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According to an article on CarComplaints.com, a number of individuals who own Nissan Frontiers have informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about an issue related to the vehicle’s side airbags. Specifically, the complaints note that the airbags would deploy at inappropriate times, thereby injuring those who were riding in the vehicle.

Apparently, many people have experienced similar problems with the Frontier’s side airbags -- so much so that a proposed class action suit has been filed against Nissan North America Inc. and others. At issue are the side airbags that were designed for the vehicle’s 2011/2012 model years.

The suit alleges that Nissan was aware of the defect and it not only refused to pay for damages caused by the defect and the repairs needed to fix the issue, but the company actually worked to hide the defect. The lawsuit, Brantley v. Nissan North America Inc., et al, has been filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. No determination has been made yet with respect to granting class action status.

What Can Happen When Airbag Deployments Go Wrong?

Whether the airbag is in the steering wheel, the front dash area or on the side of the vehicle, improper airbag deployments can lead to serious injuries for drivers and their passengers. One of the most significant deployment errors stems from a malfunctioning crash sensor, which can lead to airbag deployment while a vehicle is simply traveling down a roadway without coming in contact with anything.

Additionally, if a crash sensor isn’t working properly, the airbag might not deploy at all, or a faulty sensor might lead to the deployment of only one airbag on one side of the vehicle and not the other side. Crash sensor issues can also cause an airbag to be slightly late in deploying, which could make all the difference between a person surviving a serious accident or not.

Common Injuries From Airbag Deployments

Due to the fact that the force of an airbag deployment can lead to substantial injuries (or even death in certain cases), the NHTSA advises drivers to sit at least 10 inches away from steering wheels containing airbags.

In general, airbag deployments can lead to burns and/or abrasions, as well as serious eye injuries (if the airbag hits an individual in the eye). Additionally, the chemicals that release when an airbag deploys can lead to a number of respiratory injuries and/or cause asthma attacks or irritate a person’s asthma symptoms.

While airbags are designed to help prevent catastrophic or serious injuries that may occur in sudden collisions, the airbag itself often releases from its housing at speeds reaching close to 200 miles per hour. That said, anyone sustaining injuries from an airbag deployment, whether the deployment was proper or due to a malfunction, is encouraged to contact a Ft. Myers personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your legal rights and options. Contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. today.