Honda widens record recall on air-bag flaw
More than 30,000 of the Honda and Acura vehicles involved in the air-bag recall were registered on Long Island as of the end of 2010, according to R.L. Polk & Co. Above, a 2002 Honda Civic Si. Credit: Bloomberg
Honda Motor Co. is recalling 304,000 vehicles globally for air bags that may inflate with too much pressure in a crash, send metal and plastic pieces flying and cause injuries or deaths.
The Japanese automaker announced the recall Friday, saying it will inspect an additional 603,000 vehicles for the safety flaw. It said there have been 20 accidents so far related to this problem, including two deaths in the United States in 2009.
Some 90 percent of the affected vehicles -- 2001 through 2003 model-year Hondas and Acuras -- are in the United States. More than 30,000 of the vehicles were registered on Long Island as of the end of 2010, according to the automotive data company R.L. Polk & Co.
The latest recall is an expansion of recalls for the same problem in 2008, and again in 2009, as well as last year. The recall now covers more than 2 million vehicles worldwide.
Honda spokesman Hajime Kaneko said the cause for the latest recall was the use of incorrect material in the chemical used to deploy air bags.
Honda said it determined that 640 affected air bag service parts were sold for installation in vehicles for collision repair and other service. Because the company is unable to determine the specific vehicles that may have received the affected parts, it will inspect an additional 603,000 vehicles.
The recall includes certain 2001 and 2002 Accords, 2001 to 2003 Civics, 2001 to 2003 Odysseys, 2002 and 2003 CR-Vs, 2003 Pilots, 2002 and 2003 Acura 3.2 TLs and 2003 Acura 3.2 CLs, Honda said in a statement.
The move is a blow to Tokyo-based Honda, the only large carmaker to report a sales decline in the United States last month, as it seeks to recover from natural disasters in Japan and Thailand this year.
Owners of included vehicles will receive mailed notification from Honda beginning later this month. They should take their vehicle to an authorized dealer as soon as they receive the notice. In addition, in late December, owners will be able to determine if their vehicles require repair.
Honda owners can go online to recalls.honda.com or call 800-999-1009; Acura owners can go to recalls.acura.com or call 800-382-2238.
