Hawaii state officials said proceeds from a $14 million settlement with American Honda Motor Co. and its affiliates (Honda) would benefit consumers, particularly renters with pandemic needs.
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) said the settlement stems from allegations Honda did not disclose safety issues related to defects in the frontal airbag systems installed in certain Honda and Acura vehicles sold nationwide, including in Hawaii.
“The State of Hawaii initiated this case against Honda because we believe that it failed to tell Hawaii consumers about the potential dangers of the airbags in Honda vehicles,” OCP Executive Director Stephen Levins said. “The resolution of this matter goes a long way in holding Honda responsible for ensuring that Hawaii consumers will be provided vehicles with airbags that protect its occupants in the event of an accident in the safest possible manner.”
Hawaii became the first state to file a lawsuit against Honda and Takata four years ago, alleging the production of airbag systems that could explode, posing grave, and potentially fatal, dangers to vehicle occupants. Hawaii officials alleged Honda used ammonium nitrate propelled airbags despite information detailing ammonium nitrate, a chemical principally used to propel rockets and for mining and demolition, was volatile and unpredictable.
The airbags were installed mostly in cars from model years 2002 through 2015, adding some of the airbags could deploy explosively, injuring or killing car occupants.