Too Hot to Handle: Can Extreme Heat Trigger Airbag Explosions?

When it’s 100+ degrees outside, the last thing you expect is for your car’s safety features to become a danger. But that’s exactly what’s happened in some vehicles, where extreme heat has been linked to airbag explosions, turning a life-saving device into a deadly hazard.

So, what’s really going on here? Can hot weather actually trigger airbag malfunctions? And if you’re injured as a result, do you have legal options?

The Heat Factor: Why Airbags May Explode

Airbags are designed to deploy in milliseconds during a crash. But in defective models, heat and humidity can destabilize the chemicals that power the airbag’s inflator.

In some cases, high temperatures, especially sustained exposure in hot climates, can cause the inflator to:

• Rupture violently
• Explode with excessive force
• Spray metal shrapnel into the vehicle

This isn’t just a theory. It’s exactly what happened in millions of recalled Takata airbags, where extreme heat and moisture made the inflators degrade over time. The result? Over 20 confirmed deaths and hundreds of injuries worldwide.

Where the Risk Is Highest

The danger isn’t spread evenly. Vehicles in hot, humid regions, such as Florida, Texas, California, and the Gulf Coast, are especially vulnerable to heat-triggered airbag failures.

Many older vehicles still on the road have never been repaired, or worse, their owners may not even know they’re driving with a ticking time bomb under the dashboard.

Signs Your Airbag May Be at Risk

• Your vehicle is on a recall list
• You live in a high-heat, high-humidity region
• Your car is 10+ years old
• You received a recall notice, but you never acted on it
• Your airbag light is on, or your airbag has already deployed under strange conditions

Even if you haven't been in a crash, a defective airbag can injure you while driving or during a minor accident.

Who’s Responsible?

If you’ve been injured by an airbag that exploded or deployed with unusual force, especially in extreme heat, multiple parties could be liable:

• The airbag manufacturer (e.g., Takata or successor companies)
• The automaker that installed the defective part
• The dealership or repair shop if they failed to act on a known recall
• Any party that knowingly resold or failed to warn about a dangerous vehicle

In product liability cases like these, you don’t have to prove negligence, only that the product was defective and caused harm.

What to Do If You’ve Been Injured by an Airbag

• Get medical care immediately. Document all injuries and symptoms.
• Preserve the evidence. If the airbag deployed, don’t repair or dispose of the vehicle.
• Check your VIN for open recalls at NHTSA.gov.
• Contact a lawyer. Airbag cases often involve major manufacturers and require expert investigation.

This Isn’t Just a Car Problem, It’s a Heat Problem

As heatwaves become more frequent and intense, car interiors can reach temperatures exceeding 140°F, which accelerates the wear and degradation of safety systems. That means this isn’t just about one bad part; it’s about how climate stress can expose hidden dangers in aging vehicles.

When corporations cut corners on safety or ignore regional climate risks, it is the people who pay the price.

Hurt by a Defective Airbag? We’re Here.

At Morgan & Morgan, we’ve helped clients nationwide recover compensation in cases involving faulty airbags, unsafe vehicles, and preventable injuries. If you were hurt or lost a loved one due to an airbag malfunction during extreme heat, we may be able to help.

Contact Morgan & Morgan Today

Airbags are supposed to save lives, not take them. If a defective airbag injured you or someone you care about, don’t wait. Reach out to Morgan & Morgan for a free case evaluation and find out what your legal options may be.

Andrew Parker Felix has resolved more Takata airbag rupture cases than any other attorney in the country, making him one of the nation’s leading voices on airbag safety and litigation.