Honda Air Bag Recall
Honda has recalled 2001 civic and honda accord models due to air bag hazards. The following announcement is from the NHTSA website:
If you have been injured due to an air bag failure please contact us to dscuss your matter.
Air Bag Recalls
Several air bags have been recalled involving different car manufacturers. Many of these recalls have to with sensor problems causing the air bag either to fail in its deployment, or to go off causing serious injury to the passenger.
• GM: 12,662 2009 Cadillac CTS sedans over a software problem that may disable the front-passenger air bag when it should be enabled or vice versa.
• Nissan: more than 200,000 2007-08 Altima, 350Z, Murano and Rogue and Infiniti EX35, G35 and G37 vehicles to fix a sensor for the passenger-side air bag. Nissan is also recalling 16,365 2006 Murano and 2008 Infiniti EX35 SUVs to fix incorrectly programmed software that may lead passenger-side air bags to fail.
• BMW: 200,000 2006 3 Series and 2004-06 5 Series cars and 2004-06 X3 SUVs over concerns that the front-passenger air bag may not deploy in a crash. Small cracks could develop in a seat detection mat and deactivate the bags but activate the warning light.• Hyundai: is recalling 393,714 2006-08 Sonata sedans to fix a problem with the air-bag system in the front passenger seat. The affected cars have an advanced system that disables the passenger front bag when it detects a child-restraint system or small child in the seat.
• Ford: is recalling 470,000 2005-08 Mustangs to update passenger-side front-air-bag software. Ford says internal testing showed the air bag could injure a small, unbelted passenger.Read the article on chicagotribune.com
If you or someone you know has been injured due to an airbag or an airbag failure please contact our office at 919-677-0144.
Spine Fractures
An interesting study was recently conducted regarding air bags and seat belt usage. Spine fractures occur very often after a motor vehicle crash and can lead to paralysis or death.
According to a new study, the combination of air bags and seat belts seem to lower the tendency of suffering a spine fracture during a motor vehicle crash.
The use of both seat belt and air bag was associated with decreased odds of a spine fracture. Use of an air bag alone was associated with increased odds of a severe thoracic, but not cervical spine fracture. Read the study here
Air Bags: Mustangs
Ford has issued a recall involving 2005-2008 Mustangs due to air bag non complaince issue.
Recall Number: 08V082000 Summary: FORD IS RECALLING 434,593 MY 2008 MUSTANG VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH ONE OF THE NECK INJURY REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION," FOR AN UNBELTED 5TH PERCENTILE FEMALE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHILE IT IS IN THE FULL FORWARD POSITION. Consequence: DURING AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, IF A SMALL FEMALE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS NOT WEARING THE SAFETY BELT, AND HAS THE SEAT IN THE FULL FORWARD POSITION, THERE MAY BE AN INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR A NECK INJURY. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT FEBRUARY 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332 OR THROUGH EMAIL TO WWW.OWNERCONNECTION.COM. Notes: FORD RECALL NO. 08C02. CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION¿S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
Nissan: Recalls
Nissan announced a recall involving the air bag component. If you believe your vehicle might be affected by the recall make sure to contact your auto dealership. This recall involves the potential for an airbag to fail to deploy when involved in a crash.
Inflatable Jacket
So we know that when air bags work they can save lives...so how about an inflatable jacket for motorcyclists? Apparently, a motorcyclist was wearing such a jacket while riding his motorcycle. When it crashed, his jacket inflated, worked like an airbag and helped save his life!
Joseph McPhatter, of Randallstown, was injured in a crash on Interstate 83 after being cut off by another motorist in September. According to police, McPhatter was ejected 100 feet, hitting the ground at an impact rate of 140 mph.Police said that McPhatter might have been severely injured had it not been for the Impact Jacket he was wearing -- a jacket that inflates like an air bag when a motorcyclist is in an wreck. Read the whole story
Side Air Bag Rule?
It looks like next month Federal official will reveal a new requirement for automakers to install side air bags by the early part of the next decade.
In watching numerous crash tests, and researching various cars and SUVs, it only seems like its time to make side air bags a requirement. Read more here.
Side-impact crashes are the second most common fatal type after frontal crashes, killing 9,200 people in 2005. The percentage of fatalities caused by side-impact crashes is on the rise -- from 31 percent in 1980-81 to 49 percent in 2004-05.
That's at least partly because frontal air bags are required in today's vehicles (and have reduced frontal-crash fatalities), and side air bags are not, said Adrian Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Also, Lund said, "growing sales of SUVs and pickups have exacerbated height mismatches among passenger vehicles, thereby increasing the risks to occupants of many vehicles struck in the side."
In watching numerous crash tests, and researching various cars and SUVs, it only seems like its time to make side air bags a requirement. Read more here.
