A Houston defective airbag lawyer represents people injured — and the families of those killed — when an airbag failed to perform as designed. At Amaro Law Firm, our attorneys handle airbag inflator ruptures, failures to deploy, late deployments, and other airbag defect cases against airbag manufacturers, automakers, and their insurers across Texas.
The Takata airbag recall is the largest auto recall in U.S. history, covering approximately 67 million inflators in 42 million U.S. vehicles. NHTSA has confirmed 28 U.S. deaths and at least 400 alleged injuries from rupturing Takata inflators. The defect — degraded ammonium nitrate propellant — is especially dangerous in hot, humid climates like the Texas Gulf Coast. Texas product liability claims must be filed within two years of injury under Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003. Amaro Law Firm represents Texas airbag injury victims on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
Compiled by Amaro Law Firm — Texas-licensed trial attorneys serving Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and families across Texas.
Call 713-352-7975 for a free, confidential consultation.
If You Were Hurt by a Defective Airbag, You Are Not Alone
If you are reading this page, you are likely in one of three situations.
You were in a crash and the airbag did something it should not have done — it sent metal fragments into your face, it deployed with excessive force, or it did not deploy at all when it should have. You are dealing with injuries that you believe are out of proportion to the crash itself.
You received a Takata recall notice — perhaps years ago — and may have continued driving the vehicle without realizing the airbag could rupture on deployment. Now you have been in a crash, and you are wondering whether the airbag caused or worsened your injuries.
Or a family member was killed by an airbag rupture. The crash itself appeared survivable. The autopsy or the news coverage points to an airbag-related cause.
This page answers the questions Texas airbag injury victims and families ask most often. For the broader legal framework that applies to all vehicle defect cases, see our Texas Vehicle Defect Lawyer hub page.
Texas Airbag Defect Law: The Essentials
Three pieces of Texas law shape every airbag defect case.
Statute of limitations. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, you have two years from the date of injury to file a product liability lawsuit. For wrongful death claims, the two-year clock runs from the date of death.
Texas product liability framework. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 82 governs airbag defect claims. Plaintiffs can pursue strict liability (design defect, manufacturing defect, or failure to warn), negligence, and breach of warranty theories.
Federal preemption. Airbag manufacturers frequently argue that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208 — which governs occupant crash protection — preempts state product liability claims. Texas courts have generally rejected broad preemption arguments, but the doctrine remains a live defense.
For deeper treatment of how Texas product liability law applies to vehicle defect cases generally, see our Texas Vehicle Defect Lawyer hub page.
Types of Airbag Defects
Airbags fail in several distinct ways, and each failure mode has different liability and evidence implications.
Inflator Ruptures (Takata-Style Failures)
The Takata defect involves ammonium nitrate propellant that degrades over time, especially when exposed to heat and humidity. When the airbag deploys, the degraded propellant burns too quickly, rupturing the metal inflator and ejecting metal fragments into the vehicle occupants. These shrapnel injuries can sever arteries, blind, disfigure, and kill — even in crashes that would otherwise have been survivable.
Failure to Deploy
The airbag does not deploy at all, even though the crash forces should have triggered it. Failure to deploy can be caused by sensor malfunctions, electrical failures, software defects, or design flaws in the deployment threshold algorithms. A non-deploying airbag turns a moderate crash into a catastrophic one.
Late or Untimely Deployment
The airbag deploys but too late to protect the occupant — sometimes deploying after the occupant has already struck the steering wheel or windshield. Late deployment can cause more harm than no deployment at all, particularly when the airbag deploys into an occupant who has already moved forward in the cabin.
Aggressive or Excessive-Force Deployment
An airbag designed to deploy with appropriate force instead deploys with excessive aggression, causing facial fractures, eye injuries, neck injuries, and chest trauma. Aggressive deployment is particularly dangerous for shorter drivers, children, and out-of-position occupants.
Side Curtain Airbag Failures
Side curtain airbags are designed to protect occupants in side-impact and rollover crashes. Side curtain failures — including failure to deploy in a rollover, premature deflation, and inadequate coverage — produce severe head injuries and ejection injuries.
Sensor and Software Defects
Modern airbag systems rely on accelerometers, occupant detection sensors, and complex deployment algorithms. Sensor calibration errors, software bugs, and faulty occupant classification systems (which determine whether and how to deploy based on seat occupancy) cause both failure-to-deploy and inappropriate-deployment cases.
The Takata Airbag Recall
The Takata airbag recall is the largest and most consequential auto safety event in U.S. history.
Scale. Approximately 67 million Takata airbag inflators in 42 million U.S. vehicles have been recalled. More than 100 million inflators have been recalled worldwide.
The defect. Takata used phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) as the propellant in its airbag inflators. PSAN is sensitive to heat, humidity, and temperature cycling. Over years of exposure to typical climate conditions — especially in hot, humid regions like the Texas Gulf Coast — the propellant degrades and becomes unstable. When the airbag is triggered in a crash, the degraded propellant burns too quickly and ruptures the metal inflator, ejecting shrapnel into the passenger compartment.
Affected automakers. Takata supplied airbag inflators to nearly every major automaker. Recalls affect models from Honda, Acura, Toyota, Lexus, Ford, BMW, Nissan, Infiniti, Mazda, Subaru, Audi, Volkswagen, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, GM, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, and others.
Confirmed harm. NHTSA has confirmed 28 U.S. deaths from rupturing Takata inflators, with hundreds of additional fatalities and injuries reported worldwide. At least 400 alleged injuries have been reported in the U.S.
“Do Not Drive” warnings. NHTSA and several automakers — including Honda, BMW, and others — have issued “Do Not Drive” warnings for certain unrepaired vehicles, particularly older Honda and Acura models manufactured between 2001 and 2003. If your vehicle is subject to a “Do Not Drive” warning, the airbag rupture risk is considered extremely high.
The Takata bankruptcy and Joyson Safety Systems. Takata filed for bankruptcy in 2017 under the weight of recall costs and lawsuit liability. The company’s assets were acquired by Key Safety Systems, now operating as Joyson Safety Systems. Bankruptcy and corporate succession do not eliminate claims against the automakers that installed Takata inflators in their vehicles.
You can check whether your vehicle is subject to a Takata or other airbag recall at nhtsa.gov/recalls using your VIN.
Common Injuries from Defective Airbag Deployment
Airbag defects produce injury patterns unlike most other auto injuries — because the airbag itself becomes the weapon. Common injuries include:
- Shrapnel injuries — lacerations, severed arteries, and embedded metal fragments from ruptured Takata-style inflators
- Severe facial injuries — broken jaws, broken noses, fractured orbital bones, and disfiguring lacerations
- Eye injuries and blindness — caused by chemical exposure, shrapnel, or aggressive deployment
- Traumatic brain injuries — from aggressive deployment or from failure to deploy in crashes where the airbag was the last line of protection
- Neck and cervical spine injuries — including fractures and spinal cord injuries from aggressive deployment
- Chest trauma — including sternal fractures, rib fractures, and internal organ injuries
- Chemical and thermal burns — from airbag propellants and from the hot gases generated during deployment
- Hearing damage — from the high-decibel deployment sound, sometimes causing permanent tinnitus and hearing loss
- Ejection injuries — when airbags fail to deploy in crashes that should have triggered them
- Wrongful death — particularly from shrapnel-related arterial bleeds and from failure to deploy in survivable crashes
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Defective Airbag Injury
Airbag defect cases typically involve multiple defendants. Potentially liable parties include:
- The airbag manufacturer — Takata (now Joyson Safety Systems), Autoliv, ZF/TRW, Continental, Daicel, or other inflator and module manufacturers
- The vehicle manufacturer — Honda, Toyota, Ford, BMW, and other automakers that designed the vehicle and selected the airbag system
- The dealership — for failure to perform recall repairs or for selling a recalled vehicle without disclosure
- Repair facilities — for negligent installation or improper service of the airbag system
- Used vehicle dealers and rental companies — for transferring or renting vehicles with known open airbag recalls
What to Do After an Airbag Injury
The steps you take in the hours and days after an airbag injury affect your case more than almost any other factor.
Get medical attention immediately — even if injuries seem minor. Shrapnel injuries can mask the true depth of an arterial wound. Adrenaline masks symptoms. Document every visit.
Do not let the vehicle be repaired, scrapped, or insurance-totaled until an attorney has been involved. The vehicle, the airbag module, and the deployed airbag are the most important pieces of evidence in the case. Even a routine totaling can send the vehicle to auction or salvage and destroy critical evidence.
Photograph the airbag deployment. Photograph the deployed airbag, any shrapnel embedded in the vehicle interior or in your skin, the steering wheel, the dashboard, and the entire vehicle interior. Do not clean the vehicle.
Save any shrapnel. If metal fragments were recovered from your body or from the vehicle, preserve them. They are physical evidence of an inflator rupture.
Get the crash report and your medical records. Both will be needed for the case investigation.
Do not give a recorded statement to the airbag manufacturer’s investigators, the automaker, or the insurance company.
Contact a defective airbag lawyer. Manufacturers’ investigators are often on scene or in contact with insurers within days of a serious crash. Your evidence needs to be preserved on the same timeline.
How Amaro Law Firm Handles Houston Airbag Defect Cases
Our process is built around what manufacturer defense teams do — and how to beat it.
Step 1: Investigation. We obtain the crash report, scene photos, witness statements, vehicle history, and any video that captured the crash.
Step 2: Vehicle preservation. We send formal spoliation letters demanding preservation of the vehicle, the airbag control module, the deployed airbag, and any recovered shrapnel. We arrange secure storage and chain-of-custody documentation.
Step 3: EDR and airbag control module extraction. Modern vehicles record crash dynamics in the moments before deployment. We engage qualified experts to extract this data before it is lost.
Step 4: Defect investigation. We engage automotive engineers, biomechanical specialists, and airbag-specific experts to inspect the deployed airbag, identify the failure mode, and document how the defect caused the injuries.
Step 5: Liability mapping. We identify every party in the chain of distribution — inflator manufacturer, automaker, dealer, repair shop — that may share fault, to maximize available insurance coverage.
Step 6: MDL coordination where appropriate. Takata cases and other major airbag defect cases often involve coordinated litigation in federal multidistrict proceedings. When a case warrants MDL coordination, we work with national MDL counsel to position the case for the best result.
Step 7: Negotiation and litigation. We present a documented demand to the manufacturer. When manufacturers refuse to offer fair compensation, we file suit and prepare the case for trial.
Why Choose Amaro Law Firm for Your Houston Airbag Defect Case
- Trial attorneys, not settlement mills. Our litigators have experience taking cases through state district courts, federal courts, and the Texas Courts of Appeals.
- Resources to take on national automakers. We front the costs of airbag specialists, biomechanical engineers, accident reconstructionists, and medical experts.
- MDL coordination experience. When a case warrants coordination with national MDL counsel, we connect with attorneys who have specific experience in Takata and other airbag MDLs.
- Houston-based. Our principal office is in Houston, with attorneys familiar with Texas state and federal courts.
- No fee unless we win. Our defective airbag lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
- 24/7 availability. We respond around the clock.
Houston Defective Airbag FAQ
How long do I have to file an airbag defect lawsuit in Texas?
Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, you have two years from the date of injury to file a product liability lawsuit. For wrongful death claims, the two-year clock runs from the date of death.
What is the Takata airbag recall?
The Takata airbag recall is the largest auto recall in U.S. history. Approximately 67 million Takata airbag inflators in 42 million U.S. vehicles have been recalled. The defect involves ammonium nitrate propellant that degrades over time, especially in hot, humid climates like the Texas Gulf Coast. NHTSA has confirmed 28 U.S. deaths and at least 400 alleged injuries linked to the defect.
What if my vehicle was under recall but I never had it repaired?
You may still have a claim. The fact that a recall existed does not eliminate manufacturer liability. The case may involve additional claims against the dealership if it failed to notify you or perform the recall repair when the vehicle was serviced.
Who can be sued for an airbag defect injury?
Airbag defect cases typically involve multiple defendants. Potentially liable parties include the airbag manufacturer (Takata/Joyson, Autoliv, ZF/TRW, Continental, Daicel, or others), the vehicle manufacturer, the dealership, repair facilities, and used vehicle dealers or rental companies that transferred or rented vehicles with known open airbag recalls.
What kinds of injuries qualify for an airbag defect claim?
Common qualifying injuries include shrapnel lacerations and embedded metal fragments, severe facial injuries, eye injuries and blindness, traumatic brain injuries, neck and cervical spine injuries, chest trauma, chemical and thermal burns, hearing damage, and wrongful death — particularly from shrapnel-related arterial bleeds and from failure to deploy in survivable crashes.
How much does a Houston airbag defect lawyer cost?
Amaro Law Firm handles Houston airbag defect cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win your case. There are no upfront costs and no hourly fees. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery, agreed to in writing before we start.
What if a loved one was killed by a defective airbag?
Surviving spouses, children, and parents may file a wrongful death claim under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 71.002. Damages may include lost financial support, lost companionship, mental anguish, and funeral expenses. The estate may also bring a survival claim for the decedent’s pre-death pain and suffering and medical bills.
Should I let the insurance company total my vehicle?
Not until an attorney is involved. The vehicle, the airbag module, and the deployed airbag are the most important pieces of evidence in an airbag defect case. Once a vehicle is totaled and sent to salvage or auction, critical evidence can be lost. Contact a lawyer before signing anything from the insurer.
Talk to a Houston Defective Airbag Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one was hurt by a defective airbag — whether it ruptured, failed to deploy, deployed late, or deployed with excessive force — time is working against you. Vehicles get repaired, scrapped, or sent to auction. Shrapnel evidence disappears. The manufacturer’s investigators are already working.
Amaro Law Firm offers free, confidential consultations. We will review your case, explain your options, and tell you honestly whether we believe we can help. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
Call 713-352-7975 or request a free case review online.