A Florida man won $3 million after a defective Takata airbag exploded in his Honda Civic during a crash, sending metal shrapnel into his arm in a case that highlights the ongoing danger of these deadly devices still installed in millions of American vehicles.
Key Takeaways
- South Florida jury awarded Jose Hernandez $3 million for severe injuries sustained when a Takata airbag exploded improperly during a 2020 crash
- The defective inflator in Hernandez’s 2005 Honda Civic sent metal shrapnel into his arm, leading to the 2022 lawsuit against Takata’s compensation trust fund
- Takata airbag inflators have been linked to at least 28 deaths in the US and 36 worldwide, with over 400 people injured in America alone
- The dangerous airbags use ammonium nitrate, which can deteriorate over time and explode with excessive force, causing the metal canister to rupture and spray shrapnel
- Recalls of these dangerous airbags began in 2013, but millions of vehicles equipped with them remain on American roads
Multi-Million Dollar Verdict for Airbag Victim
A South Florida jury has delivered justice to Jose Hernandez, awarding him $3 million in compensation for serious injuries caused by a defective Takata airbag that exploded during a 2020 crash. Hernandez was driving his 2005 Honda Civic when the collision occurred, triggering the airbag’s inflator to malfunction catastrophically. Instead of protecting him, the airbag’s metal canister ruptured violently, sending sharp metal fragments into his arm. The severity of his injuries prompted Hernandez to file a lawsuit in 2022 against the Takata Airbag Tort Compensation Trust Fund.
A South Florida jury has awarded $3 million to a man who was severely injured by a defective airbag in a 2020 crash. https://t.co/hX41zA1a9N
— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) May 6, 2025
Deadly Design Flaw Exposed
The verdict brings renewed attention to one of the largest and most dangerous automotive safety failures in history. Takata, once a leading global supplier of automotive safety components, used ammonium nitrate as a propellant in its airbag inflators – a critical design flaw that has proven deadly. This volatile chemical compound deteriorates when exposed to heat and humidity over time, causing the inflators to explode with excessive force during deployment. The explosion shatters the metal canister containing the propellant, effectively turning safety devices into deadly weapons that spray metal shrapnel throughout the vehicle’s passenger compartment.
A Devastating Safety Crisis
The scale of the Takata airbag disaster is staggering and continues to claim victims despite years of recall efforts. These defective inflators have been conclusively linked to at least 28 deaths in the United States and 36 fatalities worldwide. Over 400 Americans have suffered injuries, many catastrophic, from these malfunctioning safety devices. Large-scale recalls began in 2013, but the crisis has been difficult to resolve due to the massive number of affected vehicles across dozens of automotive brands and the challenge of reaching all vehicle owners.
Ongoing Danger to American Drivers
This $3 million verdict serves as a stark reminder that millions of Americans may still be driving vehicles equipped with these potentially lethal devices. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been working with automakers to remove these dangerous airbags from American roads, but compliance with recalls has been incomplete. Many older vehicles have changed hands multiple times, making it difficult for manufacturers to contact current owners. This creates a situation where unsuspecting drivers and passengers face serious risk every time they get behind the wheel.
Corporate Accountability
The Hernandez verdict represents more than just compensation for one victim – it demonstrates that the American legal system can hold corporations accountable for dangerous products that harm consumers. Takata’s bankruptcy and the establishment of the compensation trust fund came after the company admitted to concealing evidence of the airbag defects from automakers. The company’s prioritization of profits over safety resulted in one of the most expensive and extensive automotive recalls in history, affecting approximately 100 million inflators worldwide and about 67 million in the United States alone.
