Takata Corp., the Japanese parts maker at the center of a global auto-safety crisis, knew at least as early as 2001 of manufacturing defects that could lead its air bags to explode, U.S. drivers claimed in lawsuits.
Takata issued a recall notice 13 years ago related to exploding air bags in Isuzu Motors Ltd. vehicles, according to federal complaints filed Monday in at least two U.S. states. The class-action lawsuits allege at least four deaths and 139 injuries are linked to defective Takata air bags in models sold by carmakers, including Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp.
