Honda Airbag Recall Expanded to 378,758 More Vehicles from 2001 and 2002
A defect that could cause airbags to explode and send lethal shrapnel into the passenger compartment, has lead to an expansion of a previous Honda airbag recall. With an additional 378,758 Honda vehicles, the recall now affects more than 826,000 cars and minivans.
The Honda recall expansion was announced this week for 2001 and 2002 model year Honda Accords, Civics, Accura TL sedans, Odyssey minivans and CR-V crossovers. The airbags could inflate with such force that parts of them may explode outward, sending pieces of metal or other debris into the vehicle.
At least one person has died as a result of the Honda airbag problems, and several others have been injured. Honda says that it is aware of at least 12 incidents associated with the defective airbags.
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Learn MoreThe recall started in November 2008, with the recall of only 4,000 model year 2001 Honda Civics and Honda Accords. In July 2009, Honda expanded the recall by 440,000 more vehicles, including 2001 and 2002 Accords, 2002 and 2003 Acura TL Sedans and 2001 Civics.
The problems with Honda airbag are linked to a defect that could cause the inflator to over-pressurize the airbag when deployed. The high pressure can cause the inflator to rupture, sending a burst of metal shrapnel into the passenger compartment. The defect is only known to occur in the driver’s side airbag.
“When Honda identifies concerns of this nature, nothing is more important to the company than fulfilling our obligation and responsibility to alert our customers,” Honda officials said in a press release. “To this end, as with the July 2009 recall expansion, in addition to contacting customers by mail, owners of these vehicles will be able to determine if their vehicle requires repair by going on-line or calling.”
Honda indicates that there had been no new incidents, but that the expansion is being done out of caution because it cannot verify that the propellant used in the recalled models met with manufacturing specifications.
Honda car owners can check to see if their vehicle is affected at http://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/SEO/HondaRecall.asp and http://owners.acura.com/recalls/.
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SandyDecember 7, 2010 at 4:44 pm
I learned of Honda's airbag recall just this past weekend Dec 4, 2010. In July of 2009 I was in a automobile accident with my Honda CRV 2002. Another driver pulled out across sevral lanes of traffic and hit me. My hands were on the steering wheel when I saw the driver coming towards me on my left. Then the crash. My airbag deployed and my right arm was badly broken. My radius and ulna were s[Show More]I learned of Honda's airbag recall just this past weekend Dec 4, 2010. In July of 2009 I was in a automobile accident with my Honda CRV 2002. Another driver pulled out across sevral lanes of traffic and hit me. My hands were on the steering wheel when I saw the driver coming towards me on my left. Then the crash. My airbag deployed and my right arm was badly broken. My radius and ulna were snapped in two. The deployment of the airbag due to the crash was most likely how my arm was broken. I was ambulanced to the hospital and had emergency surgery and metal plates and screws were put in to fix my arm. In my case my radius did not heal and 6 months later I had a second surgery with a bone graph to get my radius fixed. After the accident I wondered if the airbags were working properly to create such a force to snap my arm (2 bones) in half. After 10 months I was finally free of any more casts or braces. After 29 sessions of physical therapy I am left with some limited use of my dominant arm and 2 nasty scars. The reminder to me is when something touches my arm unexpectedly or it's cold out my arm can really hurt. I now drive a Honda Pilot and have lots of fears about my airbags deploying. I am constantly checking the position of my hands and arms when driving. I ride as far back in my seat as I can and still safely reach the foot petals. I am very afraid of this happening again. Anyone reading this should be aware they could be the next injury of this type from an airbag.
BrianFebruary 19, 2010 at 5:13 am
My daughters boyfriend was driving our 2001 Honda Civic, while going through an intersection another woman in a Mini Cooper blew the red light causing our civic to broad side the Mini, our Air bag module (Cannister) exploded like a grenade, it was obviously made with way too much accelarant, it blew the steering wheel apart, almost ripped the bag assy from the steering wheel, smashed out the instr[Show More]My daughters boyfriend was driving our 2001 Honda Civic, while going through an intersection another woman in a Mini Cooper blew the red light causing our civic to broad side the Mini, our Air bag module (Cannister) exploded like a grenade, it was obviously made with way too much accelarant, it blew the steering wheel apart, almost ripped the bag assy from the steering wheel, smashed out the instrument panel, and showered the occupants of the car with shrapnel , luckily no one was hit in the face,my daughters boy friend was cut and permanently scared on his hand. Notified Honda, they tried to buy the Civic from the wrecking yard, when they were told i still owned the car, they flew engineers from Honda and Tacata? the bag manufacture out from the east cost to inspect the car, at first a representative hired by Hondato inspect the car tried to tell me it was normal and caused by the impact of the collision?? I called BS, when they figured out that I with my mechanical background wasnt going to buy it, they changed theri line, after inspecting the vehicle, the airbag enginer sat back in our Civics seat and looked at me and said, well obviously this was not supposed to happen, I basically said no duh! A few weeks late honda sent me a letter thanking me for my cooperation in the matter, and it allowed them to see what could happen in a “unique event” I contacted attorneys and basically they said since no one was grossly injured or maimed, it wasn’t worth their while, it was a few months later that the recalls came out for this problem on the Civic.
AnnFebruary 15, 2010 at 8:09 pm
My 2003 Honda driver side airbag deployed by itself a few days ago. I was assured there is no issue about airbags that the dealer knew of....
KenFebruary 13, 2010 at 1:31 am
If it took 8-9 years for this recalt, how long will it be before I know for sure if my 2009 Honda is safe? I owned a 2001 Civic, so I shudder!