I have a honda and I heard about the massive airbag recall. Am I entitled to a free repair or anything?

Question:  I have a 2001 Honda Civic. I haven’t been in an accident, but I heard about a recall due to defective airbags.  What should I do?

Response:  In early August 2009, Honda recalled 440,000 additional Civics, Accords, and Acura TL sedans sold between 2001 and 2003.  Honda had previous recalled some 2001 Civics and Accords.  Honda discovered that the airbag inflation mechanism may become over-pressurized when the airbag inflates, causing the casing to break.  This could lead to pieces of metal to shoot through the airbag.  The problem will not afflict all vehicles in the covered time period, and many people may never encounter this particular defect.  However, the Honda airbag defects can be dangerous, and even deadly, to those who are unfortunate enough to get into an accident.

If you have not been in an accident that caused the airbag to inflate and your vehicle is covered by the recall, you can take your vehicle to your car dealer, who can replace the airbag inflator on the driver’s side.  However, Honda has indicated that it would be better for you to wait to receive the recall notice before making an appointment.  To find out if your vehicle is covered, you can visit Honda’s website.  Owners who are potentially affected will automatically get a notice in the mail, but you should also check the website to be safe.

Although you would not have a cause of action in court unless there was an injury, if you do find that there was damage caused by the airbag defects, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible to discuss your legal options and the types of lawsuits you may be able to pursue.

Answer by Kristen Lawfer

Additional Resource:

• Honda OwnerLink Recall Information
• Basics of Product Recalls

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