The “B” hood ornament on every Bentley is a mark of prestige for its owner.  It may also increase the risk of injuries to pedestrians during an accident.  That's the reason behind a recall of approximately 1,500 Bentleys across the world.

According to Bentley, the problem is that the hood ornament is supposed to retract automatically when it comes into contact with another object.  However, corrosion could prevent the ornament from retracting completely, and the ornament could cause serious injuries in a pedestrian accident.  The problem seems to have come to light only after a dealer in the UK noticed that the hood ornaments failed to retract completely during impact. 

The recall involves the Arnaze, Brooklyn and Azure manufactured between 2007 and 2009.  The hood ornament includes a capital “B” with a pair of wings attached to the back.  For Bentley owners, this has been a mark of prestige and a status symbol.  It is also been a symbol to distinguish a Bentley from its competitor Rolls-Royce, which has a similar looking hood ornament.

Later this month, Bentley owners can get their cars over to their dealer to get a new hood ornament free of charge.  There is no information whether the hood ornaments have been responsible for causing any injuries yet.  The recall may sound quaint, and the problem may seem mild compared to Toyota’s sudden acceleration or Ford's unintended rollovers.  However, it is a potentially serious problem, and it could cause serious injuries in a pedestrian accident.  A pedestrian could easily suffer puncture injuries during impact.  Even impalement is not such a far-fetched scenario. 

Other carmakers, including Mercedes-Benz, have also modified their hood ornaments to accommodate safety concerns.  Mercedes Benz’s famous tri-pointed hood ornament is now a safer logo on the grille.  California product liability lawyers understand that it may be less stately looking, but it is much safer.