Many owners of Mazda vehicles in New York will need to visit their dealerships for repairs due to manufacturer safety recalls. The problem is the result of faulty air bag inflators produced by Takata. Similar faults have forced 19 automakers to issue approximately 70 million recalls nationwide.
According to information prepared by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the PSPI-6 air bag inflator could cause injury and death. Extensive exposure to high humidity and temperatures degrades the propellant in the inflator. A rupture during air bag deployment could shoot metal pieces throughout the vehicle.
The recall applies to Mazda CX-7, CX-9, and Mazda 6 models manufactured from 2007 through 2009 and in 2012. A total of 79,402 vehicles have been recalled. For some of these models, this recall represents a second effort to correct the problem after a previous recall installed a temporary solution.
Takata had attempted to hide the problem as far back as 2000. Fraudulent reports from the company concealed the problems it had identified during the testing of the inflators.
Liability law imposes financial responsibility on companies when their products cause injuries. Someone hurt in a car crash because of an auto defect could discuss the potential of a personal injury claim with an attorney. An independent expert could be hired by an attorney to examine the faulty part and provide testimony about how it contributed to the crash. To pursue compensation for the victim, an attorney could assemble evidence and file it with a court. The victim might gain insights from the attorney about whether to accept a pretrial settlement or present the case to a jury.