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Honda Recall Airbags | USsPost.com

February 10, 2010 by · Comments Off on Honda Recall Airbags | USsPost.com 

Honda Recall Airbags | USsPost.com:Japanese carmaker Honda officially recall 437,000 cars globally over concerns of faulty airbags that have been linked to at least one fatality and several injuries.

The recall by Japan’s second largest carmaker comes as Honda rival Toyota battles to contain the fallout from a series of safety recalls affecting more than 8 million vehicles.

The latest expansion of Honda’s airbag recall includes 378,000 cars in the US and 41,000 in Canada announced on Tuesday.

On Wednesday the company added another 17,000 cars in Japan, Australia and elsewhere in Asia, taking the number of affected cars to more than 430,000.

Honda’s latest U.S. air bag recall affects certain 2001 and 2002 Accord sedans, Civic compacts, Odyssey minivans, CR-V small sport utility vehicles and some 2002 Acura TL sedans.

In Japan, the recall covers three models produced in 2001 and 2002, including the Inspire, Saber, Lagreat.

The automaker’s original announcement to NHTSA in November 2008 involved fewer than 4,000 2001 Accords and Civics. The recall was expanded in July of 2009 to 440,000 vehicles including the 2001 and 2002Accord and Civic, as well as certain 2002 Acura TL sedans.

Honda says owners should take their vehicles to dealerships as soon as they are notified by the company in writing. Notification will begin during the month of February.

Last month Honda recalled 646,000 Fit hatchbacks worldwide because of a glitch that could cause water to enter the power window mechanism, causing components to overheat.

The Fit recall affects 2007-2008 models. The Fit is sold in other countries as the Jazz and City. The recall affects Asia, Latin America, Europe, South Africa and North America. About 140,000 vehicles areaffected in the U.S.

In a statement the carmaker said the potentially defective air bag inflators could rupture, “resulting in metal fragments passing through theairbag cushion material and possibly causing injury or fatality to vehicle occupants”.

Fatality

The company said it had been alerted to 12 incidents involving the defect, including one fatality, but added that there had been no new reports since last year.

Honda’s announcement comes at a time of increased attention on car recalls [EPA]
The expanded recall covers models made in 2001 and 2002 of the Honda Accord, Civic, TL, CR-V, Odyssey, Pilot and CL in North America and the Inspire, Saber and Lagreat models sold in Japan.

“We have concluded that we cannot be completely certain that the driver’s airbag inflator in the vehicles being added to the recall at this time will perform as designed,” Honda said.

The company has said it will replace the driver’s side airbag inflator on the cars.

Honda’s latest recall is the third the company has made over the airbag problem since it first went public on the matter in November 2008.

The company’s announcement comes at a time of increased attention on vehicle recalls – particularly those affecting Japanese carmakers.

On Tuesday, Toyota said it would recall more than 440,000 of the 2010 model of its flagship Prius and other hybrid cars due to a braking glitch.

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