Dana Corporation

Dana Corporation’s Connection to Asbestos

Dana Corporation made auto parts, many of which contained asbestos, the primary cause of mesothelioma and other serious illnesses. The toxic mineral’s ability to resist heat and damage from rust and chemicals made it a popular material in the auto industry. The company made parts for many popular car makers like Buick, Mack Trucks and Oldsmobile. 

Dana Corporation’s Top Asbestos-Containing Products

• Brake linings
• Gaskets
• Sheet gaskets
• Spraycraft fireproofing
• Valve covers

The company started in 1904 as the Spicer Company. Clarence Spicer, a young engineering student, invented the Spicer Universal Joint, left Cornell University and started a car parts business in Plainfield, New Jersey. The company began using asbestos in its products early on. A decade later, the company faced money troubles. In 1916, businessman and attorney Charles Dana invested and became president. 

Spicer Company moved to Toledo, Ohio, in 1928 and was renamed Dana Corporation in 1946. In the 1960s, Dana Corporation expanded its product line, buying two other car parts companies. Eventually, the company faced financial difficulties again and filed for bankruptcy protection in 2006. While the company faced mounting lawsuits from people with mesothelioma at the time, asbestos-related debt comprised only 3% of its debt and wasn’t the main reason for the bankruptcy.

Mesothelioma Lawsuits Involving Dana Corporation

By 2005, Dana Corporation had dealt with 88,000 asbestos claims. Unlike other companies that made asbestos products, Dana settled many of these claims during bankruptcy and didn’t create a trust fund for future cases. In 2016, the company sold part of its business that was responsible for its asbestos liabilities.

Notable Asbestos Lawsuits Against Dana Corporation

• $75 million: Marlena Robaey was diagnosed with mesothelioma in November 2012. She had helped her husband, Edward, fix cars with asbestos parts for more than 20 years. A New York jury found Dana Corporation was 40% responsible for her diagnosis. Robaey was awarded the most significant mesothelioma verdict in the state’s history.
• $5 million: The court awarded this amount to the daughter of former pipefitter Louis Hicks in 2003. Hicks had filed the case in 2002, but when he passed away from mesothelioma, his daughter continued the case. Dana Corporation was one of 11 companies named in the suit.

While workers’ lawsuits have led to large verdicts with juries finding Dana Corporation responsible for serious health problems, most mesothelioma lawsuits end in a settlement agreement. In 2012, the company also privately settled a $21 million dispute with two insurance providers over asbestos litigation costs. 

Legal Help for People Exposed to Dana Corporation’s Asbestos

An experienced asbestos lawyer can help mesothelioma survivors and their families receive compensation to cover medical bills, travel costs and lost wages. If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer after working at Dana Corporation or working with the company’s asbestos products, you may be eligible to seek financial help through lawsuits or settlements. 

The amount of time patients and their families have to file a claim, known as the statute of limitations, will vary depending on the state. Most are typically 1 to 3 years from when you receive your mesothelioma diagnosis. Talk to an experienced and mesothelioma attorney to guide you and your family through the best options for you.

Patient Advocates also help mesothelioma survivors and their loved ones find the best doctors, schedule appointments, navigate insurance, file VA benefits claims, join support groups and obtain financial assistance. They provide free resources and can connect you to leading asbestos law firms in the country to help you learn more about your legal rights. 

Who Is at Risk of Asbestos Exposure from Dana Corporation?

For many years, Dana Corporation made various asbestos-containing products for regular and heavy-duty vehicle companies. In a 2025 update to its Risk Management for Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency specifically discusses the health risks associated with chrysotile in automotive brakes. 

The assessment references the agency’s final rule that discusses the potential for developing cancers like mesothelioma from asbestos automotive parts. The rule notes, “This unreasonable risk includes the risk of mesothelioma and lung, ovarian, and laryngeal cancers from chronic inhalation exposure.”

Higher-Risk Jobs for Asbestos Exposure at Dana Corporation

• Auto assembly line workers
• Auto mechanics
• Boiler workers
• Dana manufacturing plant workers
• Engine mechanics
• Steamfitters

Installing or replacing asbestos brakes can release harmful fibers into the air. These fibers can be dangerous for any nearby workers who aren’t wearing proper protection, increasing their risk of cancer.

Higher-risk jobs at Dana Corporation also posed a risk of secondary asbestos exposure to the families of workers. This type of exposure happens when workers bring home tiny asbestos fibers on their skin, hair or clothes. Just like those who work directly with asbestos, people exposed this way can also develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

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