NEW YORK, Jan. 12, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scott+Scott, Attorneys at Law, LLP, has filed a class action on behalf of class members against Takata Corporation (OTC:TKTDY) ("Takata"), a Japanese corporation with substantial operations in the United States, as well as ten different Vehicle Manufacturers, relating to defective airbags manufacturer by Takata and installed in certain automobiles by the Vehicle Manufacturers, listed below. The vehicle manufacturers at issue are Honda, Ford, BMW, Nissan, Toyota, Chrysler, General Motors, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Subaru.
Takata is one of the world's largest manufacturers of transportation-related safety devices, including airbags. Recently, information has become publicly available indicating that Takata and the Vehicle Manufacturers produced or installed defective airbags in millions of vehicles, and then actively concealed the defects from federal regulators and the public. These defective airbags not only cannot be relied upon to provide expected safety, but, in many cases, can and have become a weapon, exploding with metal debris and projecting shrapnel into passengers. Indeed, numerous consumers have died or have been significantly injured by these defective airbags. Furthermore, consumers who purchased or leased vehicles containing the defective airbags have suffered a significant diminution in the value of their automobiles. To date, approximately 16 million motor vehicles with Takata-manufactured airbags have been recalled worldwide due to their defects.
Despite knowing of the defective nature of its airbags for at least several years, Takata failed to inform regulators or the public of these problems, and failed to recall any of the impacted vehicles until only very recently. Indeed, Takata and the Vehicle Manufacturers took steps to actively conceal these defects from consumers, including ordering Takata engineers to delete their findings of defects, destroy the evidence, and remain silent about their discoveries as well as their proposed redesign of the malfunctioning airbag parts. Management from the Vehicle Manufacturers learned about the defects from Takata, but also failed to take any remedial action until only very recently.
If you wish to discuss this or have questions concerning this press release or your rights, please contact Scott+Scott (scottlaw@scott-scott.com, (800) 404-7770, (860) 537-5537) or visit the Scott+Scott website for more information: http://www.scott-scott.com. The complaint filed by Scott+Scott is available at: TAKATA COMPLAINT.
Takata's defective airbags were installed in the following vehicles:
|
BMW: 627,615 total number of potentially affected vehicles |
Chrysler: 371,309 total number of potentially affected vehicles |
| 2000 – 2005 3 Series Sedan | 2003 – 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 |
| 2000 – 2006 3 Series Coupe | 2005 – 2008 Dodge Ram 2500 |
| 2000 – 2005 3 Series Sports Wagon | 2006 – 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 |
| 2000 – 2006 3 Series Convertible | 2006 – 2008 Dodge Ram 4500 |
| 2001 – 2006 M3 Coupe | 2008 – Dodge Ram 5500 |
| 2001 – 2006 M3 Convertible | 2005 – 2008 Dodge Durango |
| 2005 – 2008 Dodge Dakota | |
| 2005 – 2008 Chrysler 300 | |
| 2007 – 2008 Chrysler Aspen | |
|
Ford: 58,669 total number of potentially affected vehicles |
General Motors: undetermined total number of potentially affected vehicles |
| 2004 – Ranger | 2003 – 2005 Pontiac Vibe |
| 2005 – 2006 GT | 2005 – Saab 9‐2X |
| 2005 – 2007 Mustang | |
|
Honda: 5,051,364 total number of potentially affected vehicles |
Mazda: 64,872 total number of potentially affected vehicles |
| 2001 – 2007 Honda Accord) | 2003 – 2007 Mazda6 |
| 2001 – 2002 Honda Accord | 2006 – 2007 MazdaSpeed6 |
| 2001 – 2005 Honda Civic | 2004 – 2008 Mazda RX‐8 |
| 2002 – 2006 Honda CR‐V | 2004 – 2005 MPV |
| 2003 – 2011 Honda Element | 2004 – B-Series Truck |
| 2002 – 2004 Honda Odyssey | |
| 2003 – 2007 Honda Pilot | |
| 2006 – Honda Ridgeline | |
| 2003 – 2006 Acura MDX | |
| 2002 – 2003 Acura TL/CL | |
| 2005 – Acura RL | |
|
Mitsubishi: 11,985 total number of potentially affected vehicles |
Nissan: 694,626 total number of potentially affected vehicles |
| 2004 – 2005 Lancer | 2001 – 2003 Nissan Maxima |
| 2006 – 2007 Raider | 2001 – 2004 Nissan Pathfinder |
| 2002 – 2004 Nissan Sentra | |
| 2001 – 2004 Infiniti I30/I35 | |
| 2002 – 2003 Infiniti QX4 | |
| 2003 – 2005 Infiniti FX35/FX45 | |
|
Subaru: 17,516 total number of potentially affected vehicles |
Toyota: 877,000 total number of potentially affected vehicles |
| 2003 – 2005 Baja | 2002 – 2005 Lexus SC |
| 2003 – 2005 Legacy | 2002 – 2005 Toyota Corolla |
| 2003 – 2005 Outback | 2003 – 2005 Toyota Corolla Matrix |
| 2004 – 2005 Impreza | 2002 – 2005 Toyota Sequoia |
| 2003 – 2005 Toyota Tundra | |
If you own(ed) or lease(d) any of the impacted vehicles, you should carefully consider the issues discussed. If you would like any further information about Scott+Scott's lawsuit or would like to file a new lawsuit, do not hesitate to contact us.