BMW is issuing a defective auto product recall for all its 2008 1-Series and 3-Series cars to correct a problem that could cause an airbag failure. According to an article in Fleet Financials, the car maker recently filed a product defect notice with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The airbag defect involves the wiring for the front side airbags and front safety belt tensioners and in particular, crimp connectors that may have been used incorrectly on them. As a result of this auto product defect, sufficient contact between the crimp connectors and the corresponding plug may not occur, leading to an increase in the electrical resistance of that connector.

If this occurs, the side airbag and/or the safety belt tensioner may not deploy. Vehicles experiencing this problem should get an airbag warning sign, but if you own one of these vehicles, you are asked to contact a BMW dealer whether or not you get an airbag warning sign.

Airbag Defects Cause Serious Personal Injury

Since 1997 more than four million vehicles have been recalled due to airbag defects. BMW most recently in August 2008 recalled 200,000 vehicles because of a defect that could deactivate the front passenger airbags in the event of a car accident. In addition, there have been millions of formal "airbag defect" complaints against several auto makers that did not result in recalls. The two major problems with airbags include: non-deployment and inadvertent deployment. Inadvertent airbag deployment appears to be used as the main reason for recalls, however, the complaints made by motorists consists mainly of problems related to non-deployment.

Inadequate Airbag Safety Standards

Defective airbags can cause serious personal injury or even death. Still, car manufacturers, in an effort to cut costs and boost profits, continue to ignore these serious auto product defects. The safety standards set by the NHTSA are also inadequate. There are many airbag systems that pass the current crash test requirements, but still do little to keep the average consumer safe in the event of a car crash.

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of an airbag defect or any auto product defect, please consult with an experienced California personal injury lawyer to find out more about your legal rights and options. You may be able to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings and other related damages. In cases where fatalities are involved, a wrongful death claim can be brought against the auto maker or manufacturer of the defective product as well.

Airbag Defects Lead to BMW Auto Product Recall is a post from: Personal Injury Attorney News Portal