More than 300,000 Hondas and Accuras are at grave risk of having their Takata air bags rupture during deployment. Owners are urged not to drive these vehicles until the airbags are replaced.
The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration reported that a particular subset of air bag inflators are defective in model-year 2001-2003 Honda and Acura vehicles.
“With as high as a 50 percent chance of a dangerous air bag inflator rupture in a crash, these vehicles are unsafe and need to be repaired immediately,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Folks should not drive these vehicles unless they are going straight to a dealer to have them repaired immediately, free of charge.”
Vehicles at risk include:
- 2001-2002 Honda Civic
- 2001-2002 Honda Accord
- 2002-2003 Acura TL
- The 2002 Honda CR-V
- 2002 Honda Odyssey
- 2003 Acura CL
- 2003 Honda Pilot
Ruptures also are far more likely for vehicles that have spent significant time in areas of high absolute humidity. Testing shows rupture rates as high as 50 percent in a laboratory setting.
The vehicles in question were recalled between 2008 and 2011. Honda reports that more than 70 percent of these vehicles have already been fixed, but about 313,000 vehicles remain unrepaired.
Drivers should immediately visit SaferCar.gov to check for any outstanding safety recalls and contact their nearest dealer to schedule a no-cost immediate repair. Replacement parts for these vehicles are available immediately.
