USA RECALL - HONDA/ACURA - The Takata airbag issue just wont go away for Honda.

• Nationwide recall of passenger front airbag inflators expands to include approximately 127,000 inflators in 2003-2004 CR-V vehicles not previously subject to recall or safety improvement campaign
• No change to national recall of driver front airbag inflators
• Honda's national Takata airbag inflator recall repair completion rate is 47.1%

Honda announced today that it will expand a national recall (15V-370) to replace, free of charge, Takata passenger front airbag inflators installed in certain 2003-2004 CR-V models sold in the United States following a recent defect determination by Takata, the airbag inflator supplier. 

This expansion will add approximately 127,000 passenger front airbag inflators not previously subject to either a recall or safety improvement campaign.

Approximately 78,000 of the affected 2003-2004 CR-V vehicles included in existing passenger front airbag inflator recalls and Honda's voluntary safety improvement campaigns (14V-353 and 14V-700) will also transition into the new recall. 

The same free repair - replacement of the passenger front airbag inflator - will be completed under the new national action. This updated recall (15V-370) now includes approximately 3.4 million passenger front airbag inflators now requiring replacement in this action.

Models now included in 15V-370 (certain specific vehicles only):

• 2003-2007 Honda Accord
• 2001-2005 Honda Civic
• 2002-2004 Honda CR-V (all 2002 and certain 2003 CR-V previously included)
• 2003 Honda Element
• 2002-2003 Honda Odyssey
• 2003 Honda Pilot
• 2003 Acura MDX

NOTE: Today's announcement does not alter the nature or scope of the national driver front airbag inflator recall that was announced on May 28, 2015.

Honda has sufficient replacement parts suspplies to begin recall repairs of the added vehicles immediately, nationwide. Mailed notification to registered owners of vehicles affected by this recall will occur within 60 days. The most-updated available consumer information about this action can be obtained atwww.recalls.honda.com and www.recalls.acura.com or by calling (888) 234-2138.

American Honda continues to urge owners of Honda and Acura vehicles affected by the Takata airbag inflator recalls to get their vehicles repaired at authorized dealers as soon as possible. Vehicle owners can check their vehicles' recall status at www.recalls.honda.com for Honda owners or www.recalls.acura.com for Acura owners or by calling their authorized dealer

USA - Honda expands TAKATA Airbag scandal by another 350,000 vehicles

• Approximately 350,000 vehicles¹ to be added to the prior passenger airbag inflator recall
• Vehicles previously covered by voluntary national driver airbag inflator Safety Improvement Campaigns (14V-351 and 15V-153) will transition into a formal recall with no new additional vehicles requiring repair

Honda will add approximately 350,000 vehicles to its recalls of Takata airbag inflators in the United States following a recently announced defect determination by Takata. However, most of the vehicles deemed at risk in Takata's defect determination report. 

These were already subject to previous voluntary actions taken by Honda, including a national Safety Improvement Campaign (SIC) for driver front airbag inflators and a passenger front airbag inflator recall that was focused on regions with specific environmental conditions.

It may take several weeks for Honda to determine the specific list and the final count of additional Honda and Acura vehicles included in the initial recall population of passenger side airbag inflators identified by Takata, but the mailed notification to registered owners will occur within 60 days, as required. 

Honda is announcing this action today to encourage owners to take their vehicles to an authorized Honda or Acura dealer for repair once they are able to confirm that their vehicle is included in one of these actions.

American Honda senior vice president of Parts, Service, 

Technical, Export & Auto Operations, Bruce Smith commented: "The vast majority of Honda and Acura vehicles impacted by last week's announcement were already covered by past recalls or safety improvement campaigns. In fact, many of these vehicles have already been repaired – we've replaced nearly two-million inflators since 2013, most of those in the last nine months alone."

Passenger Front Airbag Inflator Recall Expansion

Honda will expand the number of vehicles affected by the existing November 2014 passenger airbag inflator recall (NHTSA No. 14V-700) in the United States to include approximately 350,000 Civic vehicles from the 2005 model year and Accord vehicles from the 2006-2007 model years. 

While some 2005 Civic models were previously included, no Accord vehicles from the listed model years were included in the previous action. 

Honda has not received any claims of passenger airbag inflator rupture in these model year vehicles. The same free repair - replacement of the passenger front airbag inflator - will be completed on these additional vehicles.

The passenger front airbag inflator recall initially has been limited to areas² of the U.S. and its territories that experience consistent levels of high absolute humidity, based on the nature of Takata's defect determination. If Takata or the NHTSA later determine that a defect exists in additional vehicles or in other areas, Honda will expand this action as required to help ensure the safety of its customers.

Driver's Front Airbag Inflator Recall Transition

In December 2014, Honda initiated a voluntary national Safety Improvement Campaign (14V-351) to replace driver front airbag inflators in certain 2001 through 2011 Honda and Acura vehicles in the United States. 

That action was later expanded to include 2008 Pilot models (15V-153). As a result of the defect determination made by Takata, Honda will transition these same vehicles, already eligible for a free repair under the voluntary SICs, into a formal recall -- with no new additional vehicles requiring repair.

Honda expects to have specific vehicle information about the vehicles added to the passenger airbag inflator recall available online, through dealers and by phone through Honda and Acura customer service after June 15. We encourage any concerned owner to check their vehicle status now and again after that date. Consumer information about recalls can be obtained at 

www.recalls.honda.com and www.recalls.acura.com 

or by calling (800) 999-1009 for Honda owners or (800) 382-2238 for Acura owners, and selecting option 4.

Summary of models affected by one or more Takata airbag inflator recall or SIC (certain specific models only):

• 2001-2007 Honda Accord
• 2001-2005 Honda Civic
• 2002-2006 Honda CR-V
• 2003-2011 Honda Element
• 2002-2004 Honda Odyssey
• 2003-2008 Honda Pilot
• 2006 Honda Ridgeline
• 2003-2006 Acura MDX
• 2002-2003 Acura TL
• 2003 Acura CL
• 2005 Acura RL

^{1 Preliminary number of additional affected vehicles provided. The final number is pending review of vehicle registration records to determine all affected vehicles originally sold in or ever registered in the affected states and territories.}

^{2 List of 13 U.S. states and territories with affected vehicles currently included by Honda and Acura in the passenger front airbag inflator recall: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saipan, Guam and American Samoa.}

USA SALES APRIL - HONDA/ACURA - Honda dips in April with Acura showing minor increase.

• Honda light trucks set a new April record of 52,635 vehicles sold, gaining 2.0 percent year-over-year; Honda CR-V also has best-ever April, rising 3.4 percent on sales of 29,452 vehicles
• Honda Fit sales jumped 55.6 percent to lead American Honda April performers  
• Acura division sales leapt 5.3 percent in April, fueled by a steep 29.4 percent rise in sedan sales led by TLX with sales of 4,093 vehicles
• Honda Pilot posts a substantial 28 percent gain even as an all-new Pilot and HR-V prepare to do battle in a hot truck market

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today reported April 2015 Honda and Acura vehicle sales of 130,068 units, with Acura cars rising 29.4 percent on sales of 5,932 vehicles and Honda trucks gaining 2.0 percent on sales of 52,635 units for a new April record. 

Overall American Honda sales decreased 1.8 percent versus a strong April 2014 sales total, with the Honda Division posting sales of 115,194 vehicles in April, a decrease of 2.7 percent for the month, and the Acura Division gaining 5.3 percent on sales of 14,874 vehicles in the same period.

Honda

Honda light trucks continue to resonate with consumers shopping in mainstream market segments, witnessed by yet another robust month for the outgoing 2015 Pilot—even as it makes room for the 2016 model—plus another strong month for the best-selling CR-V as it set a new April record, nearly reaching 30,000 sales; both vehicles contributed to a new April Honda light truck sales record.  

Bucking recent trends toward trucks, the Fit blazed another 55+ percent monthly increase while Civic also gained solid ground, up more than 2.8 percent over April 2014.

• Honda light trucks set a new April record, rising 2.0 percent on sales of 52,635 units.
• The best-selling CR-V also had record April sales, gaining 3.4 percent on sales of 29,452 vehicles.
• The outgoing 2015 Pilot posted sales of 11,222 vehicles—a stout increase of 28 percent in April.
• In the midst of a shrinking sedan market, Civic sales were up 2.8 percent for the month on sales of 28,380 and the amazing Fit posted sales of 6,529 units to leap 55.6 percent in April, while Accord posted strong sales of 27,251 units.

"With the CR-V and current Pilot selling so well, and the HR-V and all-new Pilot soon entering the market, our truck lineup is set to drive a very strong 2015 for the Honda brand," said Jeff Conrad, Honda Division senior vice president and general manager. 

"Though the scales are definitely tipped toward trucks at the moment, we're really pleased at how Fit, Civic and Accord continue to outperform their rivals in the retail marketplace."

Acura

Even as Acura SUVs continue to perform well, Acura sedans showed renewed strength as the superbly balanced TLX set the bar for the brand in April, with sales of 4,093 units putting the TLX firmly in the top sales tier of its segment and pushing total Acura sales up 5.3 percent for the month.

Acura's pace-setting luxury SUVs—RDX and MDX—also continued with brisk sales in April.

• Total Acura brand sales gained 5.3 percent in April, with total sales reaching 14,874.
• TLX drove the April increase on sales of 4,093 units for the month; sedan sales are up 29.4 percent since the beginning of the year.
• Combined MDX and RDX sales continue to be a formidable force in the luxury SUV game—despite a changeover from 2015 to 2016 model production—with RDX sales reaching 3,972 and MDX finding 4,970 buyers in April for a total of almost 9,000 units for the month.

"The Acura TLX has renewed momentum that will continue to grow in the months ahead as it makes major inroads in the tough luxury sedan market," said Mike Accavitti, Acura Division senior vice president and general manager. 

"Despite tight supply during the transition from outgoing 2015 models to newly refreshed 2016 models, the RDX and MDX continued to perform exceptionally well in April."

Honda to produce TV advertisements to ensure that the Takata Airbag issues are fully sorted.

American Honda on Monday will launch an ad campaign urging owners to fix vehicles recalled for Takata airbag inflators at risk of exploding during a crash. Full-page ads will run in more than 120 newspapers, and 30-second radio spots will air in more than 110 regional markets, the automaker said.

Honda will also serve customized ads to Facebook users who own recalled Honda and Acura vehicles under the campaign. Honda spokesman Chris Martin said the automaker provided data identifying owners of the recalled vehicles to be cross-referenced with Facebook data about its users to target the ads to affected owners using Facebook’s ad-targeting service.

The ad blitz comes amid mounting scrutiny from U.S. auto safety regulators on the speed of repairs being made on the roughly 17 million vehicles in made by 10 automakers that have been recalled in the United States for suspect Takata airbags since 2008. Some 25 million vehicles have been recalled globally over that period, Reuters estimates.

Exploding Takata airbag inflators have been linked to at least six deaths and dozens of injuries, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has warned that it may use its regulatory power to order that the recalls be sped up by boosting the supply of replacement parts.

As of late February, just under 2 million vehicles had been repaired by the 10 automakers affected by the Takata recalls, according to NHTSA. The pace of repairs has been hindered by limited supply of replacement inflators made by Takata, which in January ramped up production of the parts to 450,000 per month from 300,000 per month. Rival airbag suppliers are preparing to build replacement inflators of their own in the future.

Honda impact

American Honda has been the automaker most-affected by the Takata airbag recalls. Its single-largest Takata recall is a national campaign for driver-side Takata airbags covering 5.4 million vehicles, which began as a regional callback limited to areas of high humidity mostly around the Gulf of Mexico before being expanded nationwide in November under pressure from NHTSA.

Through the fourth quarter, 340,123 vehicles had been repaired, according to the most recent records available on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website.

“The goals of this campaign are to save lives and prevent injuries,” John Mendel, executive vice president of the automobile division of American Honda, said in a statement. “These ads are a strong call to action from our company designed to break through the clutter, grab the attention of customers driving affected vehicles, and urge that they get required repairs as soon as possible.”

The newspaper ads say that Honda has a “national safety improvement campaign and recall underway to repair airbag inflators” and directs concerned owners to Honda and Acura websites and hotlines to see if their vehicle has been affected. It also says that owners will be given a loaner or rental car for free if their vehicle can’t be repaired right away.

Risks not mentioned

Takata is not mentioned by name in the ad, which does not describe the risks posed by Takata airbags that may rupture in a crash and spray occupants with shrapnel-like metal fragments.

The campaign follows additional efforts by Honda to reach out to owners about the recalls, including sending out “millions” of mailed recall notices required by federal law, plus extra efforts such as robo-calls, additional mailers and other resources. The company also is trying to find current vehicle owners when mailed notices are returned as undeliverable.

The campaign will first roll out in seven U.S. states and territories with high year-round humidity, a factor believed to contribute to the Takata ruptures, plus four more states later, Martin said. A national campaign is not planned, Martin said.

Warm weather states

Martin says Honda is concentrating its media buying in the areas where it believes drivers to be most at-risk and where most of the known ruptures have occurred to-date, particularly Florida.

With limited supplies, Honda has concentrated the flow of the replacement inflators to dealers in humid states that pose the greatest risk. Martin says a national ad campaign could overwhelm dealers in other states that have received fewer replacement parts.

“We are concerned about the cars in the areas of greatest need first,” he said, noting that recalled vehicles are being repaired at dealers nationwide.

REPORT HERE Ryan Beene

Pictures of the cars in this post are for illustrative purposes only, no inference is made or given, that the models illustrated are part of any airbag issues initiated by Honda and the NHTSA - clarification can be had by visiting your local Honda dealer, or the NHTSA website, where you will be able to gain a better idea if your car is in need of further, or initial work.

USA - Honda Fit takes top spot in the 2015 AUTOMOBILE All-Star list.

The 2015 Honda Fit has claimed a spot on the prestigious 2015AUTOMOBILE All-Star list (automobilemag.com/2015AllStars). The brand's editors, who judge each vehicle on its performance, features, and overall value, applauded the Fit (automobiles.honda.com/fits) for its refined powertrain, excellent ergonomics, and fun-to-drive dynamics.

"The Fit remains the benchmark for packaging, versatility and value in its segment," said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda automobile division for American Honda. "AUTOMOBILE's recognition of the Honda Fit validates our ongoing efforts to deliver best-in-class vehicles for our customers, and our continued investment in North American manufacturing."

"We'd argue there isn't a better car on the road today starting under $20,000 than the Honda Fit," saidAUTOMOBILE editor-in-chief Mike Floyd. "It's fun to hustle around, especially when its updated engine is mated to its new six-speed manual. It's pulled off adding more rear seat and cargo area—all whiledecreasing its overall footprint. And it's available with more options and safety features than ever before. The Fit is still very much go, and it's a 2015 AUTOMOBILE All-Star as a result."

This win for the 2015 Fit marks the 20th time a Honda has been named an AUTOMOBILE  All-Star since the award's inception in 1990. Past Honda All-Stars, in addition to the Fit, include the Civic, Element, Prelude, Odyssey, Accord and Ridgeline.

To read AUTOMOBILE's complete 2015 All-Star coverage, visit 

www.automobilemag.com/2015allstars/ 

or pick up a copy of the January 2015 issue of AUTOMOBILE Magazine.

USA - RECALL #1 - HONDA - Passenger Air Bag Inflator May Rupture

RECALL Subject : Passenger Air Bag Inflator May Rupture

Report Receipt Date: NOV 04, 2014 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V700000 

Component(s): AIR BAGS 

Potential Number of Units Affected: 0 

Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

SUMMARY:

American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa are addressed by this recall. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

CONSEQUENCE:

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the vehicle occupants.

REMEDY:

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on November 24, 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

NOTES:

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov. Note: This recall supersedes safety recall 14V-353, with the exception of vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in California. Those vehicles will continue to be addressed, and a free remedy provided, under that safety recall campaign. This recall also includes vehicles in the specific geographic areas listed above that were included within safety recalls 13V-132 and 14V-349. 

USA - OCTOBER SALES - Honda

• Honda Division has its best-ever October sales—up 5.5 percent on delivery of 105,745 new cars and trucks
• All-new Acura TLX sales reach nearly 5,000 units in October, driving an overall 7.9 percent increase for the brand
• Honda CR-V smashes previous October record with 29,257 sales, an increase of 29.7 percent over the same period in 2013; New Fit also sets new October sales mark

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today reported total October 2014 Honda and Acura vehicle sales of 121,172 units, an increase of 5.8 percent versus October of last year. The Honda division set a new October record on sales of 105,745 vehicles, an increase of 5.5 percent for the month. The Acura division posted sales of 15,427 units to rise 7.9 percent in the same period.

Honda

The new October sales record for the Honda brand was driven by the success of core models leading to an overall 5.5 percent gain versus October 2013. The new 2015 CR-V, crowned Motor Trend's 2015 SUV of the Year, helped the model post its best October on record. The new Honda Fit also set a new October milestone and Accord sales rose for the 10th straight month—all helping to push the Honda brand to a new October pinnacle.

• The redesigned 2015 Honda CR-V, which went on sale October 1, helped smash the previous October record, and was up 29.7 percent over 2013 on sales of 29,257 units.
• The new Honda Fit nearly doubled its sales last month, setting an all-time October record with sales of 6,851 units, an increase of 83.4 percent for the month.
• Honda's stalwart Accord posted a strong month, rising 7.8 percent in October with sales of 27,128 units to give the model its 10^th straight monthly increase.

"The new 2015 CR-V is giving renewed momentum to what has already been an incredible year," said Jeff Conrad, Honda division senior vice president and general manager. "The success of the new Fit is an important step in re-establishing small cars as a pillar in the Honda lineup."

Acura

With the 3.5L SH-AWD model enjoying its first full month on the market, the new Acura TLX gained more than 25 percent versus last month's strong performance, reaching sales of nearly 5,000 units in October after less than three months on the market. TLX helped push Acura brand sales up 7.9 percent for the month.

• TLX sales reached 4,890 units in October, jumping 25.9 percent over last month for its best month since joining the Acura lineup, and came within just a few hundred units of ranking as Acura's best-selling model.
• With 5,324 units sold in October, Acura's current best seller—MDX—jumped 9.5 percent month-over-month despite being limited by tight supplies.

"With TLX sales nearly topping 5,000 units in a segment full of notoriously tough competitors, the new TLX is quickly establishing itself as a top player in the mid-size luxury sedan game," said Mike Accavitti, Acura division senior vice president and general manager. "This early success of TLX also demonstrates the strong potential of the performance direction for the Acura product lineup."