Defective Vehicle Lawsuit

People are suing for vehicle defects to seek compensation after a defective product or defective part caused a car crash. Their damages may include physical injuries, property damage, economic losses or other harms.

Claims may allege defective designs, manufacturing flaws or a manufacturer’s failure to adequately warn drivers of the potential risks posed by a faulty vehicle.

Defective car parts can lead to severe injuries. Examples of flawed car parts that may cause accidents and injuries include a faulty airbag, door latch, gear shift, seat, seatbelt and tire.

Was your crash caused by a vehicle defect?

A crash may have resulted from defective vehicle manufacture or defective vehicle parts if any of the following circumstances occurred:

• Airbags failed or did not immediately deploy
• Airbags deployed with shrapnel or debris inside
• Car seats and seat backs failed during a collision
• Cruise control became stuck or suddenly accelerated
• Doors, hatchbacks or tailgates opened during crash
• Fire or explosion occurred during or immediately following crash
• Occupants were thrown from vehicle during collision
• Tire blew out, separated or failed before or during crash
• Steering wheel and/or air bag compartment became bent or misshapen
• Vehicle rolled over
• Vehicle roof caved in

Motley Rice represents clients in product liability claims and vehicle defect cases against automakers:

ARC airbag lawsuits

Motley Rice plays a lead role in multidistrict litigation involving defective ARC airbags installed in vehicles manufactured by multiple automakers. When airbags rupture, injuries can be severe or even life-threatening. People alleging harm caused by a defective ARC airbag inflator have sustained blunt force trauma, shrapnel lacerations and other upper body trauma.

Learn more about ARC airbag inflator lawsuits.

Defective car door latch lawsuits

Defective car door latch lawsuits are being filed against multiple automakers. A class action lawsuit was filed in March 2025 against Nissan, alleging defective door locks in the Altima, Rogue and Sentra models. The lawsuit claims that doors open while driving and can randomly lock and unlock. It also claims that Nissan knew of the defect but failed to remedy it or advise consumers.

Defective seat lawsuits (Chrysler, Ford, GM and Saturns)

A defect in more than half a million vehicles allegedly causes the car seats to deform or collapse rearward in rear-impact collisions, leading to serious bodily injury or death. In 2021, Motley Rice successfully settled a claim made by a South Carolina woman who sustained serious injuries caused by a defective seatback in her Hyundai Elantra. Our lawyers continue to accept defective seat cases.

Joyson Safety Systems airbag lawsuits

Joyson Safety Systems is being investigated over allegations that its airbag systems are defective and may deploy early or spontaneously, leading to significant injury and death. Joyson airbags have been involved in several recalls. In 2024, Stallantis recalled approximately 318,000 vehicles for faulty airbag inflators made by Joyson. The airbags may deploy without a crash in high temperatures and humidity, discharging shrapnel into the vehicle.

Learn more about Joyson airbag lawsuits.

Collision avoidance system (CAT) lawsuits

People are filing lawsuits after being harmed by vehicles that are equipped, or supposed to be equipped, with automatic safety features. These features, called collision or crash avoidance technology, include automatic breaking, lane departure warnings, adaptive cruise control and other systems. When these features fail, they can harm the vehicle’s driver, passengers, the occupants of other vehicles and bystanders outside of the vehicle. Learn more about crash avoidance technology lawsuits.

Takata airbags lawsuit

Beginning in April 2013, more than 100 million Takata airbags have been recalled, some models more than once. The defective airbags prompted severe injuries and numerous individual lawsuits, class action cases and wrongful death claims alleging at least 28 deaths and hundreds of injuries. The airbags used a chemical inflator prone to breaking down in high humidity, firing shrapnel into the vehicles.

Learn more about Takata airbag lawsuits.

Fiat Chrysler gear shift defects lawsuit

Roughly 1.1 million vehicles were recalled because of a defective gear shift system that allegedly caused some Fiat Chrysler vehicles to unexpectedly roll away. The defect led to injuries and even death to motorists who mistakenly believed that their vehicle is in park. Lawsuits were filed against Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler) involving the defective gear shift design.

Firestone tires

After reports of more than 270 deaths and hundreds of serious injuries involving Ford Explorer drivers losing control and flipping over due to a tire blowout, an investigation found three Bridgestone/Firestone tire models with a high failure rate. The tire maker recalled 6.5 million tires at a cost of more than $1 billion. In 2005, Bridgestone/Firestone settled with Ford Motor Company for $240 million.

Ford vehicle rollovers

Ford has been the subject of numerous lawsuits involving rollover accidents. Motley Rice and co-counsel sued Ford Motor Company (Ford), alleging its Explorer SUV was prone to rollovers and the windows and roof had potentially fatal defects. They brought this suit after a tragic accident involving a woman who was killed when her rented 2000 Ford Explorer flipped over and the roof crumpled.

A South Carolina jury found Ford Motor Company liable and ordered the company to pay damages to the family. Ford continues to insist the company’s trucks were properly built to meet the crash standards at the time.

GM ignition switch lawsuit

In 2014, GM recalled approximately 800,000 vehicles because of a faulty ignition switch that could cause the engine to stall without warning and prevent airbag deployment. The defect led to a recall of more than 2.6 million vehicles, dozens of severe injuries and 124 deaths. In March 2024, GM settled the class-action case for $120 million. Other lawsuits against GM are still pending.

Learn more about ignition switch lawsuits.

Other car defect-related lawsuits currently pending include:

BMW class action lawsuit (engine failure)

Several class action lawsuits related to engine failure have been filed against BMW. The cases involve issues with timing chain modules and excessive oil consumption that can lead to engine failure. In 2020, a settlement was reached regarding BMWs equipped with N20 and N26 direct injection turbocharged engines prone to failure. In 2021, a class action lawsuit over excessive oil consumption associated with BMW’s twin-turbocharged N63 V8 engine was settled.

Ford transmission defect class action lawsuit

Several Ford transmission defect class action lawsuits are pending or have been settled. In 2020, a class action suit involving the Ford PowerShift transmission in the Fiesta and Focus was settled for cash payments, discounts or buybacks. In 2023, a new class action lawsuit was filed alleging various issues involving the 10R80 transmission in the Ford F-150, Mustang and Expedition.

GM engine failure lawsuit

On May 19, 2025, a class action lawsuit was filed against GM, alleging that the automaker deliberately sold vehicles with defective engines presenting potential safety hazards. The lawsuit claims issues with the L87 engine installed in GM vehicles model years 2021 – 2024 could potentially lead to engine failure.

Hyundai engine failure lawsuit

A Hyundai engine failure class action lawsuit was filed in 2024, alleging poor engine design caused thousands of Hyundai vehicles to catch on fire in the last 15 years, resulting in 103 injuries and one death. According to the lawsuit, certain Hyundai vehicles from model years 2010 to 2020 have a design defect that potentially results in engine failure, seizure, stalling and fire.

Nissan transmission defect class action lawsuit

In April 2025, Nissan agreed to a class action lawsuit settlement to resolve claims that some 2015-2018 Nissan Murano and 2016 – 2018 Maxima vehicles contain a flawed continuously variable transmission (CVT). According to the lawsuit, this defect can result in subpar transmission performance and total transmission failure.

A plaintiff could name various entities in a car defect lawsuit, including manufacturers, individual dealerships or service providers. Most states have lemon laws that protect consumers if a newly purchased vehicle is defective.

The car manufacturer is often held responsible in car defect lawsuits. But, dealerships can also be liable under product liability laws if they knowingly sold a defective vehicle or if their service was subpar. They can also be liable if they did not disclose a prior recall and that defect led to a car accident.

Who regulates car recalls and defects?

In the U.S., the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulates car recalls and defects. The agency evaluates complaints, oversees investigations and directs safety recalls for cars and equipment.

The Office of Defects Investigation handles the NHTSA safety recall program. It monitors and verifies manufacturers’ recall notifications and remedy process and gives the public up-to-date and accurate recall information.

NHTSA uses a risk-based process to determine the prevalence and severity of potential defects. It reviews information from consumers, law enforcement, consumers, media and online sources. If the administration finds a safety defect, it opens an investigation to decide if the issue warrants a recall.

A knowledgeable attorney can help with a car defect lawsuit by:

• Collecting evidence
• Consulting with experts to determine whether the defect led to the accident
• Determining what damages to sue for
• Evaluating applicable statutes of limitations or statutes of repose
• Filing a lawsuit for damages, if necessary
• Identifying potentially liable parties
• Investigating complex cases

Chambers USA recognized Motley Rice as a nationally ranked plaintiffs’ law firm in a recent guide. The 2025 guide ranked Motley Rice as Band 1 in the category of USA – Nationwide: Product Liability: Plaintiffs. Motley Rice is one of only three firms to receive the ranking.

Motley Rice lawyers have influenced some of the most significant cases for plaintiffs in recent years in several practice areas. We represent people with personal injury, product liability, wrongful death and economic loss class action claims.

Our attorneys have extensive experience litigating cases involving vehicle defects, including Takata’s record-breaking airbag recall. The brand’s exploding airbags have affected roughly 100 million vehicles worldwide, allegedly causing at least 28 deaths and hundreds of injuries. We are also investigating alleged defects in airbag components made by Joyson Safety Systems. Attorney Kevin Dean serves on the Trust Advisory Committee for victims of deadly airbags throughout Takata Corp.’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy process.

Motley Rice co-founder Joe Rice holds leadership positions in the GM ignition switch defect litigation and the Volkswagen emissions fraud litigation.