Honda recalling 440,000 cars due to potentially fatal airbag defect

Carmaker, Honda, is recalling more than 440,000 vehicles because of a potentially fatal airbag problem.

Takata stocks plumeted after yesterday’s recall of over 440,000 vehicles by Honda. Takata, the auto parts manufacturer who supplied the faulty airbags to Honda, said that the airbags made for Honda vehicles are different than the ones they make for other vehicles, so no other carmakers have been affected by the recall. About 285,000 units of the models have been recalled in the U.S. and more worldwide, with over 440,000 units affected in all, Honda spokeswoman Yasuko Matsuura said.

So far, the airbag defect has resulted in one death in the U.S.

From a press release from Honda:

07/31/2009 – TORRANCE, Calif. –

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.

Registered owners of vehicles that potentially contain affected inflators will receive a recall notice in the mail over the next few months, with the owners of vehicles most likely to include a problem airbag being contacted first. The recall notice will include further instructions to help schedule a repair to each vehicle. Interested owners may 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. Only certain vehicles are affected, and concerned owners of 2001-2002 Accords, 2001 Civics and 2002-2003 Acura TLs are encouraged to wait to receive a recall notice in the mail before scheduling an appointment with their local dealer.

For more information and downloadable high-resolution images of Honda and Acura vehicles, please visit www.hondanews.com and www.acuranews.com. Consumers can verify their vehicle’s recall status by visiting www.owners.honda.com/recalls for Honda vehicles and www.owners.acura.com/recalls for Acura vehicles.