Overview
Takata airbag lawsuits — MDL 2599, In re: Takata Airbag Products Liability Litigation, S.D. Fla., Judge Federico A. Moreno (per JPML). Plaintiffs alleged Takata airbag inflators (PHMD propellant) ruptured on deployment and sent metal fragments, injuring and killing occupants (per complaints and NHTSA recall records). Takata pleaded guilty to a federal fraud charge in 2017 and paid a $1 billion criminal penalty including $975 million restitution (per DOJ); the company filed Chapter 11 in 2017, and Autoliv acquired its airbag business in 2018 (per public reports). Civil settlement funds for economic losses were reported above $1.5 billion (per law firm reports, December 2018). The MDL is closed; no further payout amount is available or can be promised.
Status of the science / claims: Takata airbag inflators using PHMD propellant were recalled by NHTSA because the propellant could degrade and inflators could rupture on deployment, sending metal fragments (per NHTSA recall records). Takata’s 2017 federal criminal plea covered the conduct underlying the recalls (per DOJ).
Companies involved
Settlement amounts
Criminal penalty: $1 billion including $975 million restitution (per DOJ, January 2017). Civil settlement funds for economic losses were reported above $1.5 billion (per law firm reports, December 2018). Individual claim amounts varied; no outcome can be promised.
Case count
| Month | Filed cases | Δ |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 2018 | 600 | +200 |
| Jan 1, 2017 | 400 | +250 |
| Jan 1, 2016 | 150 | +120 |
| Feb 5, 2015 | 30 | — |
Key dates
- December 1, 2018Settlement funds for economic losses reported above $1.5 billion (per law firm reports)
- January 1, 2018Autoliv acquires Takata’s airbag business (per public reports)
- June 28, 2017Takata Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing (per court records)
- January 16, 2017Takata guilty plea: $1 billion criminal penalty including $975 million restitution (per DOJ)
- February 5, 2015JPML transfers and consolidates the cases into MDL 2599, S.D. Fla. (per JPML)
Updates
- Updated Aug 1, 2026Seeded from research (Aug 31, 2026): MDL 2599 (S.D. Fla., Judge Moreno) closed; $1 billion criminal penalty (per DOJ, 2017).
Notable filings
- — Criminal plea and penalty — Takata (D. Mass., per DOJ) [source] — Guilty plea to conspiracy to defraud the United States; $1 billion criminal penalty including $975 million restitution (per DOJ).
FAQ
What is the Takata airbag lawsuit about?
Plaintiffs alleged Takata airbag inflators using the PHMD propellant ruptured on deployment and sent metal fragments, injuring and killing occupants (per complaints and NHTSA recall records). The MDL was In re: Takata Airbag Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2599, S.D. Fla., Judge Federico A. Moreno (per JPML).
What did Takata pay the government?
Takata pleaded guilty to a federal fraud charge in 2017 and paid a $1 billion criminal penalty, including $975 million in restitution (per DOJ, January 2017).
Was there a civil settlement?
Civil settlement funds for economic losses were reported above $1.5 billion (per law firm reports, December 2018). Individual claim amounts varied; no outcome can be promised.
What happened to Takata as a company?
Takata filed Chapter 11 in 2017, and Autoliv acquired its airbag business in 2018 (per public reports).
How do I check whether my vehicle was recalled?
Use the NHTSA recall lookup with your VIN (per NHTSA). Recalls of PHMD inflators were among the largest in U.S. history (per NHTSA recall records).
Can I still file a Takata claim?
The consolidated MDL is closed and the civil claims processes have wound down (per court records). For injury claims that may fall outside those processes, consult a licensed attorney — this page is reference only.
Think this matters to you?
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