Seven car manufacturers hit with consumer class action claim seeking damages for selling cars with lethal airbags
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart and Sullivan (Quinn Emanuel) has expanded its class actions to include a seventh car manufacturer who sold cars with deadly airbags to consumers.
This month Quinn Emanuel filed class action proceedings against Volkswagen (VW). This is the seventh class action. Actions have already been commenced against Toyota, Mazda, Honda, Subaru, BMW and Nissan. These proceedings are being heard concurrently in the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Quinn Emanuel is expecting to file against Ford and Audi shortly, covering an expected 2.5 million Australian drivers who are driving cars fitted with the defective airbags. The defective airbags have been linked to the deaths of at least 24 people worldwide, including one in Sydney last year, as well as injuring hundreds of others.
Quinn Emanuel Partner Damian Scattini said, "These airbags are ticking time bombs. Over time they degrade. As they degrade they become unsafe. On our case, these manufacturers knew these airbags were dangerous, but kept using them in their vehicles – putting profits before the safety of their customers."
"Car manufacturers have known about this problem for years. These airbags need to be off the road," Mr Scattini said.
Consumers are being urged to check if their vehicle is subject to the recall and to act immediately, if a replacement airbag is available.
Due to a global shortage of airbags however, many Australian drivers are only being offered a temporary fix, with a like for like replacement meaning that their airbag will have to be replaced again in the future. In many cases, the replacement airbags contain the same propellant used in the defective airbags, ammonium nitrate, which deteriorates over time. Consumers are still encouraged to obtain a temporary fix, as a newer defective airbag is preferable to an older defective airbag.
"It's about responsibility and accountability. Car manufacturers need to make good the harm they've done to their customers. No more. No less", said Mr Scattini.
If you are a consumer whose vehicle was, or is, subject to the Takata airbag recall, you may be entitled to participate in the class action proceedings. You are not excluded from participating if you have acted to have your faulty airbag replaced. Please register your interest at: www.AirbagRecall.com.au
