Honda will pay $85 million to settle an investigation by 46 U.S. states into its use of defective Takata airbag inflators in its vehicles.
More than 40 million U.S. vehicles equipped with 60 million defective Takata airbag inflators have been recalled in recent years, with Honda being one of the major automakers involved in the recall. In January, it revealed it would recall an additional 2.7 million older U.S. vehicles across North America for potentially defective Takata inflators.
In a settlement announced on Tuesday, American Honda Motor Co. and Honda of America agreed to a consent order that will require them to upgrade their product safety procedures related to frontal airbags, including to reduce the risk that their inflators could rupture. Auto News adds that the car manufacturer agreed without admitting wrongdoing and to avoid the cost of further litigation.
Read Also: Here We Go Again – Another 2.4 Million 1996-2003 Hondas And Acuras Recalled Over Takata Airbags
“The now-bankrupt airbag inflator supplier, Takata, pleaded guilty in 2017 to federal criminal fraud charges for deceiving Honda and other automakers about the safety of its airbags,” Honda said in a statement. “Under the terms of these civil settlements, Honda does not acknowledge any wrongdoing.”
“Honda continues to lead the industry in its efforts to replace defective Takata airbag inflators. The company has thus far replaced more than 16 million defective Takata airbag inflators in its vehicles and made more than 292 million individual attempts to contact owners and urge them to have their recalled Takata airbag inflators replaced.”
Court approval will be required for everything to be settled.
