2014 the Worst Year on Record for Auto Recalls

It’s been a bad year for North American auto manufacturers. Ford safety defect recall lawyers at Hardy, Wolf & Downing say no settlement has been negotiated yet, but it is still a possibility on the table for consumers whose safety has been put at risk.

Our product liability attorneys are standing by to review claims of anyone who has been affected by an automobile recall. Consumers may be entitled to compensation for decreased resale value and maintenance fees at the very least.

Victims of serious injury due to auto safety defects may be eligible to file personal injury lawsuits to obtain more substantial compensation for medical bills, wrongful death, loss of earning capacity, and emotional suffering.

2014 is a record-breaking year for vehicle recalls, says NHTSA

Even though there are still six months left in 2014, more vehicle recalls have been issued in the U.S. than any previous year on record. This year, 37.5 million vehicle recall notices were mailed out – surpassing the 10 to 20 million annual average and the 30.8 million record set in 1981, according to Bloomberg News. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that General Motors accounts for two-thirds of the total, but that was before the latest Ford recall.

Ford safety defect recall notice going out August 25, 2014

Ford safety defect recall lawyers from Hardy, Wolf & Downing say that 100,610 owners of the following vehicles will be notified by mail of a recall on August 25, 2014:

  • 2013-2014 Ford Taurus
  • 2013-2014 Lincoln MKS
  • 2013-2014 Ford Flex
  • 2013-2014 Lincoln MKT crossovers
  • 2012-2014 Edge crossover
  • 2014 Lincoln MKX crossover

These vehicles are at risk of unexpectedly rolling down hills if they are parked without the parking brake turned on, Ford said. Also, the vehicles may become inoperable over time because the right-hand half-shaft portion of the axle is seated in such a way that it could disengage over time.

Ford acknowledges multiple issues with new vehicles

Other Ford recalls include:

  • 2011-2014 F59 stripped chassis – for an electrical blockage that could increase risk of lost power or fire
  • 2014 Ford Escape SUVs – for leaky roofs
  • 2014 F53 motor home stripped chassis – for broken calipers resulting in poor brake performance
  • 2014 Transit Connect – for brake caps that do not meet U.S. labeling requirements
  • 2014 Ford Fiestas – for leaky fuel tanks that carry a fire risk

 2014 GM recalls

General Motors kicked off the safety concerns in February of this year with 2.59 million recalls – approximately 40 percent of all vehicles sold this year.

These vehicles included:

  • 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse
  • 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala
  • 2000-2005 Cadillac Deville
  • 2007-2011 Cadillac DTS
  • 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne
  • 2005 Buick Regal LS and GS
  • 2006-2007 Chevy Monte Carlo
  • 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  • 2005-2007 Pontiac G5
  • 2005-2007 Pursuit
  • 2003-2007 Saturn ION
  • 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR
  • 2006-2007 Pontiac Solstice
  • 2007 Saturn Sky
  • 2007 Open/Vauxhall GT
  • 2007 Daewoo G2X

At least 13 deaths were linked to ignition switch failures. Congressional hearings revealed that the company knew of the error since at least 2004, but did nothing. GM is recalling approximately 40 percent of its vehicles this year, Bloomberg reports.

2014 airbag recalls

Takata, a Japanese airbag manufacturer, is in the midst of a massive 12 million vehicle recall said to cost the company $444.80 million. This issue affects 1.6 million BMW 3 Series cars from 2000-2006, including 574,000 U.S. vehicles. According to the NY Times, there is concern that the front passenger could be injured with metal shrapnel from a deploying airbag. About 1.7 million U.S. vehicles made by Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Mazda were also recalled for the use of Takata airbags.

Families give voice to the true victims of vehicle recalls

“No amount of money brings our kids back,” said Doug Weigel of Wisconsin, who lost his 15-year-old daughter, Natasha, in a 2006 crash linked to a faulty GM ignition switch. Natasha and her friend, Amy Rademaker, had been riding in a brand new Chevy Cobalt when the car suddenly lost power and slammed into a row of trees along a rural road. Amy Rademaker died within hours of the crash, but Doug Weigel’s daughter spent her last 11 days in a coma. “I’d go to work everyday, smile and then I’d get in my car to go home and start bawling,” Mr. Weigel recalled.

Families in these cases often find that a GM or Ford recall settlement offer is not nearly enough compensation to cover a fraction of the heartache.

Filing a product liability lawsuit is a step in the right direction to hold negligent automakers liable for knowingly peddling unsafe vehicles on the market.

Hardy, Wolf & Downing product liability lawyers

Speak with dedicated Ford safety defect recall lawyers who have been tracking this story from the very beginning. Hire legal counsel that is willing to take your case all the way through trial, rather than accepting a GM or Ford recall settlement that barely covers your expenses.

If you have questions about a possible liability claim, you are encouraged to contact the attorneys at Hardy Wolf at 1-800-INJURED as soon as possible to review your legal options.