Statement from American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Re: Reported Rupture of Takata Airbag Inflator on July 22, 2015
Statement date: December 23, 2015
American Honda recently learned of the reported rupture of a Takata driver’s front airbag inflator in the crash of a 2001 Honda Accord Coupe on July 22, 2015 near Pittsburgh, PA. This crash resulted in the tragic death of the driver, who was a minor. Out of respect for the family, Honda will not release the name of the deceased. Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with the family.
We are working hard to understand this crash and the cause of the injuries that resulted in this fatality. Honda has not yet had the opportunity to inspect the vehicle, and we are coordinating with representatives of the family, NHTSA and Takata to inspect the vehicle as quickly as possible to evaluate if the Takata airbag inflator ruptured in this crash.
Under a previous owner, the vehicle involved in this crash was included in a February 2010 national Safety Recall campaign for the Takata driver’s front airbag inflator. Honda made numerous attempts to contact the previous owner from 2010 through 2012, but records indicate that the necessary recall repairs were not completed. Honda mailed an additional recall notice to the current owner of the vehicle on July 21, 2015, one day before the crash.
Honda has been in communication with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding this reported crash.
[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. Vehicle owners can check their vehicles’ recall status at www.recalls.honda.com for Honda owners or www.recalls.acura.com for Acura owners or by calling their authorized dealer.
# # #