Most Common Vehicle Defects and How to Spot Them

When we get behind the wheel, we often trust our vehicles to be safe enough to take us from point A to B without any issues, especially those involving unsafe vehicle defects. However, this does not always happen. While we may assume manufacturers have thought through and corrected every vehicle safety issue, the reality is that safety-related vehicle defects do occur. This can sometimes lead to accidents and serious injuries. Understanding the most common vehicle defects and how to spot them is crucial for every driver. Read on to find out more.
What Is a Vehicle Defect?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a vehicle defect is defined by two key qualifiers:
- It must pose an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety
- It typically affects vehicles with the same design or manufacturer.
Vehicle defects often arise from design, manufacturing, or marketing failures, resulting in recalls or legal action. Design defects are inherent in a vehicle’s design, while manufacturing defects occur during the assembly process and may affect a specific batch. Marketing defects, on the other hand, involve failures to provide proper warnings or instructions, such as unclear airbag deployment guidelines.
4 Most Common Vehicle Defects
Unfortunately, most drivers learn about their vehicle’s defects after a crash. Most single-vehicle crashes are often attributed to vehicle defects, including the following:
- Fuel System Defects
Fuel system defects are particularly dangerous as they can lead to fires or explosions after a crash. If you persistently get a fuel-like smell in your car, notice leaks under the car, or a sudden drop in fuel efficiency, these may be warning signs of a defective fuel system.
- Steering and Braking Defects
If your vehicle is difficult to control or loses control on the road, it could be a sign of a defective steering system. A vehicle with faulty brakes may have delayed stopping, vibrations, or grinding noises. If not checked, these defects can lead to catastrophic accidents.
- Seat Belt Defects
Another common vehicle defect is seatbelts that either will not latch properly or have malfunctioning tension. The best way to verify that seatbelts in your vehicle are not defective is to test for secure locking and tension. If a seatbelt does not retract properly, feels loose, or does not lock into place, it may be time to check it.
- Airbag Defects
The NHTSA reports that frontal airbags have saved over 50,000 lives over 30 years. As such, it is essential to have your airbags in good condition if an accident ever happens. Faulty airbags may fail to deploy, deploy at the wrong time, or deploy with too much force. Warning signs include an illuminated airbag light on your dashboard or recalls issued for your vehicle’s make and model.
Liability for Vehicle Defects
Determining liability is crucial when a vehicle defect leads to an accident or injury. Typically, responsibility falls on one of the following:
- Manufacturers: For design or manufacturing defects.
- Dealers or Distributors: For failure to inform buyers about defects.
Under South Carolina law, manufacturers may be held strictly liable for defective products that cause harm. You do not need to prove negligence on a strict liability claim.
Legal Help Is Available
If you have been involved in a car accident due to a vehicle defect, an experienced attorney can help you hold the responsible parties accountable and seek compensation. Contact our Charleston car accident lawyer at Gus Anastopoulo Law Firm today.
Source:
nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/mvdefectsandrecalls_808795.pdf