Auto Product Liability

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced that Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2009 and 2010 F-150 trucks that were manufactured between January of 2008 and November of 2009. Approximately 362,946 are affected worldwide, with the majority sold in the United States. About 280,946 trucks were sold in the U.S., with around 68,000 sold in Canada and 14,000 sold in Mexico.

According to the NHTSA, the vehicles are being recalled due to the possibility that the interior door handle housing embossing, which retains the interior door handle spring, may fracture during normal use. This flaw could result in insufficient spring force to return the handle to its fully stowed position. In the event of a side-impact accident, the door handle spring may fail, and result in the door latch opening.

Vehicle owners will be notified by Ford that, if their vehicle’s interior door handle is loose, it should be taken to a Ford dealer where the defective component will be replaced. As more parts become available, all owners will be re-notified and told to take their vehicle for inspection to a dealer, who will then either add reinforcement to the spring embossment or replace the interior door handle module for free. Anyone with questions can contact ford by calling 1-866-436-7332.

Vehicle defects put the lives of all motorists, vehicle occupants, pedestrians, and others on the road at risk. When a vehicle is made with defective parts, it can make the vehicle more prone to causing a crash that otherwise would not have occurred. A vehicle flaw could also decrease a vehicle occupant’s protection in the event of a collision.

Auto makers have a legal responsibility to design, produce, and sell vehicles that are free of defects and are safe for consumers use. At Panish Shea & Boyle LLP, our Los Angeles auto product liability lawyers have the experience and skills that are needed to successfully help someone who has been injured or the family members of those killed because of a defective vehicle. To learn more about how we can help, call 1-877-800-1700 today.

Toyota Motor Corp. issued a recall on Wednesday, January 26 for a variety of problems with fuel systems in some vehicles. According to The Los Angeles Times, the recall includes about 245,000 cars in the United States to inspect fuel pressure sensors. In addition, the 2006 through 2007 Lexus GS300/350, the 2006 through early 2009 Lexus IS250, and the 2006 through early 2008 Lexus IS350 are being recalled as well. According to Toyota, because of insufficient tightening of the vehicles’ fuel pressure sensors that are connected to the engine fuel delivery pipe, over time it is possible the pressure sensor could become loose. If this occurs, the fuel could potentially leak past a gasket that is used in the connection between the pipe and the sensor.

Owners of the recalled Lexus vehicles will be notified by mail. The repair of the defective fuel systems will be performed at no charge to owners. Anyone with questions should call 800-255-3987 or visit http://www.lexus.com/recall.

Additionally, the auto manufacturer is recalling about 1.3 million vehicles outside of the U.S. to repair different fuel system problems, and close to 400,000 of those vehicles have two different defects that need inspection or repair.

This new Toyota recall comes almost a year after the automaker ceased manufacturing many of its most popular vehicle models in the U.S. and stopped sales to repair gas pedal defects linked with unintended acceleration and at least 52 deaths. Over the past 18 months, Toyota has recalled over 10 million vehicles.

If you have been injured in a car crash that you believe was caused by a vehicle defect, you owe it to yourself and your family to learn more about your legal rights and options. An auto product liability attorney at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP may be able to help you obtain compensation from negligent car manufacturers and other responsible parties for your injuries. Call us at 1-877-800-1700 to schedule your free consultation today.

A recent article on CNN.com highlights the findings of a new report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) regarding crashes involving cars and SUVs. Cars are required by federal rules to have bumpers that protect an area between 16 and 20 inches from the floor so that if they crash into one another, they will likely hit bumper-to-bumper. However, there aren’t any such rules for SUVs and trucks. SUV bumpers are usually so high in the air that cars are able to pass underneath them in traffic accidents, which can lead to serious injury or death as well as expensive vehicle damage.

To explore how badly the damage could be in an accident, low-speed crash tests were conducted where small cars and SUVs ran into one another at 10 miles per hour. The Institute used one small car and one SUV from seven different auto manufacturers. For each pair, the small car was driven into the back of the SUV at 10 mph, and then the opposite was done, with the SUV driven into the back of the car at 10 mph. The IIHS selected motor vehicles from the same manufacturer because they believed that the automakers would have compatibility in their fleet regarding bumpers, but the results showed that many did not.

Total damage ranged from $2,995 up to $9,867, with oftentimes severe damage resulting from things such as broken cooling fans or radiators. Seven SUV-car pairs were tested by the Institute, and at the conclusion of their study, they reported that they were not able to select a single pair as a compatibility model because the combined damages for both vehicles in a car were in the thousands of dollars.

The IIHS believes that part of the problem is that the bumper on most motor vehicles is weaker than they should be. In the 1980s, car bumper rules were lessened. They were once required to be able to withstand impacts at five mph but these days they are only required to withstand impacts at about half that speed. Alarmingly, there aren’t regulations for SUVs regarding bumper performance or height. In 2008, the Institute requested that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulate the bumpers of SUVs and trucks the same as those on cars. Currently the NHTSA is reviewing public comments on the issue and is deciding whether they should regulate SUV bumpers.

Automakers have a legal duty to produce motor vehicles that are free of defects that could potentially cause a motorist or others on the road harm. Car manufacturers also have a responsibility to properly design a vehicle to withstand various types of auto accidents. If you have been in a car accident, and believe your vehicle’s damage was more extensive because of an inferior bumper or another type of poor vehicle design, contact the Los Angeles auto product liability lawyers at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP. Call us at 1-877-800-1700 today to learn about your options in pursuing a case against an automaker.

On November 30, Toyota Motor Company announced the launching of a “limited service campaign” to repair pumps in the cooling systems of select Toyota Prius hybrid motor vehicles, as reported by CNN. The campaign affects 378,000 cars in North America for Toyota Priuses model years 2004 through 2007. Priuses built after 2007, as well as other Lexus and Toyota hybrid vehicles, have different water pump systems, and therefore are not reportedly affected by this problem.

The issue with the Toyota Prius cooling pumps is that air is able to leak into a vehicle’s water pumps, which cool sections of the electric drive system. This excessive air in the vehicle’s cooling system can cause bubbles to form, which can inhibit or even prohibit cooling from occurring. The cooling system is not connected to the cooling system that is for the vehicle’s gasoline engine. Toyota Priuses have both an electric motor and a gasoline engine. If cooling is inhibited, once the vehicle’s sensors detect the electric drive system is overheating, a warning light will appear. The Prius will then enter into “safe mode,” which reduces total driving power.

Toyota is giving owners of the affected Priuses until November of 2013 to replace the pump free of charge.

This year has seen many auto product liability issues of concern and multiple vehicle recalls, ranging from engine problems to faulty brakes to power-steering issues. This year alone, Toyota has recalled approximately 10 million defective vehicles worldwide, which is almost the number of cars that will be sold by all car manufacturers in the U.S. for the year 2010.

When a motor vehicle has defective components, it can make the vehicle more susceptible to causing an accident that otherwise may not have occurred. Vehicle defects put all motorists, vehicle occupants, and pedestrians at great risk. Car manufacturers have a responsibility to design and sell motor vehicles that are safe for consumers to operate and do not contain a defect that could cause a motorist or others harm. The Los Angeles auto product liability attorneys at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP have the resources, experience, and knowledge that are required to help anyone who has been injured or has suffered the wrongful death of a family member because of a defective vehicle. Call our law office today at 1-877-800-1700 to find out how we can help.

A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) press release announced that Toyota Motor Corporation has settled on paying an additional $32.425 million in civil penalties for its handling of auto recalls. The decision comes after two independent investigations by officials. Toyota is expected to reportedly pay the maximum fines permitted under the law, which will be $16.375 million in one case and $16.050 million in another.

The U.S. Department of Transportation argued that Toyota failed to adhere to requirements for reporting safety defects to the NHTSA provided under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Under federal law, auto manufacturers are required to inform the NHTSA within five business days of discovering a safety defect and to promptly announce a recall.

The NHTSA’s first investigation evaluated when Toyota first learned of the pedal entrapment defect on certain vehicles and whether the automaker informed the agency quickly enough. According to the press release, Toyota recalled 55,000 all-weather floor mats in September 2007. In August 2009, pedal entrapment was connected to a fatal auto accident involving a Lexus model vehicle. The NHTSA then reviewed collision evidence and other data and determined that removing floor mats in previously recalled vehicles was unsatisfactory and that Toyota accelerator pedal redesign was necessary. Toyota then recalled 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles for floor mat entrapment in October 2009, which was expanded in January 2010 to include an additional 1.1 million vehicles.

The second investigation focused on whether Toyota informed the NHTSA in a timely manner about defective steering relay rods in multiple Toyota models that could lead to loss of steering control. In 2004, Toyota initiated a recall in Japan, claiming that only vehicles there were affected. However, in 2005, almost 1 million vehicles were recalled in the United States. By May 2010, the NHTSA received additional information relating to these vehicles that the automaker had not previously disclosed.

Vehicle defects put the lives of motorists, passengers, and pedestrians in unnecessary danger. As in this case, auto manufacturers can face sanctions for failing to promptly inform officials about known vehicle design flaws or manufacturing defects. Individuals injured and family members of those killed in auto accidents caused by vehicle defects may also be able to seek compensation from negligent manufacturers. If you have any questions about an accident that you believe was caused by a defective vehicle, contact the California vehicle defect injury lawyers at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP today. Call 1-877-800-1700.

On November 30, Toyota Motor Company announced the launching of a “limited service campaign” to repair pumps in the cooling systems of select Toyota Prius hybrid motor vehicles, as reported by CNN. The campaign affects 378,000 cars in North America for Toyota Priuses model years 2004 through 2007. Priuses built after 2007, as well as other Lexus and Toyota hybrid vehicles, have different water pump systems, and therefore are not reportedly affected by this problem.

The issue with the Toyota Prius cooling pumps is that air is able to leak into a vehicle’s water pumps, which cool sections of the electric drive system. This excessive air in the vehicle’s cooling system can cause bubbles to form, which can inhibit or even prohibit cooling from occurring. The cooling system is not connected to the cooling system that is for the vehicle’s gasoline engine. Toyota Priuses have both an electric motor and a gasoline engine. If cooling is inhibited, once the vehicle’s sensors detect the electric drive system is overheating, a warning light will appear. The Prius will then enter into “safe mode,” which reduces total driving power.

Toyota is giving owners of the affected Priuses until November of 2013 to replace the pump free of charge.

This year has seen many auto product liability issues of concern and multiple vehicle recalls, ranging from engine problems to faulty brakes to power-steering issues. This year alone, Toyota has recalled approximately 10 million defective vehicles worldwide, which is almost the number of cars that will be sold by all car manufacturers in the U.S. for the year 2010.

When a motor vehicle has defective components, it can make the vehicle more susceptible to causing an accident that otherwise may not have occurred. Vehicle defects put all motorists, vehicle occupants, and pedestrians at great risk. Car manufacturers have a responsibility to design and sell motor vehicles that are safe for consumers to operate and do not contain a defect that could cause a motorist or others harm. The Los Angeles auto product liability attorneys at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP have the resources, experience, and knowledge that are required to help anyone who has been injured or has suffered the wrongful death of a family member because of a defective vehicle. Call our law office today at 1-877-800-1700 to find out how we can help.

Toyota has announced the recall of 1 million 2005 to 2008 Corolla and Matrix models and 200,000 Pontiac Vibe models due to an engine defect that may cause sudden stalling. The LA Times reports that the recall has been issued to address a potentially defective engine control module, which is a vital electronic component. Due to a possible manufacturing defect, cracks may develop in or on the component which, may result in, among other problems, the engine not starting or the engine stalling while the vehicle is being driven.

The auto company has reported that the defective electronic engine control units are alleged to be connected to three unconfirmed collisions. One of the accidents may have resulted in an injury.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began a preliminary evaluation into the potential engine defect last November after receiving 26 complaints of vehicles stalling unexpectedly. By the time federal safety regulators initiated an engineering analysis of Corolla and Matrix vehicles, 163 complaints were reported. NHTSA has announced that the engine in affected Toyota vehicles can stall at any speed without a motorist being warned and not restart.

Although Toyota has been aware of the engine issue since 2005 and provided dealers with a technical service bulletin explaining how to fix the problem, owners were not informed of this potential risk until now. It was only after more extensive testing that Toyota decided to announce a recall. The auto company’s probe revealed that the engine control module was not passing about 13% of the tests conducted.

With this new vehicle defect recall, Toyota has recalled approximately 10 million vehicles in the last year worldwide, which is close to the total amount of automobiles that will be sold by all automakers nationwide in 2010.

Defective vehicle components, especially those in engines, can cause accidents that would otherwise not occur, putting motorists, passengers, and pedestrians at risk. Automakers are responsible for designing and manufacturing vehicles that are safe and do not contain defects that could cause harm to drivers or others. The Los Angeles auto product liability lawyers at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP have the experience and resources to help those who have been injured or suffered the death of a family member because of a defective vehicle. Contact us today to find out how we can build a strong case on your behalf. Call 877-800-1700 for a free consultation.

A multi-vehicle accident near Bishop involving an SUV, a small passenger car and what appears to be a 12 or 15 passenger van carrying California Baptist University cross-country team members has left three people dead and 15 injured. The Los Angeles Times reports that the University’s 2009 ford Econoline van was transporting 13 students on their way to high-altitude training near Mammoth.

The cheerleading coach from California Baptist University who was driving the van was among those killed in the fiery collision. Two college-age women were also killed after their SUV rolled through the center divider and into oncoming traffic, colliding with the van. A passenger in the SUV is reported to have been ejected from the vehicle. One passenger in the van endured severe head trauma and others involved in the accident have suffered serious burns and other major injuries.

12 and 15 passenger vans are widely used by schools, universities, church groups, and other organizations to transport groups of people at once for the sake of convenience and affordability. However, the design of these vehicles can put passengers at risk of ejection and serious injury from rollover accidents. While these vehicles are generally safe, their large size, design, and weight can make it more challenging for a driver to control the vehicle when avoiding other cars or objects in the road. Similarly, due to their design, SUVs are susceptible to rollover because of their high center of gravity and passengers may be at risk of ejection.

Auto accident cases involving 15 passenger vans and SUVs can be complex, especially when a vehicle’s design or a manufacturing flaw may have contributed to the cause of the collision. At Panish Shea & Boyle LLP, our California rollover accident lawyers have years of experience in auto product liability litigation relating to 15 passenger vans, SUVs, and other vehicles. Our aggressive attorneys have assisted auto accident injury victims and family members of wrongful death victims in holding auto manufacturers, rental companies, and other negligent parties accountable for their actions. To find out how we can help, call 877-800-1700 today for a free consultation regarding your case.

Honda issued a press release announcing a recall of approximately 344,000 of its Odyssey models and 68,000 of its Element models. These vehicles are said to have issues with their Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) modulator. The press release states that Honda has received customer complaints about the brake pedals feeling “soft,” and getting increasingly softer over time.

According to Honda, some of the VSA modulators were constructed in such a way as to allow air into the device. Over time, air will accumulate, resulting in the “soft brake pedal” or “low brake pedal” condition. Reuters reports that several accidents and at least three minor injuries attributed to the defect have been reported to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

The recall covers vehicles from the 2007 and 2008 model years, although Honda has said that not all vehicles covered by the recall were defective. The company is urging all owners of the vehicles indicated in the recall to visit their local Honda dealer and have the problem repaired as soon as notification letters are released towards the end of April.

It is unclear at this juncture how serious the VSA defect can become; however, consumer concern is at an all-time high due to the recent Toyota sudden unintended acceleration accidents and massive recalls. It is likely that Honda will also suffer financial losses due to this recent product defect.

The Los Angeles auto product liability attorneys at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP are currently investigating cases related to Toyota unintended acceleration accidents and have a wealth of experience in dealing with auto product defects and recalls. If you have been injured in an automobile accident involving a recalled Toyota or Honda, please call (877) 800-1700 to speak with a product defect attorney about your potential case.

As the jury considered damages, Ford decided to settle a long-standing lawsuit with a couple who sued the car maker following a Christmas 2005 wreck that left the woman paralyzed. Ford has agreed to pay the couple $16 million in damages for injuries that the plaintiffs argued were caused by vehicle design defects in the 2002 Explorer.

The female victim, then 58-years-old, was seated in the backseat between her grandchildren when another car lost control coming around a curve and slammed head on into the Explorer. The victim, wearing a lap belt, was slammed forward and down as the rear seat latch failed. This sudden movement catastrophically injured her spinal cord and left her paralyzed from the waist down. The other four passengers in the car did not have significant injuries.

In 2007, the plaintiffs filed a negligence suit against Ford and presented evidence that the manufacturer had known about the dangers of lap-only belts. The plaintiffs presented documents from Ford and crash test memos that indicated the company had known about the inadequacy and danger of the lap belts but had failed to make the necessary changes in order to save money.

Unfortunately, there are many more cases like this one in which car manufacturers continue to make and sell cars even when they know the vehicles are unsafe. The Los Angeles auto product liability attorneys at Panish, Shea & Boyle are leaders in the field of automotive defect law and understand the serious consequences of defective auto parts. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed because of a defective car part, please contact Panish, Shea & Boyle to find out how we can help. We have a successful record in automobile defect cases, including a record $4.9 billion verdict against General Motors. For a free consultation, call 877-800-1700.