Posted: January 7, 2016
If you or a loved one has been injured due to a defect in your recently recalled Saab, it’s important to know your legal rights. Contact Eisbrouch Marsh to schedule a free consultation with our skilled auto recall lawyers. You may be entitled to well-deserved compensation for costs you’ve incurred, such as medical and funeral bills ─ in addition to pain and suffering, and loss of resale value. Our Saab recall attorneys can guide you every step of the way to holding GM liable for their overwhelming negligence.
General Motors has issued a Saab convertible recall, after finding that seatbelt issues could cause the restraints to fail in a collision. Nearly 30,000 vehicles are included in the recall. The Saab defective seatbelt recall includes convertibles from 2004-2011.
While the Chinese-backed automaker, National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB, bought Saab out of bankruptcy in 2012, the convertibles in question were manufactured while the company was a subsidiary of GM ─ holding the American automaker responsible for the damage.
GM recently announced that the company will soon begin notifying Saab owners and dealerships of their plan to replace the defective driver’s seatbelt and inspect the passenger side seatbelt at no charge to the vehicle owner.
NHTSA confirms Saab convertible recall
On June 11, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed the Saab recall, after at least 33 complaints from vehicle owners were received, noting the breakage of the automatic tension system cable in the driver’s seat belt reactors, causing the seat belt to hold tension.
This is hugely problematic, as the driver may not be properly restrained by the seat belt in a collision ─ further increasing their risk of receiving severe and possibly life-threatening injuries.
While the seat belt problem was first identified in February 2011, after the NHTSA conducted an investigation following a consumer complaint, the GM Safety and Field Action Decision Authority have just decided three years later that the issue is a safety risk and should be recalled.
Auto recalls in the U.S. have become all too frequent, as the 37.5 million vehicles recalled due to defects and safety issues in the first six months of the year is a record-breaking number.
GM has been raising eyebrows, as the auto manufacturer has contributed to nearly two-thirds of all recalls this year. The company has recalled at least 12 million vehicles during 2014 alone, due to a faulty ignition switch that could cause the automobile to turn off if drivers use a heavy keychain or the ignition is jolted ─ just as would occur in a collision.
Consequently, GM has been the target of a great deal of backlash after the company admitted it has known about the faulty ignition switch for years, but failed to issue a recall. Many vehicle owners who have been involved in serious accidents ─ some even resulting in death ─ have filed lawsuits against the auto manufacturer.
Saab convertible recall lawsuit
At Eisbrouch Marsh, we have more than 25 years of experience helping victims of defective motor vehicles fight for well-deserved compensation. Call 201-342-5545 today to schedule a free case review with our team of seasoned New York and New Jersey product liability lawyers.
Resources
- Washington Post, More Recalls: 2010-14 Chevrolet Camaro, 2004-11 Saab 9-3, 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, 2014 Buick LaCrosse http://www.washingtonpost.com/cars/more-recalls-2010-14-chevrolet-camaro-2004-11-saab-9-3-2012-chevrolet-sonic-2014-buick-lacrosse/2014/06/13/4dd88ce6-f315-11e3-8d66-029598e98add_story.html
- CNN, Every General Motors recall in 2014 http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2014/05/us/gm-recalls/
- Cars.com, Recall Alert: 2004-2011 Saab 9-3 Convertible http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2014/06/recall-alert-2004-2011-saab-9-3-convertible.html
