Honda Recall: Defective Airbags Could Affect 440,000 Vehicles

Honda Motor Company expanded its vehicle recall of 2008 by another 440,000 Friday, announcing that the airbags in certain vehicles are at risk of being deployed with too much force, perhaps enough to cause physical and bodily injury. According to Consumer Reports, the latest Honda recall includes the 2001 Honda Civic, the 2001-2002 Honda Accord, and the 2002-2003 Acura TLs.

Takata Corporation, which manufactures the airbags, saw share prices fall nearly 6% due to the recall, according to Bloomberg. Takata is the world's largest manufacturer of automobile safety equipment. Takata says that the airbags manufactured for other carmakers are made differently and do not suffer from the same defect that prompted the Honda recall.

The defect is a problem in the airbag inflator, which sometimes can produce pressure in excessive amounts, causing the airbag to deploy with tremendous force and rupture. Metal pieces could possibly go through the airbag as well and cause injury.

Honda Motor Company is expected to issue recall notices in the next few months. Owners of the various Honda vehicles affected by the recall need only present their vehicle to dealers for an inflator replacement free of charge.

Honda is not the only car manufacturer which has had to announce a recall of late. Volkswagen, Subaru, and BMW have all announced recalls recently.

A problem with the fasteners on the roof edge spoiler has caused Volkswagen to issue a recall for 14,000 Touareg SUVs made between 2007 and 2009. The possibility exists that the struts could crack, causing the spoiler to come loose, possibly detaching itself from the vehicle, perhaps to the extent of causing property damage or bodily injury outside the vehicle. Dealers are installing reinforcing wedges on the spoilers for free to rectify the problem.

Subaru recalled 15,000 2005-2006Baja pickups because of a cracking fuel connection hose with the fuel pump. A possibility of a fuel leak could develop, perhaps starting a fire. Dealers are replacing the fuel pump bracket.

BMW issued a recall for all 2009 X5 and X6 vehicles because the rear disc brakes on the cars may not have been manufactured according to proper specifications. The problem is seen as a more poorly performing vehicle, with longer braking distances that could result in potential car crashes or wrecks. BMW has not announced its plans for rectification.

According to Japan's transport ministry, there has been at least one death in the United States due to the Honda airbag defect.

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Bloomberg.com
ConsumerReports.org