1.35 million vehicles VW models were fitted with the dangerous Takata airbags.
Over a decade after the first recalls were issued, automakers are still suffering the aftereffects of the deadly Takata airbag scandal. If you need a recap, the defective airbags manufactured by Takata would explode and shower the driver's face with metal fragments when inflating during an accident. This resulted in the largest automotive recall in history affecting 19 manufacturers worldwide.
The recall covered 100 million airbag inflators worldwide, 67 million of which were in the US. Takata was ordered to pay a $1 billion settlement after being found guilty for covering up the defects, while some automakers have had to pay huge settlements to compensate affected owners.
Ford previously reached a $299.1 million civil settlement with owners, while BMW paid a $131 million settlement. Now, Reuters reports that Volkswagen of America has agreed to pay a $42 million settlement covering 1.35 million vehicles that were fitted with the faulty airbag inflators.
The settlement covers rental cars and various out-of-pocket costs such as lost wages and childcare costs VW owners may have incurred to get their vehicle fixed. VW models that were affected by the Takata airbag recall include the Volkswagen Passat, Volkswagen Beetle, Audi TT, and Audi R8.
Volkswagen is one of seven automakers that have agreed to pay settlements worth around $1.5 billion covering tens of millions of vehicles. More than 400 injuries and 28 deaths have been attributed to the faulty Takata inflators worldwide; 19 of these deaths were in the US. A total of 16 deaths took place in Hondas, while two happened in Fords and one in a BMW.
According to court documents, around 35 percent of the inflators in Volkswagen and Audi vehicles that have been recalled or are scheduled for a recall have not been repaired yet, so this probably won't be the last we hear about the Takata airbag scandal.
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