Yes - in Hawaii, you may have a separate product-liability claim if a defective or recalled part caused or worsened your injuries.

The key question is who put the bad part into the stream of use and how it contributed to the harm.

If the part was defectively designed or manufactured, you may have a claim against the manufacturer under Hawaii product-liability law, including strict liability. That means you do not always have to prove the company was careless. You generally need to show the part was defective, you were using it in a reasonably expected way, and the defect caused extra injury. In a Hilo crash, that can matter if, for example, brakes, airbags, seat belts, or steering components failed on Highway 11 during school-zone traffic or low-visibility conditions.

If the part had been recalled before the crash, that can strengthen the case, but a recall is not required. A recall notice from NHTSA is useful evidence. Keep the vehicle and the failed part if possible. Do not let repairs, salvage, or an insurer dispose of them before they are documented.

If a seller, repair shop, or installer in East Hawaii put in the wrong part or installed it badly, the claim may also be against that business - not just the manufacturer. For example, if a shop installed faulty brakes or ignored recall work, that can support a negligence claim and sometimes a product-related claim depending on its role.

Hawaii's time limit is usually 2 years for personal injury claims under HRS § 657-7. If the crash involved only property damage, the deadline can differ.

Useful evidence includes:

• Recall notices
• Repair invoices and service records
• Photos of the vehicle and failed part
• Police report
• Medical records showing how the defect worsened injury