London and Windsor law firms have joined forces in class-action lawsuits on behalf of car owners whose vehicles may have faulty airbags.
Problems with Takata airbags have prompted the largest automotive recall in US history, of some 34-million vehicles. However, there is little information about the number of airbags and the vehicle models affected in Canada. MacKenzie Lake Lawyers LLP in London and Sutts Strosberg LLP in Windsor have partnered to represent Canadians. When the Takata airbags inflate, the force can rupture the bag, sending shrapnel toward people in the vehicle.
It's believed that mostly older models (2001-2008) are affected, and they include Honda, Toyota, Chrysler, Nissan, GM, Ford, Mazda, Subaru and BMW. The suits allege that Takata may have known about the defect in 2004 or earlier but only confirmed the problem in 2013. There have been at least six fatalities and more than 100 injuries related to the Takata airbag problem.
Takata and car manufacturers have been vague about which Canadian manufacturers and models are affected by the recall. Londoner Donald D'Haene, for example, drives a 2004 Pontiac Vibe in which he transports his elderly mother and vulnerable clients as a personal support worker. Mr. D'Haene says he was given contradictory information when he contacted Pontiac to find out whether his vehicle was part of the recall notice. According to the statement of claim, "Instead of clearly addressing the defect and the next steps, he was told there was no recall concerning his vehicle (contrary to the Transport Canada recall information) but that a recall may apply in the future."
The legal firms hope the $650-million class action suit will force Takata and vehicle manufacturers to provide answers, and hold them accountable. It's possible that hundreds of thousands of vehicles in Canada have these faulty airbags.