Honda Recalls 1.39 Million Vehicles for Defective Takata Passenger-Side Airbags

TORRANCE, California — Honda on Monday said it will conduct a nationwide recall of 1.39 million vehicles, including the 2001-'05 Honda Civic and 2003-'07 Honda Accord sedans, to replace potentially defective Takata passenger-side airbags.

Owners will receive updated notification of this latest recall by mail within 60 days, Honda said.

Honda spokesman Chris Martin told Edmunds the Accord and Civic sedans in this new recall have already been recalled previously for front driver-side airbags.

"Thus, the total overall number of vehicles affected by Takata airbag inflator recalls does not increase as a result of this new national passenger airbag recall," Martin wrote in response to a query.

He added: "The number of passenger front-airbag inflators requiring repair under this recall is now approximately 2.3 million, including approximately 1.39 million inflators never previously subject to recall and approximately 915,000 inflators that will transition from prior passenger front-inflator recalls and a voluntary regional safety improvement campaign."

The defective Takata airbags can deploy with too much force, shooting shrapnel at vehicle occupants.

Seven fatalities have been reported in Honda vehicles with Takata airbags.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Monday said it has received the list of vehicles from Honda that are affected by the recall expansion.

But the vehicle identification numbers (VINs) are not yet available on NHTSA's VIN Lookup Tool or the manufacturer's Web site.

NHTSA said it will continue to provide updates as this information becomes available.

Honda dealers will replace the passenger-side airbag. Owners can contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

Edmunds says: Owners of these vehicles should periodically check the NHTSA Web site for updated information and stay in close touch with their dealers, who can keep them informed about parts availability.