According to Reuters, more than 70 suits have been filed against Takata and its customers–including Ford, Honda and Toyota.
The decision comes not long after a former Takata engineer stepped forward in response to U.S. regulators seeking whistleblowers.
The former engineer claims to have explicitly warned the company against using ammonium nitrate as an alternative to the more expensive — but more stable — compound, known as tetrazole, that was used in the previous-generation designs.
Ammonium nitrate’s sensitivity to humidity is said to have been well known to the design team, however company leaders allegedly dismissed the concerns and believed the material could be handled and manufactured in a way that minimized risk.
The lawsuits allege that Takata and its customers were aware of the dangers of the defective components and withheld that knowledge for years before federal regulators intervened and mandated a safety recall.
The ongoing recall covers millions of vehicles worldwide, and the defect has been linked to at least five deaths and multiple injuries, some as recently as last year. The scandal has taken a serious toll on Takata’s leadership, leading to the resignation of its president and general counsel.
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