Honda Airbag Recall Expanded By 440,000 Vehicles

The expanded Honda airbag recall will require the replacement of the driver's steering-wheel-mounted airbag inflator. Honda issued a press release detailing the issue.

The problem to be fixed by the Honda airbag recall is that in some vehicles, the inflators which inflate the airbag can overpressurize the driver's airbag inflator mechanism during deployment. The increased internal pressure could cause the inflator casing to rupture. Metal fragments could possibly pass through the cloth airbag cushion material and cause an injury to vehicle occupants.

The models included in the Honda airbag recall now include 2001-2002 Accords, 2001 Civics and 2002-2003 Acura TLs. Registered owners of vehicles that potentially contain affected inflators will receive a recall notice in the mail over the next few months. Hopefully, none will need to use their airbags before then.

After all, the defect in the Honda airbag recall could, in fact, result in a fatality. Probably not likely, but according to the press release, it is possible.

However, concerned owners who wish to be proactive may confirm their vehicle's Honda airbag recall status by visiting the Honda "Owner Link" website at www.owners.honda.com/recalls or the Acura "My Acura" website at www.owners.acura.com/recalls. Honda did encourage people to wait for a recall notice, but if it was me ... I wouldn't; I'd check myself.