HOUSTON – Four deaths and dozens of injuries have been reported, linked to faulty airbags that can send shrapnel flying into a driver's face. More than 12 million vehicles are currently under recall to repair the airbags.
Local 2 Investigates has learned a Texas woman filed a lawsuit in Houston against the airbag's manufacturer after she was permanently scarred.
Stephanie Erdman and her friend were driving home from the movies when a car pulled in front of her 2002 Honda Civic. The collision triggered the airbag inside her car. But instead of protecting her from the impact, pieces of shrapnel and metal flew through the airbag cushion and into her face.
"I had a piece of metal slice from my right nasal bridge all the way to my right eyebrow. I also had pieces fly and get embedded into my right jawline," Erdman said.
Erdman lost part of her eyesight and required multiple reconstructive surgeries to rebuild her eyelid.
"There has not been (a day) that's gone by that this has not affected me in some way," she said.
She filed a lawsuit against Honda and Takata Corporation, who made the airbag, claiming the airbag's inflator was faulty, causing it to rupture.
"It's the type of fender bender we see every day," said Rob Ammons, Erdman's attorney. "When the inflator ruptures, metal shards or shrapnel pierce through the cloth of the airbag and they hit people and they can lodge in their eye or neck."
Twelve million vehicles, made by Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, BMW, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler, dating back to 2001, were made with the Takata model airbags and are covered in a recent worldwide recall.
One automotive research group said Takata makes 22 percent of the world's vehicle airbags.
"It's an unnecessary danger and a hidden danger and that's a lethal combination," according to Ammons.
Federal regulators have said they believe moisture in the air, particularly in humid climates like Texas and Florida, cause the inflator chemicals to burn too fast, creating too much pressure. They're urging owners to get repairs immediately. But many auto dealers said there aren't enough replacement parts to meet the demand.
Erdman said she wants to get the word out about the recall before another accident happens like the one that left her scarred.
"This should have never happened," Erdman said. "I purchased this vehicle for safety purposes and the item that was supposed to be safe caused more injury than helping me out at all," she said.
A representative with Takata said it's cooperating with federal regulators and will fully support the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation.
You can check to see if your vehicle is included in this recall by clicking here and entering your VIN.
Local 2 reached out to Honda for a comment on the lawsuit and did not receive a response.