The idea of a car accident is a scary one, but it is even more unnerving to consider that the cause of many car accidents originate inside the car itself. Hundreds of automotive safety recalls are announced annually, and it is estimated that at least 25% of affected drivers never fix the defect.
This can place the driver of the vehicle at great risk, not to mention their passengers and other drivers on the road.
It is often assumed that once a car is a few years old, that the manufacturer will not issue a recall. But there have been cases when a car maker has issued a recall for a car produced up to 8 years earlier. Therefore it is imperative that all car owners check the recall list periodically to make sure that they have not missed an announcement.
Just in time for Halloween we’ve assembled a list of a few recent recalls, proving that sometimes the danger is lurking inside your own car.
- May Move When Parked: 1.5 million Dodge Ram heavy duty pickup trucks built between 2009 and 2017 were recalled recently when a problem with the gear shifter was identified. The vehicle was shifting out of park without the brake being depressed; even worse, in some cases the truck would shift out of park and roll unexpectedly even if the key wasn’t in the ignition.
- Don’t Lean on the Doors: Ford recalled both 2017 Ford Super Duty trucks and F-150 pickup trucks built between 2015 and 2017 – a recall affecting over 1.1 million vehicles. Owners were warned that malfunctioning latches were not properly engaging with the door strikers, resulting in the possibility of doors opening while the truck was in motion.
- Threat of Fire: Luxury car manufacturer BMW was forced to recall their 2006-2011 “3 Series” vehicles when a problem with the wiring in the air conditioning and heating systems was discovered. Wires and electrical connectors within these systems were found to be deteriorating, which was causing significant overheating. Owners were told that the issue could potentially lead to a car fire, even if the car was turned off. The recall affected over 670,000 cars.
- Out of Control: Kia recalled over 342,000 Soul SUVs not once, but twice because of a steering issue. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the flawed steering-gear assembly may cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Affected vehicles exhibited a “clunking ” sound when the steering wheel was turned, and it was determined that the first recall did not sufficiently fix the problem.
The Most Infamous Recall of All Time
Toyota found themselves in a high speed nightmare when a combination of manufacturing flaws affected Toyota’s entire fleet of vehicles. Drivers reported the gas pedal sticking or jamming, trapping them in a runaway vehicle.
After more than 60 cases were reported, 30 of which resulted in at least one death, Toyota issued two separate recalls for their Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Matrix, Highlander, Prius, RAV4, Tundra, Tacoma and various Lexus models – a total of 9 million vehicles. The whole debacle cost them over $5 billion dollars.
While we are not here to scare you, it is important to note that a car accident is not always caused by drivers outside your vehicle. If you feel that your accident or injury was caused by a manufacturer’s defect, give the attorneys at Probinsky & Cole a call.
These cases are often complex and take years to litigate – but we can help you to determine if you have a case, and protect your interests throughout the process. If you have been in a car accident, don’t go it alone. Call our expert team of Sarasota and Tampa area lawyers.
