Despite the allegations over Takata airbags, the Japanese company still claims that its explosives used in its airbags explosives can be used safely.

American lawmakers questioned Takata at a hearing recently about the safety of the ammonium nitrate propellant it uses. The company executives stated that they will continue to use these components.

Ammonium nitrate has been used in Takata propellants since the early 2000s, which has generated major saefty concerns over the airbags. Many consumers allege that these airbags can explode violently, and can send sharp metal shards out into the cabin when the airbags deploy.

Experts also warn that ammonium nitrate is highly sensitive to temperature and moisture changes, which can cause the propellent to break down and suddenly combust.

So far, at least six deaths and more than 100 injuries have been linked to Takata exploding airbags.

Takata officials testified in front of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee, where members interviewed several Takata representatives. Despite the intense security on the interview, Takata representatives insisted that when ammonium nitrate is properly manufactured and implemented correctly in designs it is not only safe, but is also very effective to use.

However, Takata representatives did say that the company will make several design changes to stabilize the compound. Takata is confident that their engineers will successfully utilize ammonium nitrate by altering the shape of the propellant wafers, but they do not plan to alter the composition.

Furthermore, the company representatives would continue to investigate the compound as a possible cause for the exploding airbags. Spectating legal experts question why the compound is still being used, with the continuing allegations and with potentially hazardous results.

Takata representatives fiercely defended its decision, stating that changing a vital engineering component was not as easy as “changing the color of the car.”

Not only did the committee not agree with the company’s position, but lawmakers were also appalled by the fact that Takata was using ammonium nitrate in replacement vehicles, which were apart of the Takata airbag recall.

Takata supplies car parts for different automakers across the United States, and had to recall over eight million cars due to defective and exploding airbags.

Overview of Takata Airbag Recall Allegations

Currently, Takata has replaced airbags in nearly 34 million vehicles, which has been the largest recall of automobiles in the history of the United States. For years, Takata engineers have struggled to properly use the ammonium nitrate compound, proposing different remedies and adjustments.

The complications of the exploding airbags had initiated several investigations, with one commissioned by Takata and the other by a group of automakers, but they have yet to find any definite causes to the exploding airbags.

Regardless of the cause, Takata critics state that the company had been manufacturing dangerous products without knowing the cause of the problem. Furthermore, critics state that Takata had also been focusing on the speed and performance of the vehicle, rather than the safety features of the car.

Despite the criticism, other spectators have complimented Takata for initiating the recall in 2013, stating that admitting the defect was the first step in resolving the situation. Takata also recently extended the recall to include more vehicles in October 2014, and it has increased its airbag replacement production to 700,000 per month. It is expected to increase to one million by September 2015.

Despite all the corrective actions, Takata is still facing major Takata airbag lawsuits, which allege that the company knew about the defective airbags as early as 2001, after automaker Isuzu had issued is own recall over the complication, and Takata neglected to notify federal regulators.