Airbag failures? When a product fails, the company answers for it.
Defective products, from car parts to space heaters, can cause serious harm. We look at the design, the warnings and how it was made. Free case review, no fee unless we win, and a real person answers 24/7.
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A product claim covers everything the injury took from you, now and later.
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Deadlines vary. Act early.
How long you have depends on the type of case and who is responsible. Some claims, such as those against a government agency, have deadlines measured in months, not years. Call early, and we find the deadline that applies to you.
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More about airbag failures
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Updated October 2026. General information, not legal advice about your case.
Airbag injuries: what to know
An airbag should protect you in a crash. A defective airbag can fail to open, open when it should not, or open with too much force. The most serious defect is an inflator that ruptures and sends metal pieces into the car.
Defective Takata airbag inflators have killed 28 people in the United States, and at least 400 more people say they were injured by them, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). About 67 million Takata airbags are under recall. For some older vehicles, NHTSA has issued "Do Not Drive" warnings because the risk is so high.
Check your car today
Enter your vehicle identification number (VIN) in NHTSA's recall lookup tool. A recall repair is free. NHTSA recommends that you check at least twice a year, because new recalls are added. If you bought a used car, check it too: an open recall stays with the car.
Who can be responsible
- The airbag or inflator maker, for a design or manufacturing defect.
- The vehicle manufacturer, which chose the part and must recall it.
- A dealer or seller, in some cases, for example when a car with an open recall was sold or repaired without the fix.
- The other driver, if their carelessness caused the crash. A crash case and a defect case can go together.
In California, the companies in the chain that brought a defective product to you can be held responsible even if they did not intend harm. See product liability.
Protect the evidence
The car is the most important evidence. The airbag module, the inflator pieces and the car's crash data recorder can show what went wrong. If the car is destroyed or sold for scrap, that proof is gone.
What to do now
- Get medical care, and keep every record. Airbag injuries to the face, eyes, chest and hands can be serious.
- Do not let the insurer or a tow yard destroy the car. Tell them in writing to keep it.
- Keep any metal pieces that a doctor removes, in a sealed bag.
- Photograph the inside of the car, the steering wheel and the dashboard.
- Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer or manufacturer.
- Call us. Deadlines vary, so call early. There is no fee or cost unless we recover money for you.
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This is a paid advertisement for TORKLAW, not an offer or guarantee of results. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits. Some matters may be referred to partner firms as appropriate. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Tracy R. Horn, Esq. is responsible for this advertisement. Main Office: 18650 MacArthur Blvd, Suite 300, Irvine, CA 92612.