Vehicular defects are flaws in the design or manufacturing of a vehicle. Design defects are intended elements of the design itself that are defective. For example, if an automobile does not promote safety of its occupants due to the design of its frame, design defects are evident. A manufacturing defect, on the other hand, is a defect that was not intended in the design, but was overlooked as the product was manufactured. For example, a manufacturing defect is present, if a component of an automobile does not function in the manner it was intended to. In either case, vehicle occupants are placed at a higher risk for injury and death during an accident.

Design Defects

Design defects frequent in automobiles include faulty brake systems, seatbelt systems, fuel tanks, tires, steering wheel mechanisms etc. Design defects in the configuration of a vehicle can misalign its center of gravity and increase the risk of a rollover.

Defective Tires

Tire failures or blowouts are a major cause of passenger car and SUV rollover accidents. In recent years, some of the country's biggest tire companies including Firestone and Cooper Tires have been linked to design flaws and shoddy production values resulting in tires with poor tread adherence. Tread separation is one of the most common reasons for a tire blowout and can be attributed to poor tread design, which causes separation while the automobile is in motion.

Fuel System Defects

Fuel tanks may be incorrectly positioned, placing the tank system at a greater risk of impact during an accident. Fuel tanks are also prone to welding failures and often lack safety devices that stop gas flow in the event of an accident. Automobile accidents related to fuel tank defects are some of the most preventable, and yet, vehicle fires and explosions continue to occur on American roads.

Traction Rollover Accidents

Poor traction control is one of reasons SUV's have a greater risk of rollovers. SUV accidents can be largely prevented, if traction control mechanisms (systems that allow the tires to grip the road during braking and acceleration) are in place.

Seatbelts and Airbags

Seatbelt systems and airbags have greatly contributed to the reduction of automobile fatalities. However, when these safety devices come with design and manufacturing defects, they can cause serious injuries to the passengers they are meant to protect. Seatbelts can become unlatched or tear during impact and airbags may fail to deploy or may deploy at the wrong moment, increasing the possibility of injuries.

Defective Brakes

Accidents caused by defective brakes are much less common these days due to enhanced design and production processes and more stringent testing procedures. When brakes do fail, however, the resulting accidents can be severe.

Car and SUV Roof Collapse

The biggest risk to passengers in a car or SUV rollover accident is roof crush or collapse.  While some amount of damage to the roof may be unavoidable during a rollover, catastrophic injuries to occupants are usually the result of a weak and unsteady roof support system that causes the roof to disintegrate in the event of an accident.

Uncontrolled Acceleration

Several models of cars in recent years, most notably Toyota models, have been linked to incidents of uncontrolled and unexplained acceleration, in which the engine revs up and the car speeds ahead completely on its own. Auto manufacturers continue to insist that there are no design defects that can explain such uncontrolled acceleration, but passengers who have been involved in accidents caused by such unprovoked speeding know otherwise.

Defective Seat Design

Seatbacks that have a weak and unstable structure are prone to collapsing during a collision, placing occupants at a high risk for serious head and bodily injuries. Passengers have suffered head, neck and spinal cord injuries, organ damage, paralysis and even death, as a result of partial or complete ejection from the seat, as well as being thrown against the vehicle's interior upon impact.

Power Windows

Children are more at risk of injuries caused by power windows than adults. These injuries can range from hand, wrist and finger fractures to dislocations and even death, if a child’s body or head is trapped in a power window.