Honda Airbag Recall
2009 July 31
Accords and Civics are among the 440,000 Honda Motor Company vehicles recalled for a potentially deadly airbag defect. Reuters reports:
Honda said that the airbag inflators in some of its top-selling sedans can rupture because of too much air pressure causing metal fragments to shoot through the airbag and strike vehicle occupants. One fatality and a number of injuries have been linked to the defect, Honda spokesman Sage Marie said. The recall covers certain 2001 and 2002 Accords, 2001 Civics and some 2002 and 2003 model Acura TL sedans. The driver’s side airbag is the defective component on the affected vehicles.
And the Wall Street Journal reports:
An existing safety recall of the driver’s airbag in certain 2001 Honda Accords and Civics due to a potential defect in the airbag’s inflation system is being expanded to include more vehicles, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. Originally initiated in November 2008, approximately 440,000 additional vehicles are included in the expanded recall, which will require the replacement of the driver’s steering-wheel-mounted airbag inflator.In some vehicles, airbag inflators can produce over-pressurization of the driver’s (front) airbag inflator mechanism during airbag deployment. If an affected inflator deploys, the increased internal pressure may cause the inflator casing to rupture. Metal fragments could pass through the cloth airbag cushion material, possibly causing an injury or fatality to vehicle occupants.
Owners can confirm their vehicle’s recall status by visiting the Honda “Owner Link” website at www.owners.honda.com/recalls or the Acura “My Acura” website at www.owners.acura.com/recalls.
