2001 Honda Accord, Civic recalled due to airbags that are even more explosive than normal

Honda is recalling some of its 2001 model year Accord and Civic models due to excessively pressurized airbags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that certain airbags in the affected vehicles can deploy so violently that the inflator will rupture. When the bag is deployed, NHTSA says that metal shards from the excessive explosion could act like shrapnel, shoot through the bag and possibly injure vehicle occupants. We're no crash experts, but that sounds like it would hurt a lot.

Owners of affected 2001 Accords and Civics will be able to bring in their vehicle to their local Honda store where the inflator will be replaced free of charge. Honda hasn't yet released a notification schedule or disclosed how many of each model will be recalled, but owners can find out more info by calling Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Check out the galleries below and hit the jump to read the official NHTSA press release.

[Source: NHTSA]

PRESS RELEASE:

Report Date : July 20, 2009 at 11:10 AM
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V259000

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
HONDA / ACCORD 2001
HONDA / CIVIC 2001

Manufacturer: HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) Mfr's Report Date: JUN 30, 2009
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V259000
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE INFLATOR MODULE

Potential Number of Units Affected:

Summary:
HONDA IS RECALLING MY 2001 CIVIC AND 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.

Consequence:
METAL FRAGMENTS COULD PASS THROUGH THE AIR BAG CUSHION MATERIAL POSSIBLY CAUSING INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIRBAG INFLATOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.

Notes:
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .