Porsche is blaming the man behind the wheel for the crash that killed Fast & Furious star Paul Walker.

The luxury car brand made the statement in response to a civil lawsuit that alleges a mechanical defect was responsible.

Walker was a passenger in the 2005 Carrera GT that slammed into a tree and burst into flames near Santa Clarita in California in November 2013.

His friend, Roger Rodas, who also died in the crash, was driving.

Investigators found the crash was caused by "unsafe speed".

But Mr Rodas' widow, Kristine Rodas, said her husband was an experienced driver and launched a civil suit against Porsche, insisting the vehicle was defective, NBC News reports.

Porsche Cars North America's lawyers said in papers filed in a California court on Monday that "Roger Rodas's death, and all other injuries or damages claimed, were the result of Roger Rodas's own comparative fault."

They also stated Mr Rodas "chose to conduct himself in a manner so as to expose himself and others to such perils, dangers and risks".

The suit against Porsche claimed experts found there was a suspension failure in the right rear wheel that caused the vehicle to swing left before it hurtled out of control.

It also argued that, as the vehicle was initially designed as a racecar, it required safety features like a roll cage and a racing fuel cell that could have prevented the fire.

Porsche maintains there are no design defects with the Carrera GT model.

(9news.com.au)