Honda/Acura Expands Airbags Recall

Honda has expanded a previously announced recall of certain 2001 through 2003 model-year Honda and Acura vehicles to replace the driver’s airbag inflator originally installed in approximately 273,000 additional vehicles sold in the U.S.

Affected driver’s airbag inflators may deploy with too much pressure, which can cause the inflator casing to rupture and could result in injury or fatality.

Separately, Honda has also determined that approximately 640 affected driver’s airbag service parts were sold for installation in vehicles for collision repair or other vehicle service. Because Honda is unable to determine the specific vehicles that may have received the affected service parts through existing information, Honda will inspect an additional approximately 603,000 vehicles and replace those parts as necessary.

This recall now includes certain 2001 and 2002 Accord, 2001 to 2003 Civic, 2001 to 2003 Odyssey, 2002 and 2003 CR-V, 2003 Pilot, 2002 and 2003 Acura 3.2 TL, and 2003 Acura 3.2 CL vehicles.

Honda is aware of several incidents related to this recall and expansions and is announcing this further 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. Notification to the expanded group of customers will begin in late December 2011.

In addition to contacting customers by mail, in late December, owners of these vehicles will be able to determine if their vehicles require repair by visiting www.recalls.honda.com or calling 800-999-1009, option 4. Acura owners can visit www.recalls.acura.com or call 800-382-2238, option 4.