Honda to recall 1.2 million vehicles over air bag danger

Honda would not say where the other recalls will be.

The recall also covers several Acura models: the 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, 2010-2013 Acura ZDX, 2013-2016 Acura ILX and the 2007-2016 Acura RDX, according to a Honda press release issued late February 3.

Right now, 14 automakers have recalled around 25 million cars because of the defective Takata air bags. Approximately 24 million vehicles were recalled due to malfunction in Takata air bags – the largest recall in US history.

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

Honda spokesman Chris Martin confirmed the dealer memo as well as the stop-sale order, which he said is Honda’s protocol with any recall that involves cars likely to be among dealer’s new or certified pre-owned inventory.

The air bags can rupture when they deploy, sending debris into the car’s cabin.

Honda will voluntarily recall 23,343 units of 2008-2010 model-year Honda Accord Sedans in Canada to replace the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) control unit.

Reuters reports that Honda recalled another 269,000 similar models in Canada on Monday for the same issue.

The huge recall of deadly Takata airbags is expanding to include more recent vehicle models.

Honda said, however, that replacement parts are presently scarce and can only be requested for cars with air bag issues and with vehicle damage. Moisture has caused the chemical propellant that ignites the airbag inflators – ammonium nitrate – to be damaged by moisture over time.

It added that Honda would notify owners and that dealers would replace the inflator at no cost. It appears that airbag control units built over a five-year period may be defective. Affected vehicles include Honda and FCA models manufactured between 2006 and 2010. Two weeks ago, Takata agreed to seek the recall of another 5.1 million driver-side inflators, but NHTSA has not been able to say how much overlap there may be with the previous recalls. Mazda, Volkswagen, and Volvo also have affected vehicles in the US.

Airbags from the Japanese manufacturer are at risk for exploding as they inflate, firing out shards of metal, and causing serious injuries – even death, at the wheel.

Recall letters will be send in mid-March and another one when the parts become available.