4 Common Car Defects You Should Look Out For

Vehicle defects have catastrophic effects, with some contributing to accidents and others increasing the possibility of severe injuries or even death in a crash. A study found that car defects are a primary contributor to nearly 51% of crashes. Faulty car parts can hinder your ability to drive your automobile correctly or result in an issue that compromises your safety in an accident. Discussed below are four common car defects you should look out for.

1. Defective brakes

Defective brakes are a leading cause of road accidents. A collision may occur if your car’s brakes fail to engage or release. Signs your vehicle has faulty brakes include the following:

• The brake light is on

• You’re hearing squeaking, screeching, or grinding sounds

• Vibration when braking

• Car pulling to one side when braking

If the defect occurred during manufacturing, the manufacturer is held responsible for the faulty brakes. A car dealer may also be liable if:

• The brakes were faulty when you bought the car

• They should have known or knew that the brakes had an issue and didn’t fix it

If you’re unsuccessful in repairing the brakes even after numerous attempts and your car qualifies as a lemon vehicle, this California Lemon Law Attorney can help you file a lemon law claim to get compensation.

2. Seat belt defects

Seat belts are vital for road safety because they keep you and other vehicle occupants safe in case of a collision. When defective, seat belts can result in catastrophic, frequently fatal injuries. Your seat belt may fail for various reasons, including:

• Poor or defective design

• Manufacturing or assembly defects or mistakes

• Faulty materials used for webbing

• Defective anchorage point

Testing your seat belts for safety can help minimize injury severity and save lives.

3. Faulty airbags

Although airbags are life-saving products, they can cause severe injuries if they don’t function properly. An airbag is defective if it:

• Deploys with excess force: Airbags should deploy with force sufficient enough to cushion a collision’s impact. When faulty, the chemicals burn too quickly, resulting in the airbag deploying with excess force

• Deploys when it shouldn't have: When an airbag doesn’t deploy at the right time, it can disorient you and block your view field. Often, the unexpected impact causes drivers to deviate into other traffic lanes or lose control completely

• Doesn’t deploy when it should: If an airbag doesn’t deploy when it should, the driver and other vehicle occupants can be thrown into the windshield, dashboard, steering wheel, or windows, sustaining severe injuries

If you’re injured in a car accident due to defective airbags, filing a product liability claim can help you get compensation.

4. Defective tires

Quality tires are crucial for road safety. However, when defective, the risk of road accidents increases. Faulty tires may be due to:

• Errors committed during the manufacture of the tires

• Design flaws

• Common tire defects include the following:

• Belt separation, which can cause sudden tire failure

• Tread separation, which results in loss of control and disastrous blowouts

• Inclusion of foreign objects, poor assembly, or incomplete curing during manufacturing. These issues can cause performance problems and tire failure

If the manufacturer is responsible for the faulty tires, they should bear the costs of tire defective-related crashes. You can file a product liability lawsuit to be compensated for your damages.

Endnote

Vehicle defects not only contribute to accidents but also increase the likelihood of severe injuries and fatalities. Familiarize yourself with common car defects, including faulty brakes, seat belt failures, and defective tires.