The Top 5 Most Significant Product Recalls of 2016

When making an important purchase, such as a mobile device or a vehicle, there are many factors that help in your decision-making process. It is important to consider the potential safety risks associated with any product that you purchase.

As consumers, we put our faith in manufacturers to deliver safe products and we trust our government agencies for making companies abide by strict safety and manufacturing guidelines.

But this is not always the case. There are millions of defective products recalled across the U.S every year that put our safety and health at risk.

Below are the top 5 significant recalls of 2016, according to GuruFocus.com:

1. Samsung Galaxy Note 7:
   Cellphone manufacturer Samsung issued a recall for this mobile device after several reports of the device catching fire without prior warning. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, the abrupt fire was due to overheating batteries, causing serious burn injuries in the users. In fact, this product has been deemed so dangerous, that it is prohibited on all airline flights.

2. Volkswagen Vehicles:
   11 million Volkswagen vehicles across the globe were recalled due to defective and false emissions control systems. The automaker must pay $14.7 billion in settlements to compensate vehicle owners for damages.

2. Takata Airbags:
   Going on its fourth year of various product recalls, Takata airbags were recalled due to concerns of dangerously exploding airbags. These airbags reportedly sent metal shards flying at drivers and passengers in 19 different automakers, causing serious injury to drivers.

4. General Motor Vehicles:
   In addition to Takata airbags existing in many GM vehicles, this automaker also issued a recall in faulty ignition switches in cars and trucks, which caused the front upper control arms to separate. So basically, when owners of these defective vehicles were driving, if a person’s knee hit their keys in the ignition, vehicles could literally turn off, causing serious accidents, and harm to drivers.

4. IKEA Dressers:
   Nearly 30 million units of MALM dressers and chests were recalled due to stability issues. In the most severe cases, the dressers tipped over and caused injury and death in children, adults, and pets. One tip is, if you do have small children, bolt all furniture to the wall in your child’s bedroom.

As consumers, we should feel safe that all products on the market have been properly manufactured, tested and evaluated for all potential safety risks. But mistakes and blatant disregard do happen.

If you or a loved one has been injured by an unsafe or defective vehicle or product, you may have a viable claim for compensation. If you or a family member have been affected by any of the above recall items, or if you think you may have been harmed by another type of defective product, call Graves McLain for help at 918-359-6600. You will receive a FREE, confidential, no-obligation consultation with one of our experienced Tulsa, Oklahoma Product Liability Lawyers.

The attorneys at Graves McLain are experienced professionals ready to investigate your claim with compassion and determination. If we take your case, you will never pay an attorney’s fee upfront, and you owe us nothing until we recover for you.