HONDA has confirmed that the Takata single stage (SDI) driver and passenger front airbag inflators ruptured in a crash of a 2004 Honda City on May 27 in Kuala Lumpur, had yet to perform the required replacement of the SDI inflators despite several notification letters being sent out to the owners.
The crash resulted in the tragic death of the driver. However, no official cause of death has been determined.
Honda records indicate that vehicle involved in this crash has also been included in the Takata single stage (SPI) passenger front airbag inflator recall issued on the same day, May 21, 2015. At the same time, the recall replacement was never completed and the vehicle was not serviced at Honda authorised dealers.
Honda Malaysia continues to appeal to owners of Honda vehicles affected by the Takata front airbag inflator product recall to get their vehicles repaired at Honda authorised dealers as soon as possible.
The company also urges all Honda vehicle owners to register their vehicles at the nearest dealers so that any necessary information sent out can reach the owners adequately.
The company said it had enforced its notification activities on Takata front airbag inflator recalls via press releases, advertisements, inclusion in roadshows, phone calls and SMS, as well as direct mails, to keep customers informed and urge affected customers to do the replacement.
This included mailing more than 3.2 million letters to affected customers, sending more than 3,660,000 SMSes and making 71,700 phone calls.
The company said it had enhanced the activities for airbag inflator replacement including ensuring 100 per cent stock availability of driver and passenger front airbag inflators, and increasing service capacity via service central hubs, mobile hubs, hubs at selected Petronas stations, hubs at Honda roadshow and prioritising replacement activities at dealerships.
As at May 29, Honda Malaysia has completed more than 224,000 units of Takata driver front airbag inflator which translates to 85 per cent completion ratio. The total number of Takata driver and passenger front airbag inflator replacements completed is at more than 445,000 units or 75 per cent completion ratio.
For Honda City (2003-2008) year model, Honda Malaysia has completed replacement of more than 47,500 units of Takata driver front airbag inflators, translating to 79 per cent completion ratio and 47,200 units of Takata passenger front airbag inflators translating to 78 per cent completion ratio.
As with previous incidences of airbag rupture, Honda Malaysia strongly and urgently advises and continues to encourage (2003-2008) year model City owners to get their vehicles inspected and repaired immediately at Honda authorised dealers.
Vehicle owners can check their vehicles’ product recall status at www. productrecall.honda.com.my or www. honda.com.my or call Honda toll free number at 1-800-88-2020 or visit any Honda authorised dealers.
Honda Malaysia also said that the current selling line-up of Honda models do not have the same type of Takata airbag inflators as previous models affected in the recall. All current selling Honda models are not affected.