Dana Corporation Asbestos Exposure: Spicer Clutches, Victor Gaskets & Claims

Dana Corporation has faced asbestos personal-injury litigation involving historical automotive and industrial components associated with its businesses and predecessors. Published court records identify Spicer-brand clutches and Victor-brand gaskets as products for which Dana Companies, LLC was responsible. Other court records address asbestos-containing Victor head gaskets and Dana-related brake, gasket and seal allegations. Product identity, dates and the particular Dana business involved are therefore central to evaluating exposure.

Dana filed Chapter 11 on March 3, 2006 and emerged from reorganization in 2008. Unlike many asbestos defendants that created §524(g) trusts, Dana’s reorganization did not establish a Dana asbestos bankruptcy trust. Dana’s SEC filings state that asbestos personal-injury assets and liabilities were retained in Dana Corporation and then merged into Dana Companies, LLC (DCLLC), which held insurance rights, securities and other assets intended to satisfy those liabilities. This page therefore does not invent a Trust Payment Percentage or Scheduled Values.

🏢 Dana Corporation History

Dana traces its automotive history to Clarence Spicer’s driveline business. Over time, Dana became a major vehicle-component supplier and acquired businesses whose historical products generated asbestos claims. For asbestos research, the Dana name must be considered together with product names and successor relationships such as Spicer and Victor.

Topic	Confirmed / carefully qualified information
Historical company	Dana Corporation.
Post-reorganization asbestos-liability entity	Dana Companies, LLC (DCLLC).
Important product names in court records	Spicer and Victor.
Spicer product at issue	Clutches.
Victor products at issue	Gaskets, including head gaskets.
Asbestos litigation	Dana SEC filings say it had been a defendant in asbestos bodily-injury litigation since the mid-1980s.
Chapter 11 filing	March 3, 2006.
Reorganization	2008.
Dedicated Dana §524(g) trust	Not created in Dana’s reorganization.

Corporate & Claims Timeline

Period	Development
1904	Clarence Spicer founded the business that became associated with Dana’s driveline operations.
1946	Spicer Manufacturing Corporation adopted the Dana Corporation name.
Mid-1980s onward	Dana SEC filings report asbestos bodily-injury litigation.
2001	Center for Claims Resolution stopped negotiating shared settlements; Dana independently controlled strategy/settlements.
Sept. 30, 2004	Dana reported approximately 156,000 pending asbestos-related product-liability claims.
March 3, 2006	Dana filed Chapter 11.
Sept. 30, 2007	Dana reported about 55,000 active pending asbestos claims.
2008	Reorganization retained asbestos PI assets/liabilities in Dana Corporation, later merged into DCLLC.
Dec. 31, 2015	DCLLC reported about 25,000 active pending asbestos PI claims.

See Automotive Companies and Asbestos Exposure.

⚙️ Dana, Spicer & Victor Asbestos Products

The strongest company-specific court evidence identifies Spicer clutches and Victor gaskets. In Juni v. A.O. Smith Water Products, Dana moved for summary judgment concerning Spicer-brand clutches and Victor-brand gaskets, which the court described as products for which Dana was responsible. A Maine Superior Court decision separately addressed Victor-branded head gaskets and evidence that Dana supplied gaskets for John Deere equipment, some of which contained asbestos.

Product / brand	Evidence-based treatment
Spicer clutches	Published New York court record identifies Spicer-brand clutches as a Dana-responsibility product in asbestos litigation.
Victor gaskets	Published New York record identifies Victor-brand gaskets as a Dana-responsibility product.
Victor head gaskets	Maine court record addresses alleged asbestos exposure from Victor-branded head gaskets.
John Deere gaskets	Maine record states Dana supplied gaskets for Deere equipment and some contained asbestos during the relevant period.
Brake pads / linings	Appear in asbestos allegations involving Dana; exact Dana business/product/date must be established.
Gaskets and seals	Documented in litigation allegations; composition varied.
Replacement parts	Brand, part number and date are important.
Modern Dana products	Historical asbestos evidence should not be used to characterize current formulations.

Product Accuracy Rules

Statement	Accurate treatment
Dana was responsible for historical Spicer clutches and Victor gaskets in litigation	Confirmed by court records.
Some Dana-supplied historical gaskets contained asbestos	Confirmed in published case evidence.
Every Spicer clutch contained asbestos	Not established.
Every Victor gasket contained asbestos	No.
Every Dana product contained asbestos	No.
Current Dana products contain asbestos because historical products did	Do not infer this.

👨‍🔧 Mechanics & Workers at Risk

Published Dana cases involve mechanics, utility workers, construction workers and equipment-service workers. Exposure analysis depends on whether a qualifying asbestos-containing Dana/Spicer/Victor component was actually handled or disturbed.

Worker / occupation	Potential historical activity
Automotive mechanics	Removing/replacing Spicer clutches, gaskets or qualifying friction components.
Heavy-equipment mechanics	Replacing head gaskets and related components.
Utility mechanics	Vehicle and equipment clutch/gasket service.
Truck mechanics	Clutch, gasket, brake and seal work.
Construction workers	Cutting or fitting qualifying historical gasket products.
Dealership technicians	Servicing OEM/replacement components.
Fleet mechanics	Repeated drivetrain, brake and engine repair.
Nearby workers	Potential bystander exposure where dusty component work occurred; specific evidence required.

Potential Exposure Settings

Setting	Evidence to investigate
Auto / truck repair shops	Invoices, product boxes, supplier records and witnesses.
Utility fleets	Vehicle and maintenance records.
Heavy-equipment dealerships	OEM parts and service histories.
Construction / industrial sites	Gasket use, flange work and product identification.
Fleet garages	Parts purchasing and maintenance records.
Home garages	Receipts, packaging and vehicle records.

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🌫️ How Dana Asbestos Exposure Occurred

Historical asbestos-containing clutch and gasket products could release fibers when cut, scraped, abraded or otherwise disturbed. Published Dana litigation includes testimony about installing Spicer clutches, removing and replacing head gaskets, and cutting gaskets to fit flanges.

Activity	Potential pathway
Clutch removal / replacement	Disturbing accumulated friction dust if the clutch contained asbestos.
Gasket scraping	Removing adhered historical gasket material.
Cutting gaskets	Mechanical disturbance of qualifying asbestos-containing sheet/gasket material.
Head-gasket replacement	Handling/removing historical asbestos-containing gaskets.
Grinding / sanding	Can release dust from qualifying friction/gasket products.
Compressed-air cleaning	Can disperse dust around automotive friction components.
Sweeping / cleanup	Can re-suspend settled dust.
Nearby component work	Possible bystander exposure requiring frequency/proximity evidence.

Exposure Questions

Question	Why it matters
Was the product Spicer, Victor or another Dana-associated brand?	Product identification is central.
Did that exact product contain asbestos?	Not every formulation did.
What year was it used?	Composition changed over time.
What vehicle/equipment used it?	Helps trace OEM and replacement parts.
What task disturbed the component?	Supports exposure pathway.
Can invoices, packaging or witnesses corroborate identity?	Strengthens evidence.

⚖️ Bankruptcy, Claims & Compensation

Dana’s 2006 Chapter 11 is important but should not be confused with creation of an asbestos trust. A Library of Congress/RAND trust survey lists Dana Corporation’s March 3, 2006 bankruptcy and December 26, 2007 confirmation while showing no asbestos trust established. Dana’s own SEC filings explain that the asbestos PI assets and liabilities remained in Dana Corporation and were subsequently merged into Dana Companies, LLC.

Bankruptcy / claims fact	Confirmed / carefully qualified information
Chapter 11 filing	March 3, 2006.
Plan confirmation	December 26, 2007 in RAND/Library of Congress trust survey.
Dedicated Dana §524(g) trust	None established.
Post-reorganization liability entity	Dana Companies, LLC.
DCLLC assets	Insurance rights, marketable securities and other assets.
Purpose	Dana SEC filing said these assets were considered sufficient to satisfy asbestos PI liabilities.
2015 active pending claims	Approximately 25,000.
2015 accrued indemnity/defense costs	$78 million.
2015 probable insurance recovery asset	Historical SEC filings reported insurance recoveries; not a claimant payout schedule.
Guaranteed compensation	No.

Historical Claim Portfolio

Date	Dana-reported asbestos claim information
Sept. 30, 2004	Approximately 156,000 pending asbestos-related product-liability claims, including about 145,000 unresolved and 11,000 settled pending payment.
Sept. 30, 2007	Approximately 55,000 active pending claims, including about 6,000 settled awaiting documentation/payment.
2007 settlement motion	Dana sought bankruptcy-court approval to resolve another approximately 7,500 cases; estimated payments about $2 million if proof requirements were met.
Dec. 31, 2014	Approximately 25,000 active pending PI claims.
Dec. 31, 2015	Approximately 25,000 active pending PI claims.
2015 accrued liability	$78 million for indemnity and defense costs for settled, pending and future claims.
Important limitation	Claim counts and accounting reserves are not individual settlement values.

No Dana Trust Payment Percentage or Scheduled Value is presented because Dana did not create a conventional asbestos bankruptcy trust in its reorganization.

📊 Documented Dana Asbestos Cases

Published decisions provide product-specific evidence and also show why individual exposure proof matters. Some Dana motions were denied because the plaintiff presented evidence linking Spicer or Victor products to work; other cases turn on whether the exact product contained asbestos and whether exposure was sufficient.

Record	Significance
Juni v. A.O. Smith Water Products (N.Y. 2013)	Court identifies Spicer-brand clutches and Victor-brand gaskets as products for which Dana was responsible; Dana’s summary-judgment motion was denied at that stage.
Estate of Hicks v. Dana Companies (Pa. Super. Ct. 2009)	Mesothelioma products-liability judgment involving Dana and John Crane; appellate decision addresses substantial-factor evidence and trial issues.
Rickards asbestos decision (Me. Super. Ct.)	Addresses Victor-branded head gaskets and Dana-supplied Deere gaskets, some of which contained asbestos.
Denney federal docket	Identifies Dana Companies as successor by merger to Dana Corporation and successor to Victor Manufacturing and Gasket Company in an asbestos PI action.
Dana 2004 SEC filing	Approximately 156,000 pending asbestos-related product-liability claims.
Dana 2007 SEC filing	Approximately 55,000 active pending claims.
Dana 2015 SEC filing	DCLLC had about 25,000 active pending asbestos PI claims.
RAND/Library of Congress trust survey	Lists Dana bankruptcy but no asbestos trust established.

Evidence Limits

Finding	Correct interpretation
Dana has substantial historical asbestos litigation	Confirmed.
Spicer clutches and Victor gaskets appear in Dana asbestos cases	Confirmed.
Every Spicer/Victor product contained asbestos	No.
Dana’s bankruptcy created a §524(g) trust	No.
A historical reserve equals available claimant compensation	No.
One verdict determines another claimant’s recovery	No.

📋 Claim Evidence & Product Identification

A Dana asbestos claim should identify the product and corporate relationship as precisely as possible. The name Dana alone may be less useful than evidence identifying Spicer, Victor, a vehicle/equipment application, a part number and the dates of use.

Evidence That May Help

Medical/pathology records supporting an asbestos-related disease.
Employment, union and Social Security records.
Spicer or Victor boxes, labels, part numbers, invoices or catalogs.
Vehicle, truck or heavy-equipment makes/models and years.
John Deere or other equipment service records where relevant.
Coworker testimony identifying product brands and dusty work.
Evidence of gasket cutting/scraping or clutch removal/replacement.
Current information concerning Dana Companies, LLC and applicable claims procedures.

Step	Question
1	Is the asbestos-related disease medically documented?
2	Can a Dana/Spicer/Victor product be identified?
3	Did that exact formulation contain asbestos?
4	What vehicle/equipment/application used it?
5	What task disturbed the product?
6	How frequently and closely did exposure occur?
7	Are invoices, catalogs, boxes or witnesses available?
8	Which current legal/claims route applies to Dana Companies, LLC?

Numbers We Do Not Invent

Item	Treatment
Dana Trust Payment Percentage	No dedicated asbestos trust established.
Dana Scheduled Values	None.
Average Dana settlement	Not inferred from verdicts/reserves.
2015 $78M accrual	Historical accounting liability, not claimant fund.
Historical claim counts	Portfolio statistics only.
Guaranteed compensation	None.

Compensation is not guaranteed.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Did Dana Corporation make or sell asbestos-containing automotive products?

Published court records identify Dana responsibility for historical Spicer-brand clutches and Victor-brand gaskets, and other records document some Dana-supplied gaskets containing asbestos. Exact product and date evidence remain important.

What Dana brands are associated with asbestos litigation?

Spicer clutches and Victor gaskets are specifically identified in published Dana asbestos cases.

Did Dana file for bankruptcy?

Yes. Dana Corporation filed Chapter 11 on March 3, 2006 and emerged from reorganization in 2008.

Did Dana’s bankruptcy create an asbestos trust?

No dedicated Dana §524(g) asbestos trust was established. Dana’s asbestos PI assets and liabilities were retained and later placed in Dana Companies, LLC.

How many asbestos claims did Dana report historically?

Dana reported approximately 156,000 pending asbestos-related product-liability claims at September 30, 2004, about 55,000 active pending claims at September 30, 2007, and about 25,000 active pending PI claims at year-end 2015.

What happened in Juni v. A.O. Smith Water Products?

The New York court described Spicer-brand clutches and Victor-brand gaskets as products for which Dana was responsible and denied Dana’s summary-judgment motion at that stage of the litigation.

Which workers may have been exposed?

Potentially exposed people include automotive, truck, fleet and heavy-equipment mechanics, utility workers, construction workers and others who disturbed qualifying historical asbestos-containing Dana-associated clutches or gaskets.

What evidence may support a Dana asbestos claim?

Medical records, employment history, Spicer/Victor packaging or part numbers, vehicle/equipment records, invoices, catalogs and specific coworker testimony can help establish product identity and exposure.

🧾 Dana Corporation Asbestos Summary

Detail	Confirmed / carefully qualified information
Historical company	Dana Corporation.
Post-reorganization asbestos-liability entity	Dana Companies, LLC.
Key brands/products	Spicer clutches; Victor gaskets/head gaskets.
Asbestos litigation since	Mid-1980s per Dana SEC filings.
Pending claims Sept. 2004	Approximately 156,000.
Chapter 11 filing	March 3, 2006.
Plan confirmation	December 26, 2007 per RAND/Library of Congress survey.
Active pending claims Sept. 2007	Approximately 55,000.
Reorganization	2008.
Active pending claims Dec. 2015	Approximately 25,000.
2015 accrued indemnity/defense liability	$78 million.
Dedicated Dana §524(g) trust	None established.
Payment Percentage / Scheduled Values	None.
Guaranteed compensation	No.

📚 Confirmed Primary, Government & Court Sources

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Working with a Spicer clutch, Victor gasket or another Dana-associated component does not automatically establish asbestos exposure or a compensable claim. Product formulation, dates, work activity, exposure frequency, medical evidence and the current legal route for Dana Companies, LLC must be evaluated individually. Compensation is not guaranteed.

⚕️ Legal & Medical Information Disclaimer
This page provides general educational information and is not legal or medical advice. Do not deliberately disturb suspected asbestos-containing automotive or gasket material merely to identify it. Consult qualified safety, healthcare and legal professionals for individual guidance.