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Honda recalls cars with airbags spitting metal

It looks like this only applies to US customers [1], although why it doesn’t apply to other countries is beyond me.

DETROIT (Reuters) – Honda Motor Co said on Friday that it is recalling another 440,000 vehicles — including some of its best-selling Accord and Civic models — for a potentially lethal airbag defect.

Honda said that the airbag inflators in some of its top-selling sedans can rupture because of too much air pressure causing metal fragments to shoot through the airbag and strike vehicle occupants.

One fatality and a number of injuries have been linked to the defect, Honda spokesman Sage Marie said.

The recall covers certain 2001 and 2002 Accords, 2001 Civics and some 2002 and 2003 model Acura TL sedans. The driver’s side airbag is the defective component on the affected vehicles.

Honda said owners of those models can check to see if their vehicle is covered by the recall by checking the automaker’s website at www.owners.honda.com/recalls.

I’m intrigued, and would be most appreciative if somebody can explain to me why it’s only the US versions of these cars which are apparently suffering from this problem. What makes the airbags different over there? Anybody?

Samuel

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#1 Comment By Yodaddy On August 4, 2009 @ 10:31 am

A big seller here, the Accord Euro, is an Acura TSX in the states. The US model Accord, Civic and Acura TL, are all built in US (Ohio) plants. Just a guess, but the airbags for those cars are probably also sourced in the US. In contrast, the right hand drive Australian versions would be built in Japan and probably have airbags sourced someplace like the Philippines or Vietnam.

#2 Comment By Samuel On August 4, 2009 @ 7:16 pm

Well that explains that. Thanks Yodaddy.