Auto Product Defects

When you are involved in a car accident, your first thought may be that the other driver is at fault. While that may be true in some cases, the cause might not be either driver but the car one of them was driving. In 2012 alone, auto defects resulted in 134 vehicle recalls involving more than nine million vehicles — that’s a large number of unsafe vehicles on the road. The experienced attorneys at Rodriguez Trial Law can help you uncover the cause of your accident and determine if an auto defect is to blame.

Common Auto Defects

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration puts auto defects into two categories: safety-related and nonsafety-related. Nonsafety-related defects include a faulty radio or air conditioner or a part that rusts. Safety-related defects usually affect:

• Steering components – These may break or separate.
• Fuel systems – Fuel system problems can cause fires and explosions.
• Air bags – Faulty air bag systems may deploy by accident.
• Accelerator controls – Accelerator problems can cause runaway vehicles and high-speed crashes.
• Engine-cooling fan blades – Blades that separate can injure anyone working on the vehicle.
• Wiring systems – Shorts can cause fires or loss of lighting systems, such as headlights.
• Seats or seat backs – Seat failure can cause a seat to collapse or fail unexpectedly.
• Wheels or tires – Tire defects can cause blowouts or accidents.
• Child safety seats – Child seats should be recalled when any part poses a risk of injury in a crash or otherwise.

Aren’t Defective Cars or Parts Always Recalled?            

Not every defect prompts a recall, so you or another driver may have a faulty part in your vehicle and never be notified about it. Recalls are only issued after several similar issues are reported with the same make or model of vehicle, those reports are sufficient to warrant an investigation, the investigation reveals that one part or issue is responsible for all of the problems, and the car or part maker agrees to conduct a recall.