Toyota is recalling 1.3 million motor vehicles over concerns that a foam pad located close to the seat belt could catch fire during an auto crash. Included in the automaker’s recall are 134,000 Yaris subcompacts (2006 and 2007 models) that were sold in the United States.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is working with Toyota to recall the cars, which come with front passenger seat belt and driver seat belt pretensioners that retract the belts so that the occupants’ forward momentum is absorbed during a serious frontal impact.
Toyota is concerned that during serious, frontal crashes, the mechanism that is supposed to tighten the seat belt could release a gas that might cause a foam pad used for insulating sound to catch fire. So far, there are no reports of any incidents stemming from the defect in the United States.
Auto defects or defective auto parts can lead to serious injuries and deaths. Auto manufacturers are supposed to make sure their vehicles are safe for use. While defects can occur during the production or shipping of a motor vehicle, there are auto parts that are defective because there are flaws in their design.
If you or someone you love was injured in a Massachusetts motor vehicle accident because the vehicle you were riding in was defective or malfunctioned, you may have grounds for an automobile products liability lawsuit.
Common auto defects that have resulted in personal injury lawsuits:
• Defective seat belts • Rollover accidents • Defective air bags • Faulty engines • Defective tires • Brake defects
Toyota Announces Safety Recall on Select Vehicles, PR Newswire, January 28, 2009
Global Recall by Toyota; Affects 1.35 Million Cars, Huliq.com, January 28, 2009
Related Web Resources:
NHTSA
Toyota
Our Boston products liability lawyers represent auto accident victims that were injured because of auto defects and SUV rollovers.