Honda expands Takata airbag recall by 780,000 cars in Japan
Honda has added 780,000 more vehicles in Japan to its recall for potentially dangerous Takata airbag inflators, following regulatory pressure and similar moves in the US.
Honda has recalled a further 780,000 vehicles in Japan to replace potentially defective Takata airbag inflators, after the country’s transport ministry ordered carmakers to expand their safety campaigns. The move follows a major recall expansion in the United States affecting an additional 35 to 40 million inflators.
The latest recall covers models such as the Odyssey minivan and Fit subcompact. Honda’s action is part of a wider campaign targeting Takata inflators that can rupture and spray metal fragments if deployed, a defect linked to injuries and fatalities worldwide. Honda has been especially exposed, with around 30 million of its vehicles affected globally so far.
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced in late May that domestic carmakers would need to recall a further 7 million vehicles by March 2019. Honda’s latest recall is a direct response to this directive, after US authorities expanded their own campaign and urged other markets to act. The company reportedly plans to add even more vehicles to the recall, with figures of up to 21 million additional units cited in some reports.
Financial and operational impact for Honda
Fixing millions of faulty airbags has weighed heavily on Honda’s finances. The company reported a 32 percent drop in consolidated profit in the previous financial year, driven in part by recall costs and related liabilities. The logistical challenge of replacing inflators at this scale has also strained dealer networks and parts supply.
The Takata airbag crisis has affected several other manufacturers, including Toyota, Nissan and BMW. Some, such as BMW, have also issued large recalls for affected models. For more on the scale of the issue and testing outcomes, see Takata Airbag Recall Testing Reveals Hundreds of Ruptures.
What it means for Japanese owners and dealers
Owners of affected Honda models in Japan will be contacted by the company and asked to bring their vehicles to dealers for free replacement of the airbag inflators. Dealers face a surge in recall-related service work, with parts supply and scheduling likely to remain a challenge until the campaign is complete. The recall covers a wide range of model years and body styles, so owners are advised to check their vehicle’s status directly with Honda.
