TRW Airbag Safety Defect Lawsuits
Defective ZF-TRW airbags were also supplied to FiatChrysler/Dodge/Jeep, Kia, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Honda, and Toyota/Acura
On April 29, 2019, Lieff Cabraser and Baron & Budd filed a class action lawsuit in federal court in California on behalf of consumers across the U.S. against Hyundai Motor America, Kia Motor America, and ZF-TRW Automotive Holding Corp. over defective vehicle airbags that fail to operate during crashes due to electrical overstress (“EOS”). As detailed in the Complaint, a defect in the application-specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”) built into the airbags causes a failure in the Airbag Control Unit that prevents the airbags and the seat belt pretensioners, both vital to maximizing safety in a vehicle crash, from deploying. As the Complaint further alleges, ZF-TRW, Hyundai, and Kia became aware of the ACU defect as early as 2011, but did nothing to protect consumers or warn of the product dangers until 2018.
The lawsuit against Hyundai and Kia followed widespread reports that over 12 million vehicles in the U.S. from Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Honda, FiatChrysler, and Toyota with ZF-TRW airbags have defective and unsafe Airbag Control Units (ACUs) that prevent airbags and seatbelt pretensioners from deploying and activating during a crash. Multiple incidents have been reported, including at least one that led to a fatality.
The allegedly defective ACUs are manufactured by TRW Automotive Inc. (a subsidiary of German auto parts maker ZF). The full list to date of vehicles involved with the ZF-TRW defect appears below.
The ACU units are supposed to detect crashes and deploy the airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners. However, the TRW ACUs suffer from electrical overstress in crash conditions, and this can cause the airbags and seat belt pretensioners to fail to operate, greatly increasing the risk of injury. Reports indicate there are no warning signs of the problem, so owners and lessees have no way of knowing the airbag and belt failures will happen.
Complete List of Affected Vehicles
- Acura RLX 2014-2019
- Acura RLX Hybrid 2014-2019
- Acura TL 2012-2014
- Acura TLX 2015-2017
- Acura TSX 2012-2014
- Acura TSX Sport Wagon 2014
- Acura TSX Sportswagon 2012-2013
- Dodge Nitro 2010-2011
- Dodge Ram 1500 2009
- Dodge Ram 3500 2010
- Fiat 500 2012-2019
- Honda Accord 2013-2015
- Honda Accord Hybrid 2014-2015
- Honda Civic 2012-2015
- Honda Civic GX 2012-2015
- Honda Civic Hybrid 2012-2015
- Honda Civic SI 2012-2015
- Honda CR-V 2012-2016
- Honda Fit 2012-2017
- Honda Fit EV 2013-2014
- Honda Ridgeline 2012-2014
- Hyundai Sonata 2013-2019
- Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 2013-2019
- Jeep Compass 2015-2017
- Jeep Liberty 2010-2012
- Jeep Patriot 2015-2017
- Jeep Wrangler 2010-2018
- Kia Forte 2013
- Kia Forte KOUP 2013
- Kia Optima 2013-2019
- Kia Optima Hybrid 2012-2016
- Kia Sedona 2014
- Mitsubishi Lancer 2013-2017
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 2013-2015
- Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart 2014-2015
- Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback 2013-2016
- Mitsubishi Outlander 2013
- Ram 1500 2009-2012
- Ram 2500 2010-2012
- Ram 3500 2010-2012
- Ram 4500 2011-2012
- Ram 5500 2011-2012
- Toyota Avalon 2012-2018
- Toyota Avalon Hybrid 2013-2018
- Toyota Corolla 2011-2019
- Toyota Corolla IM 2017-2018
- Toyota Corolla Matrix 2011-2013
- Toyota Sequoia 2012-2017
- Toyota Tacoma 2012-2019
- Toyota Tundra 2012-2017
Contact Us
If you own or lease a vehicle listed on this page, it likely has defective TRW airbags subject to an existing or upcoming recall. If you are concerned about the safety of your vehicle and its airbags, please use the form on this page to contact Lieff Cabraser for a prompt and confidential evaluation of your case.
