Honda will recall over one million vehicles due to the defective Takata airbags that were fitted into some of their model units. The carmaker announced the recall on Tuesday and the affected vehicles are expected to be fixed for the safety of the drivers and car passengers.
Aside from the Takata airbags, it was said that some other parts of Honda vehicles will be replaced as well after they were found to have issues as well. In particular, the Japanese car manufacturing company ordered the return of certain models of Honda and Acura so they can be checked and repaired.
According to FOX News, the vehicles in the recall list are units that were previously repaired and fitted with specific Takata desiccated replacement inflators (PSDI-5D) or the entire airbag modules with this type of inflators. Honda stated that the repairs will be free to the recalled vehicles in the U.S. while parts replacement will be made by alternate suppliers.
The National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) announced on Tuesday that it acknowledged Honda's car recall but noted that not all vehicles that had their airbag inflators replaced are affected. This is because some of the cars received parts replacements from other companies or manufacturers so they are safe.
The problem with the airbag inflators was discovered after a Honda Odyssey crashed in 2004. The minivan's driver injured his arm in the accident due to the ruptured inflator. As per Reuters, Honda is aware that the injury is linked to a glitch in the inflator that caused the airbag to burst when launched in the crash.
In the investigation that was carried out after the Honda Odyssey accident, it was discovered that the PSDI-5D inflators that were made at Takata's Monclova, Mexico facility turned out to be defective. Honda stated that the defect resulted from manufacturing errors at the plant.
Takata's mistake was using ammonium nitrate to produce a small explosion in order to deploy or inflate the airbags when a collision happens. However, when exposed to high temperatures and humidity, the said chemical can deteriorate cause the canister to explode and eventually spit dangerous shrapnel.
This finding forced the Japanese company to post a recall bulletin of more than one million vehicles in North and Central America on Tuesday. Finally, AP News reported that the vehicle models that Honda is recalling include specific Honda and Acura units that were distributed in the U.S. and Canada from 2001 to 2016.
