Before Honda dealers begin making fun of their Toyota-selling foes, they might want to check out the latest press release from their own company, which has just announced that they’re expanding a 2008 recall that had initially only represented about 4,000 cars in North America. And by “expanding,” they mean “adding more than 400,000” to the total.

Honda announced late last night that they are recalling an additional 438,000 vehicles globally — 379,000 in the U.S. alone — to replace an airbag inflator that could possibly inflate with pressure enough to cause injury or death.

Vehicles included in the expanded recall include 2001 and 2002 Accords, Civics, Odysseys, CR-Vs, and selected 2002 Acura TL vehicles.

Honda revealed that 12 incidents have been reported relating to the airbag inflator problem.

The original recall, issued in Nov. 2008, only affected 3,940 U.S. vehicles, but was expanded in 2009 to include another 443,727 additional vehicles in the United States.

Honda says it plans to notify affected customers by mail and phone with instructions on how to have their vehicles inspected and updated at an authorized dealer. They also claim that not every vehicle in the model and production years mentioned is affected.

Honda Expands Airbag Recall[CNN Money]
Statement by American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Regarding Expansion of Driver’s Airbag Inflator Recall [Honda]

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