On April 21, 2021, following a joint inspection, American Honda and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirmed that a defective Takata driver’s airbag inflator ruptured in the crash of a 2002 Honda Accord on Jan. 9, 2021, in Lancaster County, SC. The driver of the vehicle sustained injuries from the ruptured inflator and subsequently died. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family of the driver.
Honda has now confirmed 16 deaths and more than 200 injuries in the U.S. related to Takata airbag driver's front inflator ruptures in the field. In addition, two other automakers have experienced a total of three fatalities in the U.S. due to the rupture of Takata airbag inflators – meaning the industry as a whole has experienced 19 fatalities in the U.S.
Honda has shared all available information with NHTSA and will continue to cooperate with the agency throughout the investigation of this inflator rupture.
The vehicle involved in this crash had been under recall since April 2011 for replacement of the original Takata driver’s frontal airbag inflator. Starting in June 2011, Honda made more than 100 attempts to reach owners of this vehicle including mailed notices, phone calls, emails and in-person canvassing visits. Our records indicate that the recall repair was never completed.
The driver killed in this crash was not the registered owner of the vehicle, and Honda does not know if the driver was aware of the unrepaired recalls affecting this vehicle.
Honda currently has sufficient supplies of replacement inflators to complete the free repairs for all recalled Honda and Acura models in the United States, and we urge all owners of affected vehicles to seek repair as soon as possible.
[Note to the Media: Please include the following as you report this story – Thank You!]
American Honda continues to urge owners of Honda and Acura vehicles affected by the Takata airbag inflator recalls to get their vehicles repaired at authorized dealers as soon as possible. Older vehicles, especially 2001-2003 model year vehicles, have a heightened risk of an airbag inflator rupture and pose the greatest safety risk. Vehicle owners can check their vehicles’ recall status at www.recalls.honda.com for Honda owners or www.recalls.acura.com for Acura
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