May 2, 2011 — Honda on Monday expanded a recall of certain 2001-2003 models with potentially faulty airbags to include roughly 833,000 vehicles that might have received a defective part during repairs.
Those vehicles were not included in the earlier recall—which exposed the potential for some airbags to over-inflate and rupture—because their factory-installed driver’s airbag modules were safe. But Honda later determined that 2,400 potentially unsafe airbag inflator service parts were installed during collision repairs. Because the company doesn’t know which vehicles the parts went into, the recall was widely expanded.
It includes certain 2001 and 2002 Accord and Civic, 2002 Odyssey; 2002 and 2003 CR-V, selected 2002 and 2003 Acura 3.2 TL and 2003 Acura 3.2 CL vehicles.
“Honda is aware of several incidents related to the earlier recall and expansions, and is announcing this new recall expansion to encourage all owners of included vehicles to take their vehicle to an authorized dealer as soon as they receive mailed notification from Honda,” the company said in a prepared statement. “Notification to the expanded group of customers will begin in late May 2011.”
Registered owners of affected vehicles will receive recall notifications in the mail. Owners confident that their driver’s airbag was never replaced can sign and return a postage-paid postcard to inform Honda. All others are encouraged to get an inspection at an authorized Honda or Acura dealer.
“When Honda identifies concerns of this nature, nothing is more important to the company than fulfilling our obligation and responsibility to alert our customers,” the company said.
Later this month, Honda owners will be able to determine whether their vehicles need repair by visiting recalls.honda.com or calling 800.999.1009x4. Acura owners can go to recalls.acura.com or call 800.382.2238x4.
