Honda Expands Recall to 440,000 Civics, Accords

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY - OKLAHOMA CITY - Honda has expanded its recall of 2001 Accords and Civics.
The recall began in November 2008 and has now been expanded to 440,000 additional vehicles.

The vehicles are being recalled to repair driver's air bags. Some air bags will over-inflate and could rupture and release metal fragments that could injure the driver and passenger.

Honda spokesperson Chris Martin said the company decided to take a second look at the recall after a reported six injuries and one death resulted from an airbag malfunction.

A Midwest City teenager was killed in a car wreck in May after the airbags in her 2001 Honda Accord deployed. The State Medical Examiner's Office said Ashley Parham's death was the result of the airbags sending metal fragments into the teen's neck.

Martin said her death and the six other injuries are related to the airbag defect. He said while all 440,000 owners will receive a notice, Honda believes only a small number are actually defective.

Honda is working with dealerships and state tag agencies across the country to track down owners and will send a notice in the mail if a vehicle is recalled.

Martin said Honda Civic or Accord owners need to wait until notified by Honda before taking their cars into to be serviced for the recall. Once a notice is received, Martin said owners need to take their vehicle to their local Honda dealership.

Honda owners can get more information on the recall at Honda's owner's Web site, http://www.owners.honda.com/recalls.

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