USA RECALL - HONDA - Over 300,000 Accords recalled for possible side airbag deployment if doors are forcefully shut.

• Side and/or side curtain airbags may inadvertently deploy if the ignition is on and a door is forcefully slammed or there is a significant impact to the vehicle underbody.
• Issue arises from side impact deployment threshold specification; Not a hardware or supplier issue.
• Free software update will adjust the deployment threshold.

Honda will voluntarily recall 303,904 model-year 2008-2009 Accord vehicles in the United States to update the side Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) software, free of charge.

The SRS threshold setting for the side impact sensor is such that with the vehicle ignition on, if there is a strong, non-vehicular collision impact to the lower body of the vehicle or if a door is shut with extreme force, the SRS control unit may interpret the input as a crash and command the side seat airbag and/or side curtain airbag to deploy. 

Airbags that unexpectedly deploy may increase the risk of injury. Honda has received 19 injury claims related to this issue.

Honda is announcing this recall to encourage each owner of an affected vehicle to take it to an authorized dealer as soon as they receive notification of this recall from Honda. Mailed notification to customers will begin in mid-December 2015. Additionally, owners of these vehicles can now determine if their vehicles will require repair by going to 

www.recalls.honda.com 

or by calling (888) 234-2138.

USA RECALL #6 - JEEP - Unintended Side Curtain Air Bag Deployment

RECALL Subject : Unintended Side Curtain Air Bag Deployment

Report Receipt Date: JAN 28, 2015 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V041000 

Component(s): AIR BAGS 

Potential Number of Units Affected: 167,749 

Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US LLC)

SUMMARY:

Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured January 1, 2013, to November 19, 2014. The affected vehicles may experience unintended side curtain and seat air bag deployment during vehicle operation.

CONSEQUENCE:

If the air bags deploy unexpectedly during vehicle operation, it can increase the risk of personal injury and increase the risk of a crash.

REMEDY:

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will re-flash the occupant restraint control module software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on March 26, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R05.

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.

USA RECALL - JEEP - Cherokee recalled for yet more airbag issues.

FCA US LLC is launching a global recall of an estimated 228,181 SUVs to upgrade software governing side-curtain and seat-mounted side air bags.

The action follows an investigation by FCA US engineers after a small number of inadvertent deployments involving drivers who executed extreme maneuvers. These maneuvers dramatically changed the vehicles’ angle of operation, relative to the ground.

The air-bag systems, sensing potential rollovers, automatically activated. FCA US is unaware of any related injuries or accidents.

The software upgrade will recalibrate the threshold for deployment and the vehicles will remain compliant with all applicable safety regulations.

Affected are certain 2014 and 2015 Jeep Cherokees. Estimated volumes by market are as follows: 168,092 in the U.S.; 19,557 in Canada; 4,133 in Mexico and 36,399 outside the NAFTA region.

The Company will notify affected customers. Software will be available at that time.

Customers with additional concerns or questions may call 1-800-853-1403.