Honda is one of the leading automotive companies in the world, and despite the horrific downturn within the automotive market in general in recent months, Honda has held strong while other companies have suffered. However, the company took a drastic step today by recalling 440,000 vehicles because of a defect present in the airbag systems. Owners of the vehicles are asked to return the car to a dealer for the necessary repairs as soon as possible.

According to CNN:

“The recall involves driver-side airbags in certain 2001-02 Honda Accords, 2001 Civics and 2002-03 Acura TLs, the company said in a news release.

The affected vehicles will require the replacement of the steering-wheel-mounted airbag inflator.

“In some vehicles, airbag inflators can produce over-pressurization of the driver’s [front] airbag inflator mechanism during airbag deployment,” the release said. “If an affected inflator deploys, the increased internal pressure may cause the inflator casing to rupture. Metal fragments could pass through the cloth airbag cushion material, possibly causing an injury or fatality to vehicle occupants.”

The company will send a recall notice in the mail over the next few months, the release said. Owners may check their car’s recall status by visiting the Honda “Owner Link” Web site at www.owners.honda.com/recalls or the Acura “My Acura” Web site at www.owners.acura.com/recalls.”

Defective airbags can cause serious injuries for many reasons, and one of the least publicized is their tendency to deploy with too much force. If you or someone you love has been harmed by a defective vehicle, you need to contact the Sacramento defective products attorneys at Demas & Rosenthal, as the firm understands what it takes to hold those who place dangerous products into the market stream accountable.