|
 Close to 20 million vehicles have been recalled globally by
automakers since 2008 for defective Takata inflators, which have
been linked to five deaths. Honda, Takata's biggest customer, alone
has recalled 13.4 million cars, primarily in the United States.
GAC-Honda, the joint venture between Honda and Guangzhou Automobile
Group Co., Ltd, announced a recall of 527,136 Accord cars
manufactured between May 17, 2002 and Dec. 25, 2007 because of
defective air bags on the driver's side, China's General
Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine
(AQSIQ) said in a statement on its website.
A Beijing-based Honda spokesman told Reuters that the recalls were
due to "potentially defective" air bags from Takata Corp. He added
that there has been no injuries or malfunctions reported in the
country so far.
China's quality watchdog did not specify the make of the airbags.
GAC-Honda will also recall 16,505 Fit Saloon cars manufactured
between Oct. 30, 2002 and Dec. 30, 2003, AQSIQ said.
Dongfeng-Honda, the joint venture between Honda and Dongfeng Motor
Group Co, will recall 26,128 Elysion MPVs manufactured between June
4, 2012 and June 17, 2014 due to defective air bags on the driver's
side, according to China's quality watchdog. The recall will start
on Feb. 28, 2015.
[to top of second column] |
The regulator said the recalls were due to potential damaged airbags
that could cause "shell fragments to fly".
"This may hurt passengers in the car and there are risks to safety,"
the regulator said.
U.S. regulators last month ordered Takata to move forward with a
nationwide expansion of the regional recall, but Takata has refused,
effectively putting the onus for voluntary recalls on the car
makers.
(Reporting by Norihiko Shirouzu and Sui-Lee Wee; Editing by Mark
Heinrich)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
