RICHMOND, Va. — The U.S. government will fine Japanese air bag maker Takata Corp. $14,000 per day for failing to fully cooperate in a long-running investigation of faulty and potentially dangerous air bag inflators.

The inflators, in cars made by 10 companies, can explode with too much force, spewing shrapnel into drivers and passengers. At least six people have been killed and 64 injured worldwide due to problem.

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced the fines Friday in Richmond, Virginia, calling Takata a “bad actor” for allegedly dumping 2.4 million pages of documents on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration without the legally required explanation of what’s in them.

The agency demanded data from the company in two special orders last year, but it said Takata failed to provide an index so investigators know what to look for. Fines will accrue daily starting Friday until Takata fully explains the documents, the agency said in a letter to Takata.

The fines are another escalation in the public fight between NHTSA and Takata, which also refused the agency’s demand to issue a nationwide recall of driver’s side air bag inflators last year. Automakers recalled the cars on their own, however.

Takata officials have said publicly they are working with the agency, but Foxx said that’s not true. “We have a very serious defect issue. We’re working as hard as we can to get defective (cars) off our roads. … We will not tolerate this.”

NHTSA’s letter also threatens depositions of Takata employees and court action from the U.S. Justice Department, which already is investigating the company.

In a statement, Takata disagreed with the assessment that it hasn’t cooperated.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.