Honda adds to airbag recall

Honda Motor Co. announced today it is adding an additional 437,000 vehicles to its worldwide recall for faulty airbags, 41,000 from Canada.

According to the company, the problem lies with the driver’s side air bag inflator, which can deploy the bag with too much pressure causing injury and possibly death.

The worldwide fix will see the inflators replaced.

This recall was first announced in the U.S. in November 2008. But as more vehicles are added on, the number of recalled vehicles is approaching 1 million, says The Associated Press.

The recall now affects 952,118 vehicles. Those models include:

- Certain 2001 and 2002 Accord sedans
- Civic compacts
- Odyssey minivans
- CR-V small
- Sport utility vehicles
- Some 2002 Acura TL sedans

Honda says it is aware of at least a dozen incidents linked to the faulty airbags. One death in May 2009 is also linked to the problem.

The latest airbag issue comes on the heels of another Honda Canada recall involving its popular Fit models.

Honda Canada recalled 35,000 2007 and 2008 Fits due to a faulty switch that could catch fire.

“In some cases there has been reported smoke. We didn't have that in Canada,” Richard Jacobs, a Honda Canada spokesperson, told The Associated Press.

Affected customers will be informed by mail. If they experience problems in the meantime, they can take the car to their dealer for replacement parts.

- with files from The Associated Press