The encyclopedia · Product & Design · Product decision · 2013–2017
Takata's airbags killed 35 people — the largest auto recall in history
Takata's unstable ammonium nitrate inflators could explode, sending shrapnel into the cabin. The defect killed 35 people and triggered the largest auto recall.
Takata Corporation · 2013-04
What happened
Takata Corporation, founded in 1933 in Japan, grew to hold 20% of the global airbag market by 2014. But its inflators used ammonium nitrate — a cheaper but less stable propellant than the industry standard. Over time, heat and humidity degraded the chemical, causing it to burn too quickly and rupture the metal inflator housing, sending shrapnel into the vehicle cabin.
The first deaths linked to the defect occurred in the late 1990s, but the crisis erupted in 2013 when 3.6 million vehicles were recalled. By May 2015, the recall had expanded to 53 million vehicles across 12 brands — the largest auto recall in history. The US alone saw 28 deaths and 200+ injuries. Global deaths reached 35, including victims in Malaysia, Brazil, and Australia.
In January 2017, Takata agreed to plead guilty to fraud and pay $1 billion: $25 million in criminal fines, $125 million to a victim compensation fund, and $850 million to compensate automakers. Three executives were charged by the US Department of Justice. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2017 and was acquired by Key Safety Systems for $1.6 billion.
Why it happened
- Takata chose ammonium nitrate as the propellant for its airbag inflators — a cheaper but unstable chemical that could explode with too much force when exposed to heat and humidity over time.
- The defect was known internally for years but the company failed to recall products or warn regulators, leading to over 100 million inflators being recalled and 35 deaths worldwide.
- The company's cover-up and delayed response led to a $1 billion criminal penalty, the bankruptcy of a 84-year-old company, and the largest auto recall in history.
The lesson
Takata saved pennies per unit by using an unstable chemical. When a product defect can kill, the cheapest fix is to recall it early and fix it before the deaths mount.
Aftermath
Takata filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2017 and was acquired by Key Safety Systems for $1.6 billion, renamed Joyson Safety Systems. The recalls continue to this day — new stop-drive orders were issued for 900,000 Citroën vehicles in 2025 and 61,000 Toyota/GM vehicles in 2024. Over 100 million inflators have been recalled globally across 20+ automakers, making it the largest automotive recall in history.
Sources
- Takata Corporation — Wikipedia
- NHTSA — Takata Recall Spotlight (largest auto recall, ammonium nitrate inflators, 100M+ recalled)
spotted an error? The club wants to know.
More like this
Honda's engine software could stall the car on sudden acceleration — 294,612 recalled
Takata's airbags exploded instead of inflating — 27 dead, 100M+ recalled
Honda concentrated production in Thailand — the 2011 floods cut its global output in half
Somewhere, someone solved the problem this company failed at. 2nd Opinion →
Comments · 0
Sign in to join the comments.