Honda is recalling up to 1.6 million Honda and Acura cars to fix a potential deadly issue with Takata front passenger airbag inflators.
"Honda is announcing this recall to encourage each owner of an affected vehicle to schedule repair at an authorized dealer as soon as possible," the company announced Friday. "Replacement parts are available, all from alternate suppliers, to begin free recall repairs immediately, and a free rental car is available to the vehicle owner for the day of the recall repair or longer if a replacement part is temporarily unavailable."
Honda says this is the fifth and final phase of planned recalls, putting them well-ahead of a schedule set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the Honda and Acura models manufactured between 2003 and 2015.
Takata was one of the main suppliers of airbags to virtually every major automaker, but the recall forced the Japanese company into bankruptcy last year. The problem with the airbags occurred because they were made ammonium nitrate, making them prone to exploding upon deployment and sending shrapnel into the vehicle. Twenty-four people were killed and hundreds more injured because of Takata's inflators.
Honda says owners of the recalled vehicles will received mailed notifications beginning in mid-August 2019. You can check whether your vehicle was affected by the recall on Honda's website at www.recalls.acura.com and www.recalls.honda.com, or by calling (888) 234-2138.
Affected Honda models include the 2001-2012 Accord, the 2010-2015 Crosstour, the 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, the 2011-2015 CR-Z, the 2003-2011 Element, the 2007-2014 Fit, the 2010-2014 Insight, the 2002-2004 Odyssey, the 2003-2015 Pilot and the 2006-2014 Ridgeline. Acura models include the 2003 3.2CL, the 2013 ILX, the 2003-2006 MDX, the 2015 RDX, the 2005-2012 RL, the 2002-2003 3.2TL, the 2009-2014 TL, the 2009-2014 TSX, and the 2010-2013 ZDX.
Honda said in its statement that once this recall is completed, it will have recalled or accounted for 22.6 million inflators in up to 12.9 million vehicles.
Consumers can find more information about the recall at www.hondaairbaginfo.com.
Photo: Honda Motor Corp