Honda Adds 437,000 Cars to Recall (What's happening to the Japanese car makers?)

New York Times ^ | 02/11/2010

[SeekAndFind]

TOKYO (AP) -- Honda Motor Co. is adding 437,000 vehicles to its 15-month old global recall for faulty airbags in the latest quality problem to hit a Japanese automaker.

The company will replace the driver's side air bag inflator on the cars because they can deploy with too much pressure, causing the inflator to rupture and injure or kill the driver.

Japan's No. 2 automaker originally announced the recall to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in November 2008 and the total of number vehicles recalled since then is approaching 1 million.

The latest expansion of the airbag recall includes 378,000 cars in the U.S., some 41,000 cars in Canada and 17,000 cars in Japan, Australia and elsewhere in Asia. The North American recall was announced Tuesday and followed Wednesday by the recall in Asia.

Honda's announcement comes at a time of increased attention on automotive recalls. Though the problems are unrelated, rival Toyota Motor Corp. is in the process of recalling more than 8 million cars and trucks due to faulty gas pedals. On Tuesday, Toyota said it would recall more than 440,000 of its flagship 2010 Prius and other hybrids due to a braking glitch.

''There is a heightened sensitivity right now to anything to do with recalls,'' said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda.

Honda's latest U.S. recall airbag affects certain 2001 and 2002 Accord sedans, Civic compacts, Odyssey minivans, CR-V small sport utility vehicles and some 2002 Acura TL sedans.

The recall now affects 952,118 vehicles, including certain 2001 and 2002 Accord sedans, Civic compacts, Odyssey minivans, CR-V small sport utility vehicles and some 2002 Acura TL sedans.

In Japan, the recall covers three models, including the 2001 sedan Inspire.

[LS]

I think when GM and Ford basically exited, the same thing has started to happen to the Japanese that happened to us 20-30 years ago: lack of serious competition makes one lazy and imprecise.

[philetus]

I was kind of wondering if Honda did this in support of Toyota.

[CowboyJay]

spot-on. same thing as happened to Detroit after our currency was debased.

[Clara Lou]

What's happening to Japanese car makers?
Nothing that doesn't happen to all car makers. I think Toyota has been sitting on this gas pedal-thing for years, and it's finally blown up in their faces. As for Honda and airbags, this isn't the first time there have been recalls over airbags. I think your question is silly.

[etcb]

I certainly don’t support Obama and believe he deserves to be criticized for many things, but, isn’t it a bit much to blame him for a 15 month old recall when he has only been in office for 13 months.

I know it may seem sacrilegious to devoted believers in the infallibility of the Japanese car companies, but they may just actually have some quality problems.

[GailA]

Wonder if they farmed stuff out to china?

[SueRae]

If he thinks that giving a lot of play on the Japanese car recalls will incentive us to buy GubMint motor vehicles, he is most sadly mistaken.

[Gaffer]

Yes, about as much sense as Obama blaming Bush for the health
care failure of a Dem House Senate and President.

[norwaypinesavage]

they're made by a company called CTS in Indiana

CTS has a manufacturing plant in China.

[maggief]

Sounds like a threat, (from Government Motors):

http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/Prius-Problems-Surface-Officials-We-re-Not/PTrsIJq0MkWeAjshO3aJiw.cspx

Now Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is telling Reuters News Service: “We’re not through with Toyota.”

[DoughtyOne]

It’s sounding more like the government is an arm of GM rather than the other way around isn’t it.