Honda is recalling 2,430 model year 2001-2002 Honda Accord, and Honda Civic 2-door and 4-door, model year 2002-2003 Honda CR-V, model year 2002 Honda Odyssey, model year 2003 Acura CL, and model year 2002-2003 Acura TL vehicles. This recall is related to a series of recalls on these vehicles in which Honda is replacing the inflators within the driver’s side air bag to address a defective condition.

This recall addresses approximately 2,430 air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts in the event. For example, a covered vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the driver’s air bag, and the replacement air bag installed was one that may have contained a defective inflator. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver’s air bag, the inflator could produce excessive internal pressure that could cause the inflator to rupture with metal fragments striking and injuring the driver or other occupants. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about June 27, 2011. 11V-260.

Honda is recalling 3,336 model year 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour vehicles. The front passenger airbag may not have been assembled according to correct specifications. In the event of a crash, the front passenger airbag may not deploy as intended and could place an unbelted child seated in the front passenger seat at greater risk of injury should the airbag deploy. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before September 22, 2010. 10V-402.

Honda is recalling 379,000 model year 2001-2002 Honda Accord 2 and 4-door, model year 2001-2003 Honda Civic 4-door, model year 2001-2002 Honda Civic 2-door, model year 2002-Honda CRV, model year 2002 Honda Odyssey, model year 2003 Honda Pilot, model year 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL and model year 2003 Acura 3.2CL passenger vehicles. The driver’s airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure. If an affected airbag deploys, the increased internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. Metal fragments could pass through the airbag cushion material possibly causing injury or fatality to vehicle occupants. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before February 25, 2010. 10V-041.

American Honda is recalling 644 model year 2010 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured between October 7, 2009 and November 14, 2009. A bolt used to attach an interior trim piece to either the driver’s or passenger’s side A-pillar may not have been installed during manufacturing. In the event of a crash resulting in side curtain air bag deployment, the trim piece may not remain properly secured to the A-pillar, increasing the risk of injury to the driver and/or front seat passenger. 10V-002.

Honda is recalling model year 2001 Honda Civic and Honda Accord vehicles. The driver’s airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure. If an affected airbag deploys, the increased internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. Metal fragments could pass through the air bag cushion material possibly causing injury to vehicle occupants.

Honda was aware of this defect since at least June 2007, but did not start a program to collect suspect parts till more than a half-year later. By November 2008, Honda had determined that a safety defect existed in the 2001 Honda Accord and Honda Civic driver air bags and notified the US government.

However, by June of 2009, Honda had received at least two additional reports of driver air bags with unusual deployment. Accordingly, Honda notified the government that it was expanding the recall, which was assigned a new recall number: 09V-259. However, Honda did not determine what number of vehicles was affected by the expanded scope, nor what percentage of affected vehicles have the safety defect.

If Honda doesn’t know what specific vehicles actually contain the defect, how can you as a consumer be expected to know? This kind of incident really makes you wonder about their quality control, as well as the quality control procedures of their air bag supplier.