A year earlier, Toyota Motor Corp. agreed to pay US$1.2 billion to avoid prosecution over its attempt to hide safety defects over uncontrolled acceleration. Takata's criminal settlement follows its 2015 agreement to pay a US$70 million civil fine to US regulators for providing selective, incomplete or inaccurate information about the air bags. That fine could rise as high as US$200 million, if Takata doesn't finish the recalls in three years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. There are 46 million recalled Takata air bag inflators in 29 million vehicles in the US, NHTSA said. More recalls are coming over the next three years, affecting as many as 69 million inflators in 42 million vehicles, the agency said. The air bags have been used by more than a dozen automakers, including Honda, Volkswagen and GM and the recalls are scheduled through 2019. Takata has been sued by dozens of drivers and passengers claiming shrapnel injuries from the air bags.