Honda recalls 5,300 Irish cars over potential airbag faults

Globally 5.7m Hondas affected in latest recall over continuing problem with Takata airbags

Honda is to recall 5.7 million cars worldwide - and an estimated 5,300 in Ireland - in the latest round of recalls involving Takata Corp air bag inflators which can explode and hurl shrapnel into the vehicle.

Irish importer Universal Honda said the 5,300 cars affected here are from the Legend, Insight, FRV, Jazz and Civic four-door model ranges. They would have production dates between 2005 and 2014. Owners will be contacted in due course by the company but they can check if the car is affected by contacting service@honda.ie or contacting one of the 23 sales and service outlets nationwide.

The recall is expected to take beteen 60 and 90 minutes and will be carried out free of charge to customers.

Problems with Takata’s inflators were first noted in August 2010 and since then several car firms have been forced to carry out largescale recalls to remedy any potential issues. Ultimately there is a potential that the inflator can explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister. This in turn can throw metal shards at the passenger or driver.

READ MORE

At least 11 people have been killed worldwide as a result of the problem, and 139 others have been injured. About 24 million vehicles are being recalled in the US, the largest automotive recall in American history, and millions more globally. Before Friday’s recall of about 5,300 cars, Honda Ireland estimates it has issued recall notices on 12,500 of the airbag inflation devices on its Irish vehicle fleet. In some instances two devices have been recalled on the same car.

The Honda recall is also part of a wider one issued by Continental Automotive Systems over the Takata airbags devices that potentially fail to deploy.

Continental supplies the overall airbag packs to several car brands. It said in filings that it was instigating recalls involving 112,001 vehicles from Fiat Chrysler along with vehicles made by Volkswagen Group, Mazda, Kia, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz parent firm Daimler.

Michael McAleer

Michael McAleer

Michael McAleer is Motoring Editor, Innovation Editor and an Assistant Business Editor at The Irish Times