Honda has confirmed that the Takata front airbag inflator ruptured in a fatal crash involving a 2004 Honda City on 21st May 2018 in Kuala Lumpur – the official cause of death has not been determined yet.
The confirmation was attained during an inspection with the Royal Malaysia Police. The vehicle involved has been included in a nationwide product recall announced on 21st May 2015, the recall replacement was never completed despite several notification letters sent to the owner of the vehicle based on the info from Honda’s database.
So far, Honda Malaysia has sent out more than 3.2 million letters, 3.66 million SMSs and phoned more than 71,700 affected customers. Among initiatives to reach out to them included advertisement campaigns and roadshows to reach out to affected customers.
The company has also ensured 100% stock availability for replacements of the 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 of 29th May 2018, Honda has replaced more than 445,000 units of the Takata airbag inflators (driver and passenger), with an 75% completion ratio.
For the 2003 – 2008 year model Honda City, Honda has completed replacement of more than 47,500 units of Takata driver front airbag inflators and 47,200 units of Takata passenger front airbag inflators.
Honda Malaysia strongly and urgently urge all 2003 -2008 year model Honda City owners to get their vehicles inspected and affected airbag inflators replaced immediately at Honda authorised dealers. 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.
Vehicle owners can check their vehicle’s product recall status at www.productrecall.honda.com.my, call Honda toll free number at 1-800-88-2020 or visit any Honda authorised dealers.
Honda Malaysia affirms that the current line-up of Honda models do not have the same type of Takata airbag inflators as previous models affected in the recall.
