Key events in the Takata air bag recall

DETROIT (AP) — Japanese auto supplier Takata Corp. on Friday agreed to plead guilty and pay $1 billion in fines and restitution over a lengthy scheme to conceal a deadly defect in millions of air bags.

First recall issued relating to Takata's air bags, for the 2000-2001 model year Isuzu Rodeo and the Honda Passport.

Takata says the passenger side air bags contain an improper amount of the chemical ammonium nitrate, which produces the gas that makes them inflate.

Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda and General Motors recall nearly 3.4 million older-model vehicles worldwide due to defective Takata air bags.

Takata blames two human errors during production: A worker forgot to turn on the switch for a system weeding out defective products, and parts were improperly stored, which exposed them to humidity.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration imposes a record civil penalty of up to $200 million against Takata and requires it to recall all inflators with ammonium nitrate unless it can prove they are safe.