Product Liability Attorneys Blog

The Associated Press is reporting that Toyota recalled more than 550,000 vehicles worldwide because of a steering problem it discovered, while GM is recalling nearly 700 Cadillacs because of a brake issue, UPI reports.

You would think by now vehicle makers would be at the point where the number of vehicles they have to recall would be limited. They spend years building vehicles and have top-notch designers coming up with the newest concepts for safety and technology. Yet here we are at the end of 2011 and half a million cars are going to have to be repaired because of problems that could potentially lead to a serious or fatal accident.

Don't misunderstand. Our product liability lawyers are thankful that companies voluntarily, and sometimes with pressure from the government, recall vehicles that can be dangerous to consumers.

But defective vehicles are much more serious of an issue than other products that can be called back after a problem is discovered. These are several-ton vehicles that can be driven at speeds over 100 mph. They are killing machines if not properly handled right and certainly if they are designed poorly.

Car companies have many standards to hit in terms of safety and making sure that in a crash a person will be relatively safe. But they apparently lack when it comes to ensuring that a vehicle will work correctly.

This comes with many still remembering the braking issues that Toyota had in recent years that led to several deaths. According to the Associated Press, the Toyota recall affects 447,000 vehicles in North America, along with another 100,000 abroad. The models include Camry, Highlander, Sienna, Solara, Avalon and Highlander HV.

The company has received about 80 reports of a defect in steering going back to 2007, but the company says there are no reports of accidents or injuries. In the last two years, the companies have recalled nearly 14 million vehicles.

Consumers should be aware that if a strange noise is heard coming from the engine, they are urged to make an appointment with a Toyota or Lexus dealer to get the vehicle inspected. If parts are required to fix the issue, they will be furnished without a charge to the consumer.

The Cadillac issue relates to a brake boost push rod issue in its 2012 model year Cadillac CTS vehicles made in a five-day period in October. Nuts holding the power vacuum brake boost push rods may not be torqued to the proper specifications, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The issue could cause a nut to loosen and allow the brake boost push rod and the brake pedal to separate. GM has told consumers they will service the vehicles for free.

Thankfully, the companies are able to get the word out about the recalls so that people who have these vehicles can get them fixed. But considering that vehicles can cost tens of thousands of dollars, they should be right the first time.

Continue reading "Cadillac, Toyota Recall Thousands of Defective Vehicles" »

Honda is recalling more than 80,000 2006 CR-V crossover sport utility vehicles because of a potential fire hazard in the vehicle's power windows, The New York Times reports.

The newspaper also says the Japanese automaker is recalling 5,600 CR-Z hybrid vehicles from 2011 because manual transmission models have a flaw in the software that can cause a vehicle to unexpectedly move backward or forward.

Obviously, it is concerning that a vehicle maker would create a vehicle that not only could catch fire, but also move suddenly without the driver's intent. But it's far from uncommon. The Product Liability Attorneys Blog recently reported that Ford recalled more than 1 million trucks because corrosion problems can cause the fuel tanks to catch fire.

Hiring an experienced Florida Automobile Defect Attorney can be prudent if your vehicle caused you to get into an accident unexpectedly and through no fault of your own. Vehicle defects in Washington D.C., New York, Florida or nationwide can be alarming because vehicles are so expensive and we rely on them for safe travels.

When these heavy and dangerous vehicles break down or have major flaws because of manufacturing defects, many people can be affected. People have died or been seriously injured and even criminally charged because of their vehicle's faulty makeup. Yet, it sometimes takes years for a company to notify the public and come clean about their problems.

In Honda's case, the company says the Honda Fit was already recalled because of a power window master switch problem that caused fires. The Fit, along with the two recently recalled vehicles, were part of a 962,000-vehicle recall worldwide. The 2007-2008 Fit models were recalled for a similar problem -- a defect that allowed water to reach the master switch, which could cause short-circuiting and fires.

After the Fit recall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated the same issue in the CR-V and CR-Z models, leading to the most recent recall. Honda doesn't know of anyone who has been injured or died as a result of the CR-V issues. One person died in South Africa because of the Fit problem.

Only recently, the company recalled 1.5 million Honda Accords from 2005 to 2010 because of transmission problems.

It's pretty scary to think that someone could be killed in a vehicle because it was created poorly or rushed in order to maximize profits. Vehicles are complex and can be killing machines if not created and used properly.

Consumers pay tens of thousands of dollars for these machines and expect them to work properly, no matter what. It is simply unacceptable to spend that kind of money and not get a quality product out of it.

And if these manufacturing defects cause the vehicles to have problems, it can open the automakers up to liability under the law. When a defect causes a serious or fatal accident, the company can and should be held responsible.

Continue reading "Honda Recalls 80,000 Vehicles Due to Fire, Transmission Hazards" »

Ford announced recently it was recalling more than 1 million pickup trucks, including the F-150, because corrosion problems can cause the vehicles to catch on fire, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Our product liability lawyers have seen over the years how defective vehicles have injured innocent and unsuspecting drivers. When a driver is injured because an automobile has material defects, he or she deserves to be compensated. Such defects can also contribute to an accident or be the cause of injuries sustained in the accident.

In the current recall, the newspaper reports, Ford says that straps that hold the fuel tanks to the truck can corrode after heavy use, potentially leading to fires if the tank drops and leaks. The problem caused one injury and three vehicle fires that the company knows about.

The models and years that were recalled:

• 1997 to 2003 Ford F-150
• 2004 F-150 Heritage
• 1997 to 1999 F-250
• 2002 to 2003 Lincoln Blackwood

This follows action taken in April, when Ford recalled 1.2 million vehicles because front-seat airbags could inflate without the vehicle being involved in an accident. The newspaper reports that owners of these vehicles can bring their trucks in for free repairs.

Recalls almost always take some type of accident or problem before an issues is fixed. Large companies rarely are proactive in putting out recalls because it is a huge cost to them. After consumers have purchased a product and it is found to be defective, companies either have to replace or repair it, which hurts their bottom line.

Vehicle companies have had scores of recalls throughout the years. Some that probably come to mind are when Toyota had problems with gas pedals getting stuck, and when Firestone tires used on Ford Explorers were apt to blowouts, which led to a recall scandal a decade ago.

Vehicles are different from other products. If a person's vacuum has a defect, it can be replaced and no one usually gets hurt. But an automobile can be as dangerous as a weapon and manufacturers must make sure they get it right -- the first time.

Recall information for vehicles can be found online through the government-run website recalls.gov. There, consumers can search by a specific make and model, search for car seat recalls, tire recalls and other vehicle-related product pull-backs. The site also allows consumers to search for non-motor vehicle products.

Sometimes, companies are so motivated by profits and shareholders' desires that they cut corners on their product. And in the case of motor vehicles that can lead to injuries and death. Consumers require protection and while there are safety standards in place, it's obvious that they can be skirted.

Perhaps help is on the way. As The Detroit News recently reported, two senators introduced a proposal to overhaul the nation's motor vehicle safety laws that would hike the maximum fine for failing to recall an unsafe vehicle from $16.4 million to $250 million. The huge jump in fines would give the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the ability to more strongly enforce safety issues. Toyota was fined about $50 million last year for three separate recall incidents, the newspaper reports.

Continue reading "Ford Recalls More Than 1 Million Trucks Over Fire Danger" »

The Consumer Products Safety Commission has launched a new product safety information database, which aims to help consumer identify and report defective products.

Saferproducts.gov will also assist the government in identifying hazardous products quickly and more efficiently.

"Through SaferProducts.gov consumers will have open access to product safety information that they have never seen before and the information will empower them to make safer choices," said Chairman Inez Tenenbaum.

Product liability attorneys know hundreds of defective products are marketed to consumers each year. Defective vehicles, dangerous child products and dangerous medical devices are among the most common. While companies have an obligation to ensure their products are say, they too often fail -- putting profits before consumer safety.

The new system gives the CPSC five days to review online reports and forward concerns to the manufacturer, when warranted. The manufacturer then has 10 days to respond before the report and the manufacturer's comments are posted at SaferProducts.gov.

In thousands of cases, the role a defective product plays in a serious or fatal injury may go undetected. The one-vehicle accident may not be linked to a stuck accelerator or fatal injuries may never be linked to a faulty airbag for instance. This is particularly true with medical products or dangerous pharmaceuticals; patients expect to be helped, not harmed. Yet pharmaceutical companies and medical device makers are among the most egregious offenders when it comes to developing and marketing dangerous or deadly products.

"I believe that an informed consumer is an empowered consumer," added Chairman Tenenbaum. "The ability for parents and consumers to search this database for incidents involving a product they already own or are thinking of purchasing will enable them to make independent decisions aimed at keeping their family safe."

Continue reading "Government Site Empowers Consumers Dealing with Defective Products" »

Half a million Windstar minivans are being recalled because of a risk of rear axle separation, especially in so-called "salt belt" states where winter weather and road salt increase the risk of corrosion, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Our defective vehicle attorneys represent clients who have been seriously injured or killed by a dangerous or defective product. For most families, a vehicle is among their biggest investments. In this case, the defect involves a minivan, typically purchased by young families to transport children. While vehicle manufacturers have a responsibility to build safe products -- and to inform the public of defects in a timely fashion -- they too often fail to fulfill one or both of those obligations. As the Toyota recalls illustrated last year, the company was accused of knowing about the risks for years before it finally informed the public.

And, each year, vehicles are the most frequently recalled consumer product on the market.

In this case, the government reports salt can cause the rear axle to weaken and crack, which could "negatively affect the driver's ability to control the vehicle."

In fact, the rear axle is among the most stressed and most critical parts on any vehicle. It is what helps propel a vehicle. It is what falls under extreme stress when a vehicle must stop in an emergency. The risk of metal corrosion is not new. It is a risk manufacturers have dealt with for decades. We don't yet know the particulars of this case -- it's possible the axles were purchased from a subcontractor who had the lowest bid. And they apparently did not undergo the type of rigorous, all-weather testing necessary to expose the defect. As a result, half a million vehicles marketed to soccer moms are driving around the United States with a "rear axle separation" issue.

Owners are now being told by the government to immediately visit Ford's website for information on getting their van to the dealership to correct the issue.

Those considering the purchase of a new vehicle can visit www.safercar.gov for government safety ratings and to see if your vehicle has been the subject of any recalls. You can also sign up for immediate email notification of recalls that affect your vehicle, tires or child safety seats.

Continue reading "Windstar Recall a Danger to Young Families in Cold-Weather States" »

After nearly a year of intense study, a joint investigation by NASA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found no electrical flaws played a role in instances of unintended acceleration in defective Toyotas.

Our Defective vehicles attorneys have a number of issues with the study. The Wall Street Journal reports drivers are now being blamed for most of the instances.

"We enlisted the best and brightest engineers to study Toyota's electronics systems, and the verdict is in," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "There is no electronic-based cause for unintended high-speed acceleration in Toyotas."

Of course it's an absurd assertion -- the NHTSA calls it "pedal misapplication," as if drivers forgot which was the gas and which was the brake. Thousands of drivers. Not Ford or Chevy drivers, however, just Toyotas. But it illustrates the need to consult with an aggressive defective products law firm when dealing with a serious or fatal injury caused by vehicle defects.

The government studied fewer than 100 vehicles. Toyota sold 8.42 million vehicles last year alone.

While finding no evidence of malfunctioning electronics, the NHTSA is considering several advanced safety measures to deal with the issue of unintended acceleration.

-By the end of 2011, a proposal would require brake override systems and require standardization of keyless entry systems.

-Require data recorders for all vehicles.

-Begin broad research on the security and reliability of electronic control systems.

-Research design, placement and driver usage of gas and brake pedals.

"While today marks the end of our study with NASA, our work to protect millions of American drivers continues," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. "The record number of voluntary recalls initiated by automakers last year is also very good news, and shows that we can work cooperatively with industry to protect consumers."

Toyota recalled about 8 million vehicles for gas pedal issues during the last two years and paid $48.8 million in civil penalties in connection with the recalls.

Continue reading "Government Contends no Electronic Cause of Defective Toyotas" »