Honda will be recalling 440,000 units of Accord, Civic and Acura models in America made between 2001 and 2002 due to a potentially fatal airbag defect. According to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the defective driver's airbag inflator module could produce excessive internal pressure. If an affected airbag deploys, the increased internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture, sending metallic fragments tearing through the airbag material, potentially injuring the driver. At least 1 fatality have been reported that is linked to this defect.
NHTSA is investigating into American Honda Motor Co. into some alleged discrepancies in Honda's declaration of defective vehicles under US Federal laws. Earlier in November 2008, some 3940 Accord and Civic models made in 2001 were recalled for the same airbag defect. In June 2009, American Honda Motor Co. issued a second recall to include more 2001 year models, and this was later expanded again in July 2009 to include a number of 2002 models. NHTSA is now investigating into Honda on why were the vehicles involved in the second recall only done some 8 months later. The way NHTSA sees it, there is no difference in the airbag inflator module for the vehicles affected between these two recalls. You may read the partial transcript made between HMC and NTHSA here.
A list of VIN plates of affected North American market Honda Accord and Civic models can be found here. The technical service bulletin to replace the airbag module can be found here. Note that the VIN list in the TSB were updated again later (refer to the earlier link).
Later in the week it was revealed that the recall is not just limited to American market Honda models. Honda Australia too issued a recall for 1323 Accord and Civic models for the same defect. For the Aussie models affected, the vehicles are of the VIN plate range :
MRHCK16401P010001 to MRHCK16401P010810
MRHCK16501P010031 to MRHCK16501P010180
MRHCK25601P010002 to MRHCK25601P010060
MRHCK26601P010001 to MRHCK26601P011050
MRHCK26602P040011 to MRHCK26602P040060
China also issued a similar recall but unlike Australia and America, Chinese market Accord recall is for the current generation Accord, and according to news reports, the defective part is located at the passenger side airbag (rather than driver's airbag). Guangzhou Honda Automobile Co. Ltd started to recall 9,464 Accord models since September 2009. The affected Accord models in China were made between April-8 to June-8 2009. The defects have been reported to China's quality and consumer safety watchdog General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), which was setup to restore the image of Chinese products following many recent public health and safety scare involving Chinese products. Earlier this year, one of Toyota's Chinese JV operations Guangzhou Toyota had some unpleasant experience with AQSIQ as the Chinese body starts to flex its muscle. Toyota had intially refused to issue a full recall for Camry models fitted with defective brakes.
So far Asian Honda Motor; the ASEAN regional office of Honda Automobiles have remained silent on the issue. Neither has Kah Motor, Honda Malaysia or Honda Automobile Thailand released any official statements to date. Airbags are high precision devices and there aren't many companies in the world that are able to manufacture them. There are some minimal differences between American market Accords and Civics compared to those sold in China and Australia - these are mostly to do with the size of rear view mirrors, fitment of amber front side indicators and 5-mph bumpers to meet US Federal regulations. The airbag module itself should be the same, in terms of the design, propellents used and manufacturing processes. The airbag modules that affected the American market Honda models were made in Takata's plant in Mexico, while those that affected the Australian models were made in Thailand. Which brings me to the next question - if Honda Australia issues a recall for the same cars made in Thailand, wouldn't Singapore be affected as well? Since Accords (and Civic) sold in the two countries are from the same country of origin. Accords and Civics sold in Malaysia are made locally, at Honda Malaysia's plant in Alor Gajah, Melaka. Prior to 2003, Honda cars were assembled by Oriental Assemblers plant in Johor, when the distributorship of Honda cars were still under Kah Motor. As I know, the airbag modules come from Thailand as well, as Takata does not have any production facilities here. Logically, the Accords and Civics sold here should be affected as well, as the defective parts originate from the same plant. The defective airbag modules in Chinese market Accords were made in Shanghai.
But being a developing country with lax consumer protection laws, car companies here are not bounded by law to publically announce a recall. Having a public announcement is crucial to notify owners who bought their vehicles used or those who have changed their contact details and no longer visits the authorised service centre, thus the car company have no way of contacting the owner. Asian Honda Motor's silence on the issue raises some concerns. Car companies, including Japanese makes have a tendency to sugar coat a recall in some nicer sounding terms like a "special service campaign / product improvement or upgrade." Part replacements and inspection are then done as part of the vehicle's scheduled service, sometimes with the knowledge of the owner but sometimes no.
Comparatively, Toyota Motors Asia Pacific (Toyota's regional ASEAN office) were quick to issue clarifications on recent recalls - the Yaris seatbelt (does not affect Thai made models) and Lexus floor mat (only North American models fitted with all weather floor mats).
Related links
Product recalls
Toyota Camry recall in China
Largest Safety Recall Ever for Toyota - prompted after 4 deaths in a Lexus ES crash
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