Honda Airbags May Explode, Thousands of Vehicles Recalled, Slated for Inspecton

A massive move involving hundreds of thousands of Honda vehicles sold the United States is underway over concerns that Honda airbags may explode. Involved cars are either being recalled or will be inspected by Honda.

“Affected driver’s airbag inflators may deploy with too much pressure, which can cause the inflator casing to rupture and could result in injury or fatality,” said a PDF notice on Honda’s website, wrote MSNBC.

The American Honda Co. said the action expands a prior announced recall of about 273,000 certain 2001-2003 model Honda and Acura vehicles to replace the airbag. The notice pointed out that airbag service parts were also sold for installation in vehicles brought in for collision repair or other service. The number of vehicles involved is not known, MSNBC noted. “Because Honda is unable to determine the specific vehicles that may have received the affected service parts through existing information, Honda will inspect an additional approximately 603,000 vehicles and replace those parts as necessary,” the notice added, according to MSNBC.

The expanded recall applies to certain of the following vehicles, according to the notice, said MSNBC:

• 2001 and 2002 Accord
• 2001 to 2003 Civic
• 2001 to 2003 Odyssey
• 2002 and 2003 CR-V
• 2002 and 2003 Acura 3.2 TL
• 2003 Pilot
• 2003 Acura 3.2 CL

“Honda is aware of several incidents related to this recall and expansions, and is announcing this further recall expansion to encourage all owners of included vehicles to take their vehicle to an authorized dealer as soon as they receive mailed notification from Honda. Notification to the expanded group of customers will begin in late December 2011,” the notice said, wrote MSNBC. “In late December, owners of these vehicles will be able to determine if their vehicles require repair by going online or calling,” the notice stated. Honda owners can reach Honda on its website at www.recalls.honda.com or by calling, toll-free, at 1.800.999.1009, select option 4; Acura owners can access the website at www.recalls.acura.com or call, toll-free, 1.800.382.2238, select option 4.

Early last year, we wrote that Honda Motor Company expanded a prior international recall for faulty air bags. That recall involved 437,000 vehicles, bringing the total, at the time and back to the prior 15 months, to close to one million vehicles for various recalls.

Last year, Honda also issued recalls for about 18,500 Honda Snow Blowers due to fire hazard; about 6,150 Honda and Mantis Mini Tillers with Honda Engines, which were recalled due to fire hazard; its 2005 to 2007 model year Acura RL sedans and Honda Odyssey minivans over brake fluid leaks that could result in reduced braking power; and a massive recall of over 410,000 Odyssey minivans and Elements due to braking problems that could create stopping problems.