New York – Honda Recalls 440000 Cars for Airbag Risk

New York – A safety recall of the driver’s air bag in certain Honda vehicles is being expanded to include more vehicles.

The recall now involves certain 2001-2002 Honda Accords, 2001 Civics and 2002-2003 Acura TL’s. The recall is due to a potential defect in the airbag’s inflation system.

Acura is Honda’s luxury brand.

American Honda Motor Co. said Friday that 440,000 additional vehicles are included in the expanded recall, which will require the replacement of the driver’s steering-wheel-mounted air bag inflator. The recall initially began in November 2008.

In some vehicles, air bag inflators can produce over-pressurization of the driver’s front air bag inflator mechanism during air bag deployment. If an affected inflator deploys, the increased internal pressure may cause the inflator casing to rupture.

According to a statement from Honda, metal fragments could pass through the cloth air bag cushion material, possibly causing an injury or fatality to vehicle occupants.

The company said that registered owners of vehicles that potentially contain affected inflators will receive a recall notice in the mail over the next few months. Further instructions will be given to help schedule a repair to each vehicle.