The death of Armando Vargas Ortega in Arizona after the Takata airbag inflator in his 2002 Honda Civic exploded took the worldwide death toll for faulty Takata airbags to 24. According to a report in The Associated Press, Ortega died on June 11, 2018, three days after the crash in Buckeye, Arizona. Shrapnel from the airbag of Ortega’s Honda Civic struck him. His wife, Anjelina Medina-Ramirez, said the family was unaware of any existing recalls involving the vehicle and that the car was bought from another owner about three months before the crash.
The inflators have caused more than 200 injuries, leading to the largest-ever series of automotive recalls in American history that may involve as many as 70 million inflators. About 100 million inflators need to be recalled globally. NHTSA issued a statement saying Ortega’s death is a “critical reminder of the serious nature of the Takata airbag recall and serves as an important call to action.” The agency urged vehicle owners to check for open recalls by keying their 17-digit vehicle identification number into the NHTSA website, nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Repairing Recalled Vehicles
Takata used the chemical ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate the bags. However, the chemical could deteriorate due to high temperatures and humidity and explode with such force that it spews metal shrapnel into the vehicle compartment. The deaths and recalls have forced Takata into bankruptcy. A Chinese investment firm has purchased its assets.
There is no federal law that requires used car sellers to have their cars repaired for open recalls. Sellers also don’t have to inform buyers about any unrepaired recall problems. The Civic that Ortega was driving has been under recall since December 2014 due to a faulty driver’s front airbag inflator. Honda said it had mailed out 12 recall notices over three years to previous owners.
The company also said it made over 20 phone calls to reach owners. But, the repairs were never made. Honda is asking vehicle owners to get recalled vehicles repaired as soon as possible. The company said older models, especially those from 2001 to 2003, are most at risk. Ortega’s death is the 16th in the United States linked to defective Takata airbag inflators.
If You Have Been Injured
If a faulty Takata airbag has injured you or a loved one, don’t hesitate to contact an experienced airbag defect attorney who will remain on your side, fight for your rights and help you secure maximum compensation for your injuries, damages, and losses. Automakers should be held accountable for the defective products they put on the market.
Source: https://www.kgun9.com/news/region-west-valley/buckeye/wife-of-man-killed-by-takata-airbag-in-buckeye-crash-speaks-out
