Honda adds 378,000 cars to recall list

2/10/2010

DETROIT - Honda Motor Co. is adding more than 378,000 cars to an existing safety recall for air-bag inflation problems, the company said yesterday.

The company will replace the driver's side air bag inflator on the cars because they can deploy with too much pressure, causing the inflator to rupture and injure or kill the driver.

The recall now affects more than 822,000 vehicles, including certain 2001 and 2002 Accord sedans, Civic compacts, Odyssey minivans, CR-V small sport utility vehicles, and some 2002 Acura TL sedans.

Honda said it is aware of 12 incidents linked to the problem, with 11 injuries and one death. The company said it is not aware of any problems happening after July, 2009.

"However, we have concluded that we cannot be completely certain that the driver's air bag inflator in the vehicles being added to this recall at this time will perform as designed," Honda said in a statement.

Honda originally announced the recall to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in November, 2008, involving fewer than 4,000 2001 Accords and Civics, the company said.

The recall was expanded in July, 2009, to 440,000 vehicles including the 2001 and 2002 Accord and Civic, as well as certain 2002 Acura TL sedans.