Following a crash and explosion in Maryland that left a Honda minivan driver injured, a type of Takata air bag inflator once believed to be safe is now being looked at more closely.
On Tuesday, Honda recalled approximately 1.2 million vehicles in North and Central America from the 2001 to 2016 model years, which were not included in the major Takata recalls for air bags that can hurl shrapnel into the passenger compartment.
Through the use of ammonium nitrate, Takata created a small explosion that would inflate air bags in a collision.
It was later found that the chemical has the ability to deteriorate when exposed to high temperatures and humidity and blow apart a metal canister, spewing out shrapnel. At least 23 people have been killed by the company’s inflators, while hundreds more have been left injured.
According to Honda and the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a Jan. 19, 2018 crash involving a 2004 Honda Odyssey initiated an investigation and Tuesday’s recall when investigators discovered that the driver’s air bag inflator ruptured.
Honda said that the investigation uncovered faulty inflators from Takata’s Monclova, Mexico factory due to a manufacturing defect.
At this time, it is unknown how many inflators with the desiccant were used by other automakers or if the government is investigating if they should be recalled as well.
Included in the recall are certain Honda and Acura models largely in the U.S. and Canada. I
They include:
2001 to 2007 and 2009 Honda Accord
2001 to 2005 Civic
2002 to 2007 and 2010 and 2011 CR-V
2003 to 2011 Element
2007 Fit
2002 to 2004 Odyssey
2003 to 2008 Pilot
2006 to 2014 Ridgeline pickup.
Also include certain Acura models:
2003 Acura 3.2CL
2013 to 2016 ILX
2003 to 2006 MDX
2007 to 2016 RDX
2002 to 2003 3.2TL
2004 to 2006 and 2009 to 2014 TL
2010 to 2013 ZDX
On Tuesday, the government’s highway safety regulator NHTSA issued a statement acknowledging the recall and saying that not all vehicles that received replacement air bag inflators are affected by the recall. Owners are urged to check for open recalls by keying in their 17-digit vehicle identification number on the NHTSA website www.nhtsa.gov/recalls .
