Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automobilwoche
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Login
  • HOME
    • Latest news
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • New Product
    • Environment/Emissions
    • Sales By Market
    • On The Move
    • Auto Shows
    • Munich Auto Show
    • Geneva Auto Show
    • Paris Auto Show
    • Beijing Auto Show
    • Shanghai Auto Show
  • Features
    • Long Read
    • Interview of the Month
    • Focus on Electrification
    • Focus on Technology
    • Segment Analysis
    • Cars & Concepts
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Europe By The Numbers
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Commentary
    • Guest columnists
  • Photos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Geneva Photo Gallery
    • Beijing Photo Gallery
    • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
    • Paris Photo Gallery
    • Shanghai Photo Gallery
  • Podcasts
  • Car Cutaways
  • EVENTS
    • ANE Congress
    • ANE Rising Stars
    • ANE Eurostars
  • More
    • Publishing Partners
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • About Us
    • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
    • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
    • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
    • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
    • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
    • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
    • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
    • Toyota Europe
    • UFI Filters
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Automakers
July 22, 2019 05:16 AM

Automakers, TRW face U.S. lawsuit over airbag system

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    Six automakers and supplier TRW face a U.S. federal lawsuit seeking class-action certification over defective airbag control units.

    The complaint, filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, claims the automakers and U.S. supplier TRW, acquired by Germany's ZF Friedrichshafen in 2015, concealed airbag defects from consumers.

    The automaker defendants in the suit include Kia Motors America, Hyundai Motor America, Fiat Chrysler, Mitsubishi Motors America, American Honda Motor and Toyota Motor U.S.A.

    Kia, Hyundai and ZF TRW face another federal suit over the same issue filed April 29 by California law firms Lieff Cabraser Heimann and Bernstein, and Baron & Budd.

    The most recent lawsuit claims the airbag control unit can "seize-up" during an accident, causing airbags to fail to deploy and a seat belt lock failure.

    MLG, a California law firm, and Kaplan Fox and Kilsheimer, of New York, filed the suit on behalf of six plaintiffs who say they would not have bought their vehicles or paid less for them if they had known about the airbag control unit defect.

    The lawsuit lists more than 50 models from Acura, Honda, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi and Toyota as containing the defective unit.

    "I think this is the beginning of what we saw with Takata," Jonathan Michaels, an attorney for MLG, told Automotive News. "I think this is going to be a very large issue."

    Federal courts set a multidistrict hearing for the multiple lawsuits regarding the airbag control unit defect for July 25 in Portland, Oregon, Michaels said.

    NHTSA would not comment but confirmed an ongoing investigation into ZF TRW airbag control units.

    In April, NHTSA expanded the investigation related to ZF TRW airbag control units to include 12.3 million vehicles by the same companies named in the lawsuit.

    "The airbag control unit that's made by ZF TRW is in more than just the 12.3 million cars." Michaels said. "We expect to see that number rise pretty significantly."

    Reports of fatalities

    NHTSA complaints provided by Michaels show 13 fatalities associated with airbags failing to deploy in vehicle models listed in the suit.

    The office of defects investigation at NHTSA identified one fatal crash "involving Toyota products" in which the same issue was suspected as the cause of the airbag not deploying. The April report said the airbag control unit could not be read with an event data recorder after the crash. Toyota said in an email to Automotive News that it is cooperating with NHTSA's investigation.

    "In 2018, Hyundai recalled approximately 580,000 2011-2013 Hyundai Sonata and 2011-2012 Sonata Hybrid vehicles to address potential circuit damage to the ZF ACU electronics that can occur during an accident," an emailed statement from Hyundai said.

    "Hyundai has conducted an extensive evaluation of this issue and we are confident we have recalled every Hyundai vehicle with ZF TRW ACUs that are susceptible to electrical overstress. The safety and security of Hyundai customers is our highest priority and we promptly conducted this recall when we identified the defect trend."

    Kia, Honda, Toyota, FCA and ZF TRW all separately declined to comment on the pending litigation.

    Mitsubishi did not respond to requests for comment.

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Ford's axing of Fiesta, Focus cars epitomizes industry disruption
    Recommended for You
    Ford Focus production Saarlouis
    Ford's axing of Fiesta, Focus cars epitomizes industry disruption
    Ford reduces top execs' bonuses after 'frustrating' earnings
    Ford reduces top execs' bonuses after 'frustrating' earnings
    BMW San Luis Potosi Mexico 2023
    BMW to invest $866 million in Mexico in EV push
    Capgemini Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    Sponsored Content: Capgemini Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News Europe delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    Founded in 1996, Automotive News Europe is the preferred information source for decision-makers and opinion leaders operating in Europe.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI  48207-2997
    Tel: +1 877-812-1584

    Email Us

    ISSN 2643-6590 (print)
    ISSN 2643-6604 (online)

     

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Awards
    • Rising Stars
    • Eurostars
    • Leading Women
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Europe
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
      • Latest news
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • New Product
      • Environment/Emissions
      • Sales By Market
      • On The Move
      • Auto Shows
        • Munich Auto Show
        • Geneva Auto Show
        • Paris Auto Show
        • Beijing Auto Show
        • Shanghai Auto Show
    • Features
      • Long Read
      • Interview of the Month
      • Focus on Electrification
      • Focus on Technology
      • Segment Analysis
      • Cars & Concepts
      • Supplier Spotlight
      • Europe By The Numbers
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
      • Commentary
      • Guest columnists
    • Photos
      • Photo Galleries
      • Geneva Photo Gallery
      • Beijing Photo Gallery
      • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
      • Paris Photo Gallery
      • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • Podcasts
    • Car Cutaways
    • EVENTS
      • ANE Congress
      • ANE Rising Stars
      • ANE Eurostars
    • More
      • Publishing Partners
        • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
        • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
        • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
        • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
        • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
        • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
        • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
        • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
        • Toyota Europe
        • UFI Filters
      • Social Media
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • LinkedIn
        • Twitter
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • About Us