American Honda has confirmed that a defective Takata driver's airbag inflator ruptured in the crash of a 2002 Honda Accord on Feb. 2, 2022, in Bowling Green, KY. 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 17 deaths and more than 200 injuries in the U.S. related to Takata frontal driver's airbags due to inflator ruptures. Three other automakers have experienced a total of six fatalities in the U.S. due to the rupture of Takata airbag inflators – meaning the industry as a whole has experienced 23 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 300 attempts to reach the owner of this vehicle, who purchased the car in 2008. This included more than 40 mailed notices to the registered address, over 230 phone calls, and over 40 email notifications. Our records indicate that the recall repair was never completed.
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.
For more information about Honda's actions related to the Takata airbag inflator recalls, including the latest recall completion rate, please visit www.hondaairbaginfo.com.
[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 certain 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 owners or by calling their authorized dealer.
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