Ex-Takata Engineer to Testify on Airbag Flaws

A former Takata engineer has confirmed that he is willing to testify against the company. 

Mark Lillie, who left the Japanese auto supplier in 1999, says he warned Takata against using ammonium nitrate to inflate its airbags because it could result in complete airbag failure. As we now know, Lillie was right.

Last week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) put out the call for anyone with insider information on Takata to come forward. Two federal investigations are currently underway to find out if Takata willfully hid or altered data that resulted in a public safety risk and the feds want individuals with insider knowledge to testify in court.

SEE ALSO: NHTSA Seeks Takata Whistleblowers

Takata has forced the recall of 24 million cars due to airbag inflators that can deploy with too much force, causing metal fragments to shoot at the passengers. Six deaths in Honda vehicles have all been attributed to this airbag malfunction.

“I knew that ultimately there were going to be catastrophic failures,” Lillie told Automotive News. “I didn’t want my name associated with it.” Takata held a design review in 1999 to discuss the use of ammonium nitrate, which was eventually used as the propellant in its airbags. “We went to the design review saying this is not an appropriate propellant,” Lillie said. “I literally said that if we go forward with this, somebody will be killed.”

[Source: Automotive News]