A manufacturing defects may occur in the construction or production of a product. A product has a manufacturing defect if (1) it differs from the manufacturer’s design or specifications (the product departs from its intended design) making it more dangerous than consumers expect it to be; and (2) the products that were manufactured or produced differently are from the same manufacturer and were intended to be identical.

Although manufacturing defects are relatively uncommon, if a product has a manufacturing defect, the manufacturer will be strictly liable in tort for damages caused by the defective product. This means the manufacturer will be liable even if the manufacturer exercised great care in manufacturing the product and was not negligent.

Products liability laws vary from state to state and may be in a state’s statutes or in its court opinions (also known as case law or common law).

In Utah, the concept of strict liability applies to cases involving manufacturing defects. Under Utah law, if a product has a manufacturing defect, meaning it deviates from the manufacturer's intended design or specifications and is more dangerous than consumers would expect, the manufacturer can be held strictly liable for any resulting damages. This strict liability means that the manufacturer is responsible for harm caused by the defective product regardless of the level of care they exercised during the manufacturing process. Utah's product liability laws are designed to protect consumers by holding manufacturers accountable for the safety of their products. These laws are found in both state statutes and judicial opinions. It is important for manufacturers to ensure that their products meet safety standards and are free from defects to avoid liability under Utah's strict product liability regime.