Legal Battles Continue For Owners Of Vehicles With Takata Airbags

The legal battle over deadly Takata airbags is seeing some resolution after four automakers agree to compensate approximately 16 million owners of recalled vehicles.

Under the class action suit, Toyota, BMW, Subaru and Mazda could pay up to $533 million to current and former owners and lessees to reimburse them for expenses incurred because of the airbag problem. The settlement includes compensation for losses including out-of-pocket expenses; a possible residual distribution payment of up to $500; rental cars for some owners; and a customer support program for repairs and adjustments, including an extended warranty. Some of the money in the proposed settlement will also be used to encourage consumers whose cars are under recall to bring them in for repair. So far the airbags have been replaced in fewer than a third of the affected Toyota and Subaru vehicles and fewer than a fifth of those from BMW and Mazda.

The agreement, filed in United States District Court in Miami, is still subject to court approval.