Honda recalls vehicles in Japan after air bag failed to deploy

[TOKYO] Honda Motor Co recalled about 143,000 vehicles in Japan after an air bag fitted with an inflator made by Daicel Corp failed to deploy in a collision in which the driver was injured.

The propellant used in the air bag inflators weren't suitable and had "inappropriate velocity," said Misato Fukushima, a spokeswoman for Honda.

The recall is unrelated to Takata Corp, the supplier behind recalls of more than 28 million inflators in the US that have been found to rupture after exploding with excessive force.

The Daicel inflators in the recalled vehicles are fitted into air bag modules made by Nihon Plast Co and are not used as replacements for Takata, according to Mr Fukushima.

Daicel has stopped production of the inflator and is cooperating with Honda to conduct the recall, Daicel spokesman Masahiko Hirokawa said.

The recall in Japan follows confirmation of a 10th death involving a ruptured Takata air-bag inflator in the US, where a 17-year-old woman died from injuries sustained in a March 31 crash in Texas.

The victim's 2002 Honda Civic collided with another vehicle, activating the air bags, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

Daicel's shares fell 1.4 per cent to 1,434 yen in Tokyo trading before the recall notice.

Honda slid 0.6 per cent, while Takata declined for a fifth day to a record low.

BLOOMBERG