Honda recalls 2.2M cars in US over airbag concerns

WASHINGTON, United States – Japanese carmaker Honda is recalling 2.23 million cars in the United States equipped with potentially defective airbags that could rupture, deepening the deadly scandal surrounding parts supplier Takata.

The recall by the American Honda Motor Company was posted Wednesday, February 3, on a consumer car safety website run by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and includes older models dating back to 2005 but also some as recent as 2016. 

“The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture,” said the recall notice.

“In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.”

The recall documents specify that the vehicles contain airbags manufactured by Takata, which was fined a record $200 million last year by the NHTSA for hiding safety concerns over the exploding airbags linked to at least 10 deaths and scores of injuries.

Some 50 million vehicles worldwide were recalled last year over the problem, and major car manufacturers like Honda and Nissan have dumped the Japanese parts supplier.

The notice said the latest recall includes “certain model year 2007-2011 HondaCR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX Clarity, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles.”

It added that Honda would notify owners and that dealers would replace the inflator at no cost.

Last week, Honda reported a fall in 9-month operating profit due to “quality-related” costs, seen as linked to an exploding airbag crisis at Takata. – Rappler.com