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According to the US Department of Transportation, mechanical failure of a vehicle is responsible for just 2% of all crashes each year. The chances of your car having a defective auto part are rare. However, it is not zero.
Part manufacturers sometimes have to pay millions of dollars in recalls and settlements if a bad part gets out on the market. Because mechanical failure crashes are so rare and are not the fault of either driver, when it does happen they must be punished.
On this page, we have some frequently asked questions about defective auto parts. The key thing in these cases is to prove that it was a bad part that caused the crash and not one of the drivers or environmental conditions.
A good example is the Takata airbag scandal. In that case, airbag igniters broke down in the presence of humidity and caused an uncontrolled explosion during crashes. The excess gases ruptured the metal holding canister for the airbag and sent dangerous shrapnel into the car. There have been many injuries and several deaths from the issue. After many court battles, Takata is now shut down and millions of cars are still under recall to get the airbags replaced.
Most mechanical failure crashes are due to bad tires and bad brakes. Be sure to keep these in good condition. Learn how to inspect them for wear and get the parts replaced as needed. That will help you reduce the chances of being in a crash due to defective auto parts.
