Thousands of Acura and Honda vehicles were deemed not safe to drive. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), popular automaker Honda has issued a “Do Not Drive” warning for thousands of its vehicles. The warning includes Honda vehicles and Honda’s luxury brand Acura.
Why do Honda and Acura Have a Do Not Drive Warning?
Acura and Honda have issued a “Do Not Drive” warning for some of the vehicles the company manufactured between 2001 and 2003. This warning was announced because the vehicles were built with Takata Alpha driver-side bag inflators— airbags with a 50% failure rate. The NHTSA stated, “If the inflators rupture, the metal fragments ejected toward the driver’s face could kill or leave them with devastating, life-altering injuries.”
Warnings for these Takata airbag defects have been in place for several years, and the impacted Acura and Honda vehicles (2001-2003) have some of the oldest airbags under the recall. In addition, Takata Alpha inflators are believed to have a significant chance of rupturing even in a minor collision.
Acura and Honda have accounted for 99% of the Alpha inflators. However, approximately 8,200 Honda and Acura vehicles on the road have unrepaired Takata Alpha inflators. According to a recent report, these are the most dangerous airbags still being driven today.” Therefore, it’s crucial that these Acura and Honda vehicles be repaired.
Acura and Honda Models with Takata Alpha airbags include:
2001-2002 Honda Accord
2001-2002 Honda Civic
2002 Honda CR-V
2002 Honda Odyssey
2003 Honda Pilot
2002-2003 Acura 3.2 TL
2003 Acura 3.2CL
Vehicle owners can contact Acura and Honda about the recall at 888-234-2138 or their Takata website. There is also additional recall information on the NHTSA website.
Air Bag Defects
When a vehicle has an airbag defect, the flaw can endanger drivers and passengers in several ways. For example, a defective airbag could:
- Deploy at the wrong time, such as during a low-impact collision or in response to a slammed door, causing the bag to inflate when a motorist is unprepared.
- Deploy with excessive force, causing an impact that injures the motorist.
- Not deploy in response to a collision failing to protect the motorist, or
- Deploy too slowly to protect the motorist.
Airbags are intended to protect motorists from injury during a collision. When these crucial safety mechanisms fail, the consequences can be severe or deadly. In addition, airbags and other automotive defects can compromise the safety of your vehicle.
When an automotive accident occurs, it’s essential to get the help you need to learn what caused the accident. If you or a loved one have been hurt in a collision involving a defective airbag, you may have medical bills, lost wages and time at work, and other significant damages. Contact the defective airbag attorneys of Bonina & Bonina, P.C. today to get the help you need. We are here to fight for you!
Automotive Manufacturing Defects
When a consumer purchases a truck, car, or another motor vehicle, they have to trust that their purchase was designed well and soundly manufactured. One of the most important features of a motor vehicle is safety equipment. An automotive manufacturing defect could have serious and fatal consequences for the driver, their passengers, and other motorists.
If you or a loved one have been harmed by a defective airbag or another automotive manufacturing defect, it’s important to have your case evaluated by an attorney as soon as possible. At Bonina & Bonina, P.C., we have over 50 years of experience helping injured New Yorkers with product liability claims. Contact us online or call us at 1-888-MED-LAW1 to schedule your free consultation. Home and hospital visits are available—Se habla espaňol.