TALLAHASSEE, Florida, Oct. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) and Honda/Acura are urging Floridians who own certain 2001-2003 model year Honda and Acura vehicles to immediately take their cars to an authorized dealer for repair of potentially deadly Takata airbag inflators. Urgent notices were sent from DHSMV and Honda/Acura to most affected owners last month and the notices should not be ignored.

“Drivers of vehicles affected by this recall should make an appointment as soon as possible and Honda/Acura assures us the replacement airbags are available,” says Terry L. Rhodes, Executive Director of the Florida DHSMV. “Florida’s hot and humid climate increases the chances airbag inflators will explode, making it critical for these vehicle owners to heed the recall notice and immediately take the vehicle in for the necessary repair.”

The joint DHSMV and Honda/Acura mailing is a special supplement to multiple recall notices that have already been sent to registered owners of affected vehicles who have not yet taken action on the required recall repair. These vehicles are at high risk of an airbag inflator rupture that could result in injury or death to the driver and occupants.

“We care deeply about the safety of our customers, and while all safety recalls are serious, for some of the oldest vehicles affected by the Takata airbag inflator recalls, the situation is even more critical, and owners of these vehicles should arrange repairs as soon as possible,” said Bruce Smith, senior vice president of Parts, Service and Technical Operations for American Honda.

The following are the 2001-2003 model year vehicles that may be equipped with recalled Takata driver airbag inflators, and are the subject of the DHSMV and Honda/Acura call to action:

When a recalled airbag inflator ruptures, pieces of metal could shoot through the airbag cushion and hit the driver or passengers, resulting in serious injury or death. According to a recent study, recalled Takata airbag inflators in these 2001-2003 Honda and Acura vehicles in the state of Florida have a rupture rate of 50 percent, even in a common fender bender.

The replacement of the Takata airbag inflator is free of charge for all customers. Repairs take little time, replacement parts for these models are readily available and customers are not obligated to have unrelated maintenance or other vehicle issues fixed at the same time as the recall repair. Honda/Acura will provide a loaner car, if necessary, while a customer’s car is being repaired and a Honda/Acura dealer can also arrange to tow a vehicle to and from the desired location at no cost.

Honda/Acura urges affected drivers to immediately call 1-888-234-2138 for repair information. The U.S. Department of Transportation recommends that these vehicles only be driven to an authorized dealer in order to have the Takata airbag inflators replaced as rapidly as possible. To search for an authorized dealer, consumers can visit www.recalls.honda.com or www.recalls.acura.com depending on the make of their vehicle.

Honda and Acura owners should check for recalls by locating their vehicle identification number (VIN) – found in the top left corner of the vehicle’s dashboard through the windshield – and enter the number into the VIN check on www.recalls.honda.com, www.recalls.acura.com or www.safercar.gov.

Consumers also can find answers to general questions about the Takata airbag inflator recalls, including about the higher risk inflators in these vehicles, at the following site: http://hondaairbaginfo.com/faq/. Any concerned customer can also contact Honda/Acura’s Automobile Customer Service at 888-234-2138.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles provides highway safety and security through excellence in service, education and enforcement. The department is leading the way to a safer Florida through the efficient and professional execution of its core mission: the issuance of driver licenses, vehicle tags and titles and operation of the Florida Highway Patrol. To learn more about DHSMV and the services offered, visit www.flhsmv.gov, follow us on Twitter @FLHSMV or find us on Facebook. For safe driving tips and techniques, download the official Florida Driver License Handbook.

Honda
Honda established operations in America in 1959 and now employs more than 40,000 associates in its North American sales, R&D and manufacturing operations with total capital investment in North America exceeding $22 billion. Based on its longstanding commitment to “build products close to the customer,” Honda operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America producing a wide range of Honda and Acura automobiles, automobile engines and transmissions, Honda all-terrain vehicles, power equipment products, such as lawn mowers, mini-tillers and general purpose engines, and the Honda Jet advanced light jet.

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CONTACT: Beth Frady, DHSMV, (850) 617-3102; Chris Martin, Honda/Acura, (310) 783-3164