Combustion Engineering, acquired by ABB in 1990, exposed the company to asbestos-related litigation, which led to ABB's first-ever loss in 2001. A final claims settlement was reached in 2006. ABB has also been subject to three US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act bribery settlements in 2004, 2010, and 2022. Additionally, in 2001, an ABB entity pleaded guilty to bid rigging.

During the 2010s, ABB largely focused its