Airbag Recall Lawsuit | 2026 Latest Updates

Recalled Takata airbag inflators can explode when deployed, and some airbag control units can fail to deploy the airbags in a crash. Lawsuits and class actions over both problems are pending or settled. No single MDL covers all airbag claims.

The Takata airbag MDL, No. 2599, is pending in the Southern District of Florida. Toyota, Hyundai and Kia settled airbag control unit class actions without admitting wrongdoing. A Ford Maverick class action ended when the judge found the claims moot.

NHTSA has confirmed 28 deaths from exploding Takata inflators and reports at least 400 alleged injuries. These are regulator figures, not court findings.

Latest Airbag Recall Lawsuit Updates

October 16, 2026: NHTSA Cannot Confirm Status of Remaining Takata Airbags

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says it “cannot confirm the status” of the remaining 9% of more than 67 million recalled Takata airbags [1].

NHTSA’s latest 2024 estimate is that 91% were replaced or accounted for. Repairer Driven News reported the statement. The affected vehicles span more than 30 brands.

September 9, 2026: 11th Death Tied to Imported Inflators

Kelley Blue Book reported that NHTSA recorded a new death tied to banned, “likely illegally imported” DTN60DB front driver airbag inflators [2].

The crash happened in Texas in late August. The inflators were installed as replacements, and NHTSA’s count of deaths tied to them now stands at 11.

February 11, 2026: Stellantis Issues Do-Not-Drive Alert

Stellantis issued a “do not drive” alert for about 225,000 U.S. Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles with unrepaired Takata airbags, according to CBS News and an NHTSA notice [3].

The alert tells owners to stop driving the vehicles until the free repair is done and the defective airbag is replaced.

July 24, 2025: Hyundai and Kia Settlement Terms Reported

Road & Track reported a proposed Hyundai and Kia airbag control unit class settlement, with a fairness hearing set for September 29, 2025 [4].

It pays $2,500 to each of the 20 original plaintiffs and $20,493,033.30 in lawyer fees. Residual payments run up to $350 or $150.

June 20, 2025: Citroen Cars Ordered Off European Roads

WardsAuto reported that Stellantis issued a “stop drive” warning for 82,000 older Citroen C3 and DS 3 cars in Europe [5].

The cars have Takata airbags, and a woman died in France. The French transport ministry asked that the cars be taken off the roads.

February 26, 2025: Mercedes-Benz Drivers Win Class Certification

A Florida federal judge overseeing the Takata airbag MDL certified several single and multistate classes of Mercedes-Benz drivers, according to Law360 [6].

Mercedes-Benz is among the automakers named as defendants in the Takata MDL. Class certification is not a finding of liability against Mercedes-Benz or any other defendant.

October 3, 2023: Toyota Agrees to Control Unit Class Settlement

Repairer Driven News reported that Toyota agreed to settle a $78.5 million airbag control unit class action [7]. Payments of $65 million would go up to $250 per class member.

The case is in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The court still had to approve the deal, and Toyota admitted no liability.

July 24, 2023: Ford Maverick Class Action Found Moot

Judge Bernard A. Friedman found the claims in Solak v. Ford “prudentially moot” after Ford’s recall of about 65,000 2022 Ford Maverick trucks, CarComplaints.com reported [8].

The plaintiff did not claim his Maverick side curtain airbag failed. The ruling was not a decision on the merits of the claims.

January 21, 2020: Toyota Recalls 3.4 Million Cars

CNN reported that Toyota said it would recall 3.4 million cars, 2.9 million of them in the United States, over a control unit problem [9].

The electronic control unit can lead to “incomplete or non-deployment of the airbags”. Honda announced a separate Takata-related recall of 2.7 million cars the same day.

February 5, 2015: Takata Cases Centralized as MDL No. 2599

The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation centralized In re Takata Airbag Products Liability Litigation as MDL No. 2599 before Judge Federico A. Moreno in the Southern District of Florida.

The MDL consolidates allegations of economic loss and personal injury over airbags made by Takata Corporation and TK Holdings. The order is reported at 84 F. Supp. 3d 1371.

What Are Takata Airbags?

According to NHTSA, Takata air bags have been recalled because these air bags can explode when deployed, causing serious injury or even death [10].

NHTSA’s data show that long-term exposure to combined high heat and humidity creates the risk that a Takata air bag will explode.

Who May Be Affected?

Owners or lessees of vehicles recalled for Takata inflators, including:

• Stellantis models in the February 2026 notice: 2003-2010 Dodge Ram, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2005-2015 Chrysler 300, 2006-2015 Dodge Charger and 2007-2016 Jeep Wrangler.
• Toyota owners or lessees as of July 31, 2023 of the 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Corolla Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, 2013-2018 Avalon HV, 2012-2019 Tacoma, 2012-2017 Tundra or 2012-2017 Sequoia.
• Hyundai or Kia owners or lessees on or before April 14, 2025 of listed models, such as the 2011-2019 Sonata, 2018-2023 Kona, 2019-2021 Veloster, 2010-2013 Forte and 2011-2020 Optima.
• People whose front driver airbag inflator was replaced after a crash since 2020 with a DTN60DB inflator.
• People injured by an airbag that ruptured or did not deploy.

Whether you qualify for any claim depends on an individual legal review of your vehicle, your dates and your injuries.

Reported Injuries or Damages

NHTSA’s Takata Recall Spotlight says the agency has confirmed that 28 people in the United States have been killed when their defective Takata PSAN air bag inflators exploded. At least 400 people have allegedly been injured.

Repairer Driven News reported that the Toyota complaint alleges hundreds of consumers reported airbags that failed during serious collisions and that by 2015 several people had been killed or injured. These are allegations, not findings.

Law360 also reported that a Florida federal judge certified a class of roughly 6 million Fiat Chrysler vehicle owners in 11 states and the District of Columbia on June 20, 2023. They assert fraud claims against FCA US.

Law360 reported that a Louisiana class was certified against General Motors on August 24, 2023, and a proposed seven-state class was refused.

Recall and Regulatory Background

The Takata recall covers priority groups 1-12. The remedy is a free repair, and you can check your VIN with the NHTSA recall lookup [11].

NHTSA has issued “Do Not Drive” warnings for some vehicles. Takata is a bankrupt supplier. A recall does not by itself prove liability. For one automaker’s cases, see the GM airbag lawsuit page.

Evidence to Preserve

Keep the following items, because they may matter to any airbag injury claim that you or your family bring later:

• The vehicle’s VIN and any recall notices or letters.
• Repair, dealer and service records.
• Purchase or lease paperwork.
• Photographs of the airbag, the inflator, any metal fragments, the vehicle and the crash scene.
• Police and crash reports.
• Medical records and bills.
• The vehicle itself or the airbag module, kept unaltered.
• Communications with the manufacturer or dealer.
• Records of lost income.

Filing Deadlines

Filing deadlines for airbag injury and wrongful death claims come from state law and depend on where you live, when the injury happened and when you discovered it.

Missing a deadline can end an airbag claim, however strong the facts are. Talk to a lawyer promptly about your own dates and state.

Potential Compensation

In an airbag injury claim, damages may include medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering. A wrongful death claim may add funeral costs and loss of support.

Road & Track reported that the proposed Hyundai and Kia settlement would require residual payment claim forms at acusettlement.com by March 29, 2027, if the court approved it.

Law360 reported that the Takata MDL court approved a $42 million Volkswagen and Audi settlement on April 4, 2022. Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Potential compensation depends on the facts of your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Did the Takata Airbag Crisis Begin?

The Takata airbag crisis began when problems with the inflators first came to light in 2008, according to Repairer Driven News. The outlet calls the recall the largest safety recall in automotive history.

Is There an Airbag Recall on My Car?

An airbag recall on your car shows up in a VIN lookup. Vehicles that have not yet been recalled will not be searchable until they are actually recalled. NHTSA recommends repeating the lookup at least twice a year.

Is It a Lawsuit If Airbags Do Not Deploy?

A lawsuit over airbags that do not deploy has been brought as a class action. The Toyota complaint alleges control units can result in the malfunction of the passenger safety system.

Is There an Airbag Recall Lawsuit I Can Join?

An airbag recall lawsuit you can join depends on your model. The Hyundai and Kia class also lists the 2022-2023 Kona N, 2010-2013 Forte Koup, 2011-2016 Optima Hybrid and 2011-2012 and 2014 Sedona. Anyone who owned or leased one on or before April 14, 2025 may be included.

What Does the Research Say About Imported Airbag Inflators?

Research on imported airbag inflators comes from NHTSA, as reported by Kelley Blue Book. Ten of the 11 deaths involved Chevy Malibu and Hyundai Sonata models, and NHTSA described each crash as otherwise survivable.