Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • BEST PLACES TO WORK
  • News
    • HUMANITARIAN
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
    • OBITUARIES
    • OPINION
    • MID YEAR REPORT
    • SERVICE ZONE
  • ADAS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Resources
    • Events
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • AWARDS
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Best Places to Work
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
November 11, 2014 01:00 AM

Takata accused in lawsuit of burying bad airbag test results

Bloomberg News
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    (Crain News Service photo)

    Bloomberg News report

    LOS ANGELES (Nov.11, 2014) — Takata Corp., the maker of automobile airbags with a potentially lethal defect that prompted the recall of almost 8 million cars, was accused in a lawsuit of a years-long cover-up.

    The suit in Los Angeles federal court claims Takata discovered the flaw in tests about a decade ago and then destroyed records of the study. Most of the recalled vehicles were built by Honda Motor Co., which was also named as a defendant in the Nov. 7 class-action complaint filed by eight consumers.

    Airbags made by Takata have been tied to at least four deaths after the safety devices deployed with too much force, spraying metal shrapnel at occupants. Honda alone has recalled 6 million vehicles globally since 2008 because of the flaw. Takata tested its airbags after a Honda driver was “severely” injured in Alabama in 2004, according to the complaint.

    “The testing revealed that the steel canisters used to house the airbag's rapid inflation system contained cracks that compromised its structural integrity,” according to the complaint. “Upon learning that information, Takata ordered its technicians to destroy all evidence of the test results, including video footage and computer backup files.”

    The New York Times reported the alleged cover-up on Nov. 6. That article is cited in the court filing. Following the report, U.S. lawmakers including Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Edward Markey, D-Mass. and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., called for a federal criminal investigation.

    Car values

    Kikko Takai, a spokeswoman for Takata in Tokyo, couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

    Chris Martin, a Honda spokesman, said by email that the company hasn't yet received a copy of the complaint and declined to comment on it.

    Among the Honda models affected were its 2001-07 Accord, 2001-05 Civic, its 2006 Ridgeline truck and its Acura 2003-06 MDX SUV and 2005 RL sedan, according to the complaint.

    Honda and Takata considered the 2004 Alabama incident “an anomaly,” the suing consumers claim. Neither company alerted federal safety regulators or initiated a recall.

    The consumers, each of whom bought a new or used Honda-made vehicle, are seeking to sue on behalf of anyone in the U.S. who purchased or leased one with defective Takata airbags, plus unspecified money damages and other relief.

    The case is one of about a dozen seeking group status over claims that the defect has caused the value of cars to plummet. A panel of federal judges is weighing a request to consolidate the cases in a U.S. court in Miami.

    The lawsuit is the second against Takata by Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro L.L.P. of Seattle. The law firm was at the forefront of group litigation against Toyota Motor Corp. over unintended vehicle acceleration. That case ended in a $1.63 billion settlement.

    This Bloomberg News report appeared on the website of Automotive News, a Detroit-based sister publication of Tire Business.

    Related Articles
    Toyota recalls 1.75M cars to fix brakes, fuel leaks
    NHTSA back in cross hairs as airbag crisis escalates
    AutoNation CEO: Poorly handled recalls a 'black eye' for industry
    Airbag inflator shortage plagues industry
    Honda admits under-reporting serious U.S. accidents since 2003
    Takata poised for clash in Congress after rejecting U.S. recall
    Auto makers gather today to coordinate Takata airbag testing
    Takata CEO takes out newspaper ads in reaction to airbag crisis
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    TravelCenters rebuffs takeover bid by ARKO Corp.
    2
    Lambo picks Bridgestone for hybrid supercar Revuelto
    3
    SRNA to raise Falken PLT, TBR prices May 1
    4
    Michelin to support major tire-recycling initiative
    5
    Jiangsu GST's plant in Cambodia starting production
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    Reader Services
    • Staff
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • BEST PLACES TO WORK
    • News
      • HUMANITARIAN
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
      • OBITUARIES
      • OPINION
      • MID YEAR REPORT
      • SERVICE ZONE
    • ADAS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Resources
      • Events
        • ASK THE EXPERT
        • LIVESTREAMS
        • WEBINARS
        • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
        • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION