As consumers, we like to believe that the products we use every day are safe. However, every year thousands of products are recalled because they are dangerous or defective in some way. Unfortunately, sometimes we don’t hear about the injuries caused by defective products until it’s too late, and the product has to be recalled. Not all recalled products make the news. However, there are a number of famous, notorious recalled products.
Ford Pinto—1978
This recall is not recent but is still talked about as an example of a notorious product recall. More than 3.1 million Ford Pintos were recalled due to defective fuel tanks. The defect would cause a vehicle to explode even at a low-speed impact. Ford was aware of the defect but continued to assert the vehicle was safe. They believed it was more cost-effective to pay out injury claims than to replace the fuel tank. It is estimated that more than 180 deaths can be attributed to the defective fuel tanks.
Takata Airbags—2008
This recall involved 287.5 million airbags and is still ongoing. It is by far the most notorious and involved product recall in US history. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiated the recall for Takata airbags found in Chrysler, BMW, Honda, Ford, Mazda, General Motors, Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, and Mitsubishi vehicles. The defective airbags would explode on impact causing serious injuries and, in some cases, death. According to the NHTSA, at least 12 deaths and 200 injuries can be attributed to the exploding airbags. The total estimated financial cost of the recall is yet to be determined.
General Motors Ignition Switch—2014
It seems that the most notorious product recalls involve cars. General Motors was involved in the recall of 2.7 million vehicles due to faulty ignition switches. The defective switch could shut down the engine without warning, which resulted in the disabling of power steering, airbags, and brakes. At least 124 deaths and over 250 injuries can be attributed to the faulty ignition switches. General Motors knew of the defect as early as 2004 and did nothing. The recall cost the company $4.1 billion dollars in vehicle repairs, injury claims, and a $900 million settlement with the Department of Justice.
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 Batteries—2016
Samsung had to recall 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 phones after exploding batteries caused serious burns and led to fire hazards. There were 92 reports of overheating batteries before the company recalled the phones. Luckily there were no deaths attributed to the defective batteries, but there were numerous injuries. The recall cost Samsung $10 billion.
Fisher-Price Pack ‘n Play—2019
Under pressure from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Fisher-Price and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled 4.7 million of its inclined baby sleepers. The product had led to the death of infants who were placed in the sleepers without restraints. The company did not do clinical research into whether its product was safe for babies to sleep in. The babies were able to turn over in the Rock ‘n Play and suffocate. More than 30 babies died using the product. The recall is still ongoing, and it is unknown how much it will cost the company.
Contact a Product Liability Attorney
If you’ve been injured by a recalled product, you should consult with an experienced product liability attorney. Gregg Goldfarb has over 25 years of experience helping the victims of defective products. Contact us online or call us at 305-374-7000 to schedule a free consultation.