It has added 2.2 million vehicles to its fleet of late-model cars that are installed with potentially defective airbags.
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Honda, whose vehicles account for roughly half of the 50 million vehicles recalled over the Takata issue since 2008, said it was recalling a total of 13 vehicle models, almost half of which are Fits.
Last month, regulators couldn’t immediately say how many additional vehicles would be included because some vehicles have multiple inflators and some may have been previously recalled.
Carmakers are grappling with another air-bag crisis sparked by Takata-made devices that explode with too much force and shoot shrapnel at occupants.
Defective Takata inflators have been linked to nine USA deaths since 2004, all but one of them in older Honda vehicles.
But it’s no less serious, and automakers are already moving to recall affected vehicles in the US. If they notice that the “Supplemental Restraint System” indicator light is on (not the “Passenger Airbag Off” light), motorists should take their vehicles to dealers for full diagnostic scans. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Accord vehicles.
The units were made from 2006 on through 2010, according to Reuters; unfortunately, there are reports of injuries resulting from the defect.
The larger problem involves a wide range of Honda products equipped with faulty Takata airbags. Once replacement parts become available, Honda will provide a subsequent notification to owners which will include instructions to pursue fix at their local authorized dealer.
On Wednesday night, Honda said it would recall 364,787 2008-10 Accord sedans worldwide because of the issue.
Autoblog reports that the problem is that several vehicles carry the Takata PSDI-5 airbag inflator on the driver’s side, and this part could rupture if the airbag deploys. The senators estimated that 24 million such vehicles remained on US roads. Takata utilized ammonium nitrate within the inflaters to create a small explosion that rapidly inflates the airbag when the vehicles crashes.
Continental’s airbag problem is far less dramatic than Takata’s. Replacement control modules will be available to Honda owners in the fall. At least 11 people have died worldwide from the problem, and 139 injured.
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Continental is now contacting all automakers affected by the airbag problems, then each automaker will begin ordering recalls.
