Honda recalls 2001 Civic Sedan over airbags

HONDA Australia has issued another safety recall over faulty airbags, this time on 2001 Civic Sedan.

Last year, it recalled 2001-02 Honda Accords and 2002 CR-Vs for a similar problem, caused by airbag inflator modules that can rupture during deployment, sending fragments ripping through the airbag.

Now 788 Civic Sedans have been recalled to have passenger-side airbag units replaced by dealers.

Honda Australia spokesman Mark Higgins said the company had received no reports of the problem occurring in Australia, nor elsewhere in the world on Civic Sedan.

Worldwide, Honda has now recalled close to a million vehicles due to airbag problems in a series of recalls that started in the United States with a small number of Accords in 2008.

The second batch of recalls in July 2009 blew the number out to 440,000 vehicles globally, with more than 1323 Accords being recalled in Australia in August. The recall was widened to more than 2000 vehicles, including some 2002 CR-Vs, in February this year.

At the time, Honda said no Civics sold in Australia were affected.

Under investigation from America’s road safety watchdog, the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Honda recalled a further 437,763 cars in February this year.

It was reported that the faulty airbags were supplied by parts supplier Takata subsidiary TK Holdings, with Honda engineers blaming inadequate stamping pressure on the propellant during production. This could cause too much pressure in the inflator module during deployment, causing it to rupture and send fragments flying.

While Honda Australia says there have been no incidents with the 2001 Civic Sedans, Honda Motor Co said in February it knew of 12 incidents involving the defect in other Honda cars, including one fatality.

Honda head office said the defective airbag inflators could rupture, "resulting in metal fragments passing through the airbag cushion material and possibly causing injury or fatality to vehicle occupants".

In the latest recall notice on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission web site, Honda Australia makes no mention of potential for injury or fatality, saying: “In some cases, fragments from the airbag inflator module may tear the airbag.”

The latest recall on Civics in Australia involves vehicles in the VIN ranges JHMES15501S200011 - JHMES15501S201305 and JHMES16501S200019 - JHMES16501S201135.

Owners are asked to contact their Honda dealer to have the remedial work done.