Scott Eastwood has spoken again about the 2014 death of his former girlfriend, Jewel Brangman. In comments reported after his August 2026 appearance on Armchair Expert, Eastwood said he compartmentalized the loss so he could keep working and missed Brangman’s funeral. The established cause of death, however, is not in dispute: Brangman was killed when a defective Takata airbag inflator ruptured in a rented 2001 Honda Civic after a collision in California.
What happened to Jewel Brangman?
Jewel Brangman was 26 and had worked as a model and actress. On September 7, 2014, she was driving a rented 2001 Honda Civic in California when the car was involved in what contemporaneous reports described as a relatively small or low-speed collision.
The crash itself was not the primary reason the incident became part of the worldwide Takata airbag recall. When the driver-side airbag deployed, its inflator ruptured with excessive force. Metal fragments were propelled into the passenger compartment, causing the fatal injury.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s independent-monitor report identifies Brangman as a confirmed Takata fatality and records that the inflator failure in the 2001 Civic caused a fragment to sever her carotid artery. The report confirms the date, California location and vehicle involved. Read NHTSA’s independent-monitor report.
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Why the Takata airbag was so dangerous
Takata airbag inflators used a propellant that could deteriorate after years of exposure to heat and humidity. If the inflator ruptured during deployment, the airbag housing could break apart and send metal fragments toward the driver or front passenger.
NHTSA describes the defect as capable of causing serious injuries or death even in crashes that might otherwise have produced less severe consequences. Honda and NHTSA confirmed that the airbag, rather than the collision alone, caused Brangman’s fatal injury. An Associated Press account carried by KSL reported that she had been driving the rented Civic when the inflator failed.
The affected vehicles included many older Honda models, including 2001–2011 Honda Civics. That model-year range is not, by itself, a current determination that every vehicle remains subject to an unrepaired recall. Recall status is tied to the vehicle identification number, or VIN, and can change as vehicles are repaired or records are updated.
Eastwood’s first public disclosure in 2016
Eastwood first discussed the death publicly in an interview published in August 2016 in connection with the September/October issue of GQ Australia. At that point, he referred to the woman as someone he had dated but did not initially name her publicly.
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According to ABC News’ report on the 2016 interview, Eastwood said he learned that the car’s airbag was subject to a recall and described the inflator as sending a projectile through Brangman’s body. He also spoke about the emotional consequences of the death, saying he had not contacted her father because he had not found the right words.
Eastwood said the loss affected his ability to date. That is his account of his experience and should not be treated as a clinical diagnosis or as a complete account of how everyone close to Brangman processed her death.
How Jewel Brangman was identified
Contemporaneous coverage later identified the woman Eastwood discussed as Jewel Brangman. Her father, Alexander Brangman, spoke publicly about the situation and about a later phone call from Eastwood.
In reports published in August 2016, Alexander Brangman said Eastwood called him nearly two years after Jewel’s death and apologized for not reaching out sooner. Brangman also said he had been hurt that Eastwood did not attend Jewel’s celebration of life or send flowers, while acknowledging that people grieve in different ways.
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The reported conversation should be described carefully: Eastwood apologized in a phone call, and Brangman described his feelings about that call. The available reporting does not establish that the conversation resolved the family’s grief or represented a broader public reconciliation.
Jewel’s father’s comments were reported by ABC News and in an archived People interview.
What Eastwood said in 2026
In a report published August 4, 2026, The Daily Beast described Eastwood’s appearance on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast. Eastwood said he and Brangman had been together for three or four years, according to the report, and described putting the death aside emotionally so he could continue working.
He also said he missed her funeral. His explanation was that he was on a film set and felt unable to leave, meaning that the grieving process was postponed rather than confronted at the time. The account adds an important emotional detail to his earlier comments: Eastwood described the grief as delayed and compartmentalized, not absent.
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These statements concern Eastwood’s recollection of the relationship and his own grieving process. The reported length of the relationship has not been independently established here, and the available source for the podcast discussion is The Daily Beast’s account rather than independently reviewed podcast audio. Read The Daily Beast’s report.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.The continuing safety lesson for older vehicles
Brangman’s death remains relevant beyond the celebrity connection because Takata recalls involve a potentially life-threatening defect and a remedy that is generally available at no cost through the vehicle manufacturer’s authorized dealer network.
NHTSA says approximately 67 million Takata airbags were recalled in the United States and that 28 U.S. deaths had been confirmed on its current Takata recall page. The totals and affected-vehicle records can change, so owners should use the agency’s current VIN tool rather than rely only on a model, make or model year.
If you own an older car
- Find the 17-character VIN, usually visible through the windshield on the driver’s side or on the vehicle registration.
- Use the official NHTSA Takata recall page and VIN lookup to check the vehicle’s current recall status.
- If an open recall appears, contact an authorized dealer or the manufacturer and arrange the recall repair. NHTSA says recall repairs are free.
- Do not try to replace an airbag inflator yourself, and do not treat an aftermarket steering-wheel accessory or generic automotive product as a solution to a Takata defect.
Some Takata recalls have involved particularly urgent warnings, including instructions not to drive affected vehicles until repairs are completed. The specific instruction depends on the vehicle and recall record, which is another reason to check the VIN and follow the manufacturer’s directions.
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What is—and is not—established
- Established by regulator and contemporaneous reporting: Jewel Brangman died on September 7, 2014, in California after a Takata inflator in a rented 2001 Honda Civic ruptured during deployment.
- Reported by Eastwood: He had dated Brangman, struggled to find words after her death, and later described compartmentalizing his grief and missing her funeral.
- Reported by Brangman’s father: Eastwood called and apologized nearly two years after Jewel’s death.
- Not supported by the available reporting: any claim that Eastwood caused the crash, that Brangman was his wife or fiancée, or that the later phone call ended the family’s grief.
The central story is therefore both personal and public: Eastwood has described the long afterlife of a devastating loss, while official safety records document how a defective airbag turned a relatively minor collision into a fatal event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Scott Eastwood’s girlfriend who died in the crash?
She was Jewel Brangman, a 26-year-old model and actress. Contemporaneous reporting identified her as Eastwood’s former girlfriend.
What caused Jewel Brangman’s death?
According to NHTSA’s independent-monitor report, a Takata driver-side airbag inflator in a rented 2001 Honda Civic ruptured after a September 7, 2014 collision in California. Metal fragments from the inflator caused the fatal injury.
Did Scott Eastwood cause the crash?
The available reporting does not say that Eastwood caused the crash. The regulator-established cause of the fatal injury was the defective Takata airbag inflator.
How can owners check whether their vehicle has a Takata airbag recall?
Owners should use NHTSA’s official VIN lookup. If the vehicle has an open recall, the owner should contact an authorized dealer for the free recall repair and follow any instructions not to drive the vehicle.
The Bottom Line
Scott Eastwood’s later comments describe delayed grief after Jewel Brangman’s death, but the factual safety issue is clear: Brangman was killed by a rupturing Takata airbag inflator in a 2001 Honda Civic. Anyone with an older vehicle should check its VIN through NHTSA and arrange any open recall repair through an authorized dealer.
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