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Honda Ditches Explosive Takata Airbags After $70 Million Fine
Honda has stated that it is ditching airbag inflators made by Japan's Takata Corporation after US Regulators fined the airbag manufacturer $70 million.
The fine comes after an investigation by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) linked the airbag inflators - which used ammonium nitrate - to eight deaths caused by exploding airbags. The airbags exploded with too much force, spraying metal fragments inside the cars.
The investigation revealed Takata had misrepresented and manipulated test data for certain airbag inflators. Investigators have also stated that Takata gave selective, incomplete or inaccurate data from 2009 to the current day about its airbags.
The NHTSA said millions of cars equipped with potentially defective Takata airbags may not be repaired until the end of 2019 due to unavailability of spare parts. It also stated that the fines could increase by another $130 million dollars if it uncovers additional violations of safety regulations.
In response, a ‘deeply troubled' Honda has stated that it has stopped using Takata's airbag inflators. Honda is already buying more inflators from Takata rivals including TRW Automotive Inc, Autoliv, and Daicel Corp.