Last year was a banner year for carmakers and not in a good way. According to a recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), two of the biggest auto recalls in history occurred in 2014. In 2014, there were 803 vehicle recalls affecting 63.9 million vehicles. This represents the highest number of vehicle recalls involved in NHTSA investigations and enforcement efforts in more than three decades. As a result of investigations and enforcement efforts, NHTSA helped spur the recall of more than 19.1 million vehicles involving 123 different makes and models.
Two of the Largest Recalls in History Occurred in 2014
The approximately 64 million vehicles recalled in 2014 more than doubles the previous record for recalls that was set in 2004. Two of the largest vehicle recalls in history occurred in 2014. The first involved GM’s recall of more than 5.8 million vehicles in connection with faulty ignition switches. This number represents the fourth largest recall in history. To date, there have been 57 deaths linked to the GM defect. An independent compensation fund is paying the families of survivors killed in car accidents resulting from the defect and the fund is also paying compensation to drivers injured in accidents. GM still has thousands of claims to investigate in connection with the defective GM switch.
The second largest recall in 2014, and the 6th largest ever, involved Honda’s recall of 5.39 million vehicles regarding potentially defective Takata brand airbags. So far, the Honda airbag defect has been connected with five deaths. These two recalls, however, pale in comparison to the largest recall ever, which involved Ford’s 1981 recall of more than 21 million vehicles for a defective parking gear. Half of the top ten recalls is made up of vehicle recalls that occurred in just the past decade.
According to Carfax Inc., which tracks vehicle sales and accident history, approximately 46 million cars subject to recalls are still on the road and have not been fixed. Mark R. Rosekind, the NHTSA’s administrator, said “These figures demonstrate the need for vigorous, effective oversight to remove safety defects from our highways.” Rosekind believes that 2015 could be even worse as carmakers receive mounting pressure from regulators and the government to promptly disclose and fix car defects.
Contact the Undefeated Texas Product Liability Lawyers from Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers for Help Today
Zehl & Associates’ Texas car product liability attorneys have experience representing hundreds of clients nationwide that were injured by dangerous defective products. Our car product liability attorneys have helped injured parties recover damages in connection with numerous recalls from carmakers, in particular Ford and GM. The GM Recall Lawyers at Zehl & Associates have recovered over $1 Billion in verdicts and settlements and successfully represented over 250 clients across the United States who were subject to dangerous vehicle defects.
Contact Zehl & Associates’ Texas product liability lawyers today for a free initial consultation and case evaluation. Call us today at 1-888-603-3636, or visit with one of our attorneys today in our Houston or Austin office.
We proudly serve Harris County, Midland County, and throughout the state of Texas:
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Houston
2700 Post Oak Blvd #1000, Houston, TX 77056
(888) 603-3636
Open 24 hours
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Midland
306 W Wall St Suite 701, Midland, TX 79701
(432) 220-0000
Open 24 hours