HONOLULU (AP) – The state of Hawaii is suing Japanese manufacturer Takata over defective air bags they say threaten peoples’ lives.
The lawsuit filed Friday in the First Circuit Court of Hawaii also names auto manufacturer Honda.
Millions of Takata’s defective air bags have been recalled because their inflators can explode, spewing shrapnel in cars. Hawaii is the first state in the nation to sue over the air bags, which are blamed for at least 11 deaths worldwide and more than 100 injuries.
Independent reports have concluded that a chemical used in Takata air bags – ammonium nitrate – can degrade when exposed to heat and humidity, which can trigger explosions.
“We’re particularly vulnerable here in Hawaii to the defect that Takata has manufactured … we’re not going to wait until something like this happens,” said Stephen Levins, executive director of the Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection.