment can ignite and cause an explosion.

    Eight individuals have died from the malfunction so far, and more than 100 individuals have been injured. When the explosion occurs, metal shrapnel from the airbag device is propelled outward, causing serious injury and death. Popular vehicle makers that have been affected by the recall include Ford, GM, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru, Mazda, and several more.

  2. GM faulty ignition recall. The ignition recall started in 2014, and the number of approved compensation claims from the recall stands at 124 individuals as of July 13, 2015. The large recall included 2.6 million vehicles, 2.2 million of which were in the U.S. The faulty ignition switch caused loss of power by moving out the “run” mode and into “accessory” or “off,” making those affected lose momentum and go off road or otherwise crash. A secondary threat from the malfunction is that the air bags may not engage during a crash if the car is in the accessory or off position.

    Those looking for compensation from the company’s victim compensation fund had to file their requests by the end of January 2015. Currently, the facility is evaluating over 4,000 claims of hospitalization, serious injury, and death.

  3. GM lift gate recall. GM is recalling 780,000 crossover SUVs because of a lift gate malfunction. The power operated lift gates are not operating properly and have been falling suddenly and hitting people. The crossover SUV includes models manufactured from 2007-2012. GM believes that dirt and debris in the gas struts have been causing them to fail. So far, the company has recorded 56 injury reports from the recall.
  4. Toyota Prius and hybrid software glitch recall. On July 15 th , Toyota recalled 625,000 Priuses and hybrid vehicles worldwide because of a software glitch that can cause the vehicles system to suddenly shut down. The resulting loss of power, like the GM ignition switch recall, has the potential to cause accidents. Toyota is also concerned that the software involved in the recall may be overheating and causing the malfunction.
  5. Ford faulty body control module recall. Ford has recalled 432,096 vehicles for a body module control that will glitch, causing the engine to continue to run even after the ignition has been turned off. So far, the auto manufacturer has not had any reports of injury. The recall affects Ford Focuses, Escapes, and C-Maxes built in 2014 and 2015.

If you are concerned your vehicle may be affected by any of the following recalls, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers a VIN number search. Alternatively, you can use your automaker’s site to look up recall information. You can find your VIN number by looking through your windshield at the driver’s side of the vehicle or where the door latches on the driver’s side.

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