The following is a timeline provided by the USA safety regulator National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Thursday when it also announced a recall of 5 million US vehicles with air bag control units supplied by Continental Automotive systems, a unit of Continental AG CONG.DE .
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Honda, meanwhile, said it would recall roughly 341,000 2008-2010 Accord sedans in the U.S.to replace an electronic-control unit susceptible to moisture that can lead to corrosion and eventual malfunction, causing an air bag to fail to deploy.
Acura models in the recall include the RL (2005-2012), the TL (2009-2014), the ZDX (2010-2013) the ILX (2013-2016) and the RDX (2007-2016). In addition to being hit by Continental’s recall, it was the hardest-hit manufacturer in the Takata recall.
A spokeswoman for Continental Automotive, Mary Arraf pointed out that the company had already produced two processes that would reduce, if not completely counter the issue. It also added that 74 injury accusations in connection with air bags that failed to deploy have yet to be verified.
Honda and Takata have been aware of the defect since at least 2004, when an air bag ruptured in a 2002 Honda Accord. Honda will not have enough parts for replacement for all vehicles until autumn. This most recent round of recalls brings the number of USA recalls to 24 million and Honda accounts for more than a third (8.5 million) of that total. Takata is now looking to work with its rival supplier, Daicel Corp., to produce replacement airbag inflators and has asked Japanese automakers for financial support.
“The 5 million airbags would be much more manageable if it was the only airbag recall going on”, said Brauer. Although the company hasn’t received any reports of airbag ruptures associated with that particular inflator, clearly, Honda isn’t taking chances.
The unit, which was fitted to over five million vehicles over a five-year period (2006-10), is used by Fiat-Chrysler, Honda and Mercedes-Benz, among others.
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Not all the cars in these model years will be included in the recall. According to its filing, Dodge Journey, Dodge Grand Caravan, Chrysler Town and Country, and Volkswagen Routan – which Chrysler manufactured – were the affected vehicles.
