Honda to recall 4.8 million more cars as Takata airbag problems deepen

Honda is the latest car manufacturer to announce a major extension to its recall programme over a world airbag alert. The company confirmed on Thursday it was bringing in for checks almost 4.9 million more cars fitted with the airbags, which have been linked to at least five deaths worldwide. The airbags, manufactured and supplied by Takata, have been found to have potentially fatal inflators. The investigations revealed that moisture was able to weaken seals in the system, leaving the inflators at risk of erupting with too much force and spraying a car’s interior with shards of metal.

Among the parts collected from the Japanese market, certain types of airbag inflators were found to have a potential for moisture intrusion over time.

Toyota statement

High humidity has been identified as being a primary cause of the company’s airbag propellant becoming volatile. Honda said customers affected by the latest recall would be contacted by their local dealer to arrange an appointment to have airbag inflators replaced. Daihatsu said it was also recalling a number of additional vehicles. The developments were announced 24 hours after Toyota and Nissan said they were taking back 6.5 million vehicles worldwide - including 260 thousand in the UK. The motor manufacturers have all insisted the recalls are precautionary.

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