Andrew Parker Felix’s Battle Against Takata’s Deadly Airbags

“When the passenger airbag exploded, it basically degloved his entire face. He lost his nose, he lost his right eye: the type of catastrophic injuries that one is more accustomed to seeing in a Hollywood horror movie — not something from a safety device that’s supposed to protect you.” Andrew Parker Felix is recalling a case from 2022, in which his client was involved in a minor collision when his passenger-side airbag exploded like a grenade. This was a Takata airbag that utilized ammonium nitrate as the propellant. When deployed, the airbag in his vehicle exploded with deadly force, projecting metal fragments into his face and tearing away facial tissue from the underlying muscle and bone.

Felix has become a national figure in the fight to hold Takata and the
car manufacturers accountable for knowingly installing defective airbags in vehicles worldwide. As a partner in Morgan & Morgan’s product liability department, he has worked on more than 180 Takata airbag cases, securing numerous resolutions ranging from $500,000 to over $15 million.

His work has been instrumental in achieving justice for victims whose lives have been devastated by these defective airbags.

But Felix’s dedication to these cases goes beyond just winning compensation — he advocates for broader corporate accountability, stressing that profit was prioritized over safety by the automakers who installed these defective airbags. “The automobile manufacturer, such as Honda, Ford, or Mercedes, may also be liable for the injuries that anyone sustains as a result of this car company choosing to put this deadly product in their car and then selling it to consumers,” Felix notes.

When Corporations Cut Corners

The key question was how the defect occurred and why manufacturers opted for a cheaper solution. Major automakers prioritized cost savings, prompting Takata to propose using ammonium nitrate — a volatile chemical commonly found in industrial explosives — rather than the safer guanidine nitrate. This shift, which saved about $2 per airbag, underscores a broader, dangerous corporate mentality: cut corners to maximize profits, even at the expense of consumer safety. The Takata litigation serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with prioritizing financial gain over the well-being of individuals.

The Takata airbag crisis became public in June 2014 when the federal government agency responsible for regulating vehicle safety in the United States, NHTSA, opened an investigation into Takata’s defective airbags. The following May, Takata acknowledged the defect and recalled 32 million inflators. Over the following years, additional recalls were issued as the extent of the problem became clearer, leading to one of the most significant safety crises in automotive history.

In early 2017, Takata pled guilty to wire fraud, facing a $1 billion penalty for its defective airbags, which triggered a global recall
of over 64 million vehicles. Amid mounting lawsuits, Takata filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2017, pausing claims while restructuring its liabilities.

To manage the fallout, a $125 million compensation fund for victims was established, with payouts administered through a bankruptcy trust. This often resulted in lower settlements than those potentially achievable outside of bankruptcy. Takata also sold its assets to Key Safety Systems (now Joyson Safety Systems) for $1.6 billion, proceeds of which were used to fund the trust and resolve injuries and deaths caused by the defective airbags.

The Takata Airbag Trust and Victim Representation

Today, Andrew Parker Felix advocates for victims seeking fair compensation by serving on the Trust Advisory Committee (TAC) for the Takata Airbag Tort Compensation Trust Fund. While the TAC oversees trust payouts, claimants dissatisfied with compensation may pursue additional legal action in court. Felix files these cases in multiple state courts, providing his clients with opportunity to seek justice before a jury and potentially securing larger, fairer awards for victims.

During Takata’s bankruptcy, Felix was appointed by the U.S. Trustee to the seven-member Tort Victim’s Creditors Committee, ensuring injured plaintiffs had adequate representation. The committee’s approval was notable, as previous auto bankruptcies, like GM and Chrysler, did not form such committees for plaintiffs.

Recently re-appointed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Felix continues to serve on the Trust Advisory Committee, faithfully representing personal injury and wrongful death claimants affected by Takata’s faulty airbags.

The Battle Against Counterfeit Airbags and Corporate Negligence

Beyond the Takata crisis, Felix is also pursuing justice for victims of counterfeit Chinese airbags, such as in the tragic case of 22-year-old Destiny Byassee. A young mother of two, Byassee was killed when a counterfeit airbag installed in her Chevrolet Malibu exploded during a minor accident. Felix’s lawsuit seeks to raise awareness of the growing counterfeit airbag problem and push for stricter regulations on repair shops, which often install these unsafe products without car owners’ knowledge in order to increase profits.

Felix has also raised concerns that liability in the Takata airbag lawsuits may extend beyond the manufacturer, potentially implicating auto repair shops and car dealerships, particularly those selling used vehicles. These businesses, he argues, may have sold or serviced cars with defective airbags without informing buyers of the known dangers. Felix believes multiple parties, including dealerships and individuals who sold affected vehicles, could bear responsibility for the severe injuries caused by the faulty airbags.

Whether he is representing those injured by the most widespread automotive defect in U.S. history or fighting for victims of counterfeit airbags, Andrew Parker Felix’s legal career is defined by his commitment to consumer safety and holding corporations responsible for their actions. As millions of vehicles with potentially lethal airbags remain on the road, Felix’s work is far from over. “You still have 40 million-plus vehicles globally that are driving around with a potential ticking time bomb, a grenade in either their steering wheel or their dashboard,” he warns. He remains dedicated to holding powerful corporations accountable and pushing for safer automotive practices and justice for victims of corporate negligence.