Honda Expands Recall Due to Faulty Driver Airbag Inflators

The North American division of Honda announced today it has decided to expand a previous recall of certain 2001 through 2003 model-year Honda and Acura vehicles to include vehicles that may have had the original driver's airbag module replaced with an affected service part.

The manufacturer says that further investigations have revealed that a number of affected service part airbags were installed in these vehicles in the process of a collision repair or other vehicle service.

The replacement driver's airbag inflators in affected vehicles may deploy with too much pressure, which can cause the inflator casing to rupture and could result in injury or fatality.

“Honda is aware of several incidents related to the earlier recall and expansions, and is announcing this new 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,” a company statement reads.

The recall affects certain 2001 and 2002 Accord and Civic, 2002 Odyssey, 2002 and 2003 CR-V, selected 2002 and 2003 Acura 3.2 TL and 2003 Acura 3.2 CL vehicles. To ensure that all 2,430 recalled airbag inflator service parts are replaced, the recall is being expanded to include approximately 833,000 vehicles that may require inspection.

Owners of the vehicles affected by this recall should expect to receive a notification in late May 2011, by mail. “If an owner is confident that the driver's airbag in their vehicle never has been replaced, they can inform Honda by signing and returning a postage-paid postcard that will be included with the recall notice. All others are encouraged to have their vehicle inspected by an authorized Honda or Acura dealer,” the company said in a statement for the press.