This Week In Car Recalls

Between defective airbags, cheating emissions standards, and a wide variety of other issues, the last few months have been particularly busy for federal auto industry regulators. In this blog, our San Antonio personal injury attorneys take a brief look at some of the biggest stories of the past week.

General Motors Exposed to Punitive Damages

In perhaps the biggest auto recall story of the week, a federal judge has ruled that GM is not exempt from paying punitive damages to plaintiffs in qualifying lawsuits. This is related to the 2014 recall of more than 2.5 million Chevy Cobalts and other cars equipped with a faulty ignition switch, which caused features like airbags to deactivate. GM has already agreed to pay more than $1 billion in damages, but this ruling could lead to millions more being paid to victims.

Takata Airbag Recall May Be Expanding

The recall of more than 20 million vehicles equipped with potentially defective Takata brand airbags is unprecedented in scope, but we may just be getting started. Twelve automakers have been forced to recall affected cars so far, but recent reports suggest that the NHTSA may consider expanding the number of automakers covered by the recall. They are also considering bringing in an outside expert to oversee the recalls, to ensure this is taken care of as quickly as possible.

What’s Next for Volkswagen?

Volkswagen is paying the financial price for cheating U.S. emissions tests, but they are also trying to buy good-will. The German automaker has offered $1000 in gift cards to the owners of nearly half a million affected vehicles. This follows their offer of $2000 to any current owner who wishes to trade in for a newer vehicle. The most expensive result of this scandal will be actually fixing the cars to meet U.S. standards, which could prove to be extremely costly.

Rolls-Royce Recalls One Singular Car

While other manufacturers are recalling millions, if not tens of millions of cars, Rolls-Royce has announced that they are recalling one specific 2015 Ghost for an inspection of the airbag system. That’s not one series, or one production run – it is just one single car. This is a good example of the proper way to handle potential auto defects, as they promptly reported the issue to the NHTSA and are actively seeking to fix the issue.

Have you been injured in a car accident? If so, our firm can help you pursue the fair compensation you deserve. Contact our San Antonio personal injury lawyers today at (210) 922-2200