Hawaii’s Takata Exploding Air Bags Lawsuit Ends in $14M Settlement

The State of Hawaii recently announced that its Honda vehicle defect lawsuitover Takata exploding air bags has come to a close with a $14 million settlement agreement, per the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection (OCP).

The settlement brings an end to allegations filed by Hawaii against vehicle manufacturer Honda and air bag manufacturer Takata, first filed in May 2016. Hawaii was the first state to file such a lawsuit over the alleged Takata exploding air bags issue. According to the lawsuit, the Takata air bag system used in many Honda vehicles could explode, posing serious dangers for cars’ drivers and passengers, along with others on the road—even potentially fatal consequences.

The lawsuit alleged that Honda used air bags that contained were propelled by ammonium nitrate, even though it knew ammonium nitrate was a chemical was volatile and unpredictable. Ammonium nitrate is typically kept for uses like propelling rockets, mining, and demolition. The chemical recently made international news after it was used in the devastating Beirut explosion back in August.

The volatility of the substance is especially serious in a place with a climate like Hawaii’s, which experiences significant temperature changes and is particularly humid, which can accelerate the breakdown of the chemical propellant, causing the chemical to explode, according to the lawsuit.

Hawaii had already settled with Takata for nearly $7 million while the company was in bankruptcy.

The intention of the lawsuit was to hold Honda accountable for placing consumers at risk, per the OCP.

“The State of Hawaii initiated this case against Honda because we believe that it failed to tell Hawaii consumers about the potential dangers of the airbags in Honda vehicles. The resolution of this matter goes a long way in holding Honda responsible for ensuring that Hawaii consumers will be provided vehicles with airbags that protects its occupants in the event of an accident in the safest possible manner,” said Stephen Levins, OCP Executive Director.

Millions of Honda vehicles that included the allegedly effective Takata exploding air bags were recalled, per a requirement from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). The vehicles subject to recall were those in Hawaii, along with other jurisdictions with similarly high heat and humidity.

Cars affected by the Takata exploding air bags were mostly included in Honda vehicles model years 2002 through 2015.

So far, there have been 17 deaths and more than 200 injuries related to Takata exploding air bags.

The Honda settlement resolves Hawaii’s claims against the vehicle manufacturer, but the State continues a separate class action lawsuit against three other vehicle manufacturers related to the Takata exploding air bags.

The settlement money will be used in a variety of ways to help benefit the people of Hawaii, especially including offering help to renters suffering difficulties due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Hawaii’s rate of new COVID-19 cases has slowed, though the same cannot be said for the rest of the country, which is now seeing record cases per day, as well as record hospitalizations.

Filing a Vehicle Safety Defect Lawsuit

If you have owned or leased a vehicle affected by a safety defect, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.