Continental to NHTSA: 5m cars may have faulty airbags

Honda explains that this recall has been made based on a Defect Information Report from airbag supplier, Takata.

The 13 models recalled in Japan cover the years 2005 to 2014.

The Takata recall has typically focused on older vehicles, but today’s expansion includes many recent and current models.

In the documents, Continental says the problem surfaced in January 2008 when it analyzed a malfunctioning control unit that was removed from a Mercedes vehicle. Honda said it has received no reports of inflator ruptures from the affected Takata airbags in any of the company’s vehicles worldwide. The non-desiccated PSDI-5 Takata driver front airbag inflators will be replaced, free of charge.

Honda has told its dealers that replacement parts are in very short supply and can only be ordered for vehicles with crash damage or with airbag issues.

Honda said it will notify owners about the problem, but fix parts won’t be available until fall. It appears that could be the case for six months or longer. All airbags nationwide will eventually be recalled.

The NHTSA opened an investigation in August after a complaint of a crash in a 2008 Accord in which the air bags did not deploy.

In October, Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz USA unit recalled 126,000 2008-MY 2009 C-Class and 2010 Mercedes Benz GLK-Class vehicles to address the issue.

Carmakers have set aside higher provisions for Takata-related recall costs in the current fiscal year. American Honda Motor Co. late Wednesday said it is recalling 2.23 million Honda and Acura vehicles as part of that action.

The Takata airbag defect has encompassed more than 20 million vehicles by at least 10 manufacturers.

Japanese auto maker Honda has announced it is recalling 5.7 million vehicles worldwide over faulty, exploding airbags.

As a result, Honda said owners of affected vehicles will be alerted to the recall in an initial notification letter within 60 days.

That recall crisis is now expanding, with Takata alerting automakers that some newer models of its airbags are also at risk of exploding. They will be invited to take their vehicle to their local Honda dealership so an inspection can be completed and, if a fault is found, fit a replacement airbag inflator unit.

“We are working closely with all potentially impacted vehicle manufacturers on this issue”, said Mary Arraf, a Continental spokeswoman. “They don’t have to be certified”, Martin said.