Rhode Island Accident Lawyer Blog
Honda Motor Co. announced Tuesday a recall of 772,000 Honda and Acura vehicles in the United States for defective front passenger seat air bag inflators. The Tokyo-based Honda adds these vehicles to the list of earlier recalls. About 10.7 million Honda and Acura vehicles in the U.S. are subject to a recall related to Takata airbag inflator ruptures. Some vehicles involve both a driver and passenger side airbag inflator, others involve just the passenger side.
Reason for Massive Recall
The recall is due to potentially faulty air bag deflators that could explode in a crash. The rupture could injure people by dispelling metal shrapnel into the passenger compartments. The air bag inflators are made by Takata Corp., a Japanese supplier.
Honda, and the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), has focused specific concern on a subset of these inflators called “Alpha” inflators found in some 2001-2003 Honda and Acura vehicles. The “Alpha” inflators have a huge rupture rate- up to 50%. Due to their age and exposure to heat and humidity over time, these older model inflators are particularly vulnerable to explosion. Exploding shrapnel can cause serious personal injury, or even death, to the vehicle passengers and driver.
What Models are Affected?
The newest list of recalled vehicles is below.
2001-2002 Honda Accord
2001-2002 Honda Civic
2002 Honda CR-V
2002 Honda Odyssey
2003 Honda Pilot
2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL
2003 Acura 3.2CL
A full list of Honda and Acura models and years involved in the recall since its inception can be found on Honda’s website here. http://hondaairbaginfo.com/takata-airbag-inflator-recall-fact-sheet/
Serious Personal Injuries Can Occur
The metal shrapnel involved in the airbag rupture could cause serious personal injury, even death. Honda has confirmed ten deaths in the United States from 2009-2016 due to this complication. The vehicles involved have all since been put on recall. The deaths occurred in California (3), Texas (2), Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Florida, Oklahoma, and Virginia. 150 injuries have been reported in the United States related to the ruptures of the Takata supplied drivers front airbag inflators.
What to do if You Own One Of These Vehicles (or know someone that does)
Honda urges owners to take their car to an authorized Honda dealership immediately. The repair is expected to take about an hour. If owners are not comfortable driving the car to the dealership, Honda will tow the vehicle at their own expense and provide a loaner. Honda states they have a large supply of replacement parts in-stock to complete the repairs quickly and with minimal inconvenience to owners. Since these vehicles are older they may have changed multiple hands since first purchase. Current owners may not have a relationship with a Honda dealership and therefore may not be aware of this recall. Honda has a wide outreach program underway and is publicly posting the recall information online, spreading the word through social media and friends and family of Honda and Acura employees and owners are urged to spread the word to those who may not be aware.
As of December 2016, Honda reports 51.2% of vehicles in the airbag recall have been repaired since the recalls began a few years back. Approximately, 8 million Takata inflators have been replaced in total. Honda considers this steady progress.
If you have received notice that this air bag recall affects your Honda or Acura vehicle, it is imperative you get the necessary repair immediately to avoid potential personal injury, or even death. If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident in Rhode Island involving one of these vehicles, you need the advice of a Rhode Island Personal Injury Attorney. What starts out as a minor injury can quickly turn into a major injury with lifetime repercussions. Personal injuries can affect your future earning potential and ability to care for yourself and your loved ones. It is important that you do not delay this important call. Contact Tapalian Law at 401-552-5000 or online with our easy contact form.