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Honda recalls 304k Accords for sudden side-airbag deployment

Honda is recalling 303,904 US examples of the 2008-2009 Accord because the side airbags or curtains can inadvertently deploy. The automaker said the problem is not related to Takata's airbag problem or any other supplier. Instead, the issue concerns the software's deployment threshold for side impacts. These sudden deployments can happen if the ignition is on, and the door is forcefully closed. They might also occur if there's a strong enough impact to the underside of the vehicle, like from road debris. As of October 12, 2015, Honda has 19 allegations of injuries from this problem; plus 311 warranty claims and 160 field reports, according to a chronology submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (as a Word document). The fix will be a software update to adjust the Supplemental Restraint System, and Honda will begin mailing notifications to owners in mid-December. Statement by American Honda Regarding Side Airbag Inadvertent Deployment Recall: 2008-2009 Honda Accord Sedan Oct 29, 2015 - TORRANCE, Calif. Side and/or side curtain airbags may inadvertently deploy if the ignition is on and a door is forcefully slammed or there is a significant impact to the vehicle underbody. Issue arises from side impact deployment threshold specification; Not a hardware or supplier issue. Free software update will adjust the deployment threshold. Honda will voluntarily recall 303,904 model-year 2008-2009 Accord vehicles in the United States to update the side Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) software, free of charge. The SRS threshold setting for the side impact sensor is such that with the vehicle ignition on, if there is a strong, non-vehicular collision impact to the lower body of the vehicle or if a door is shut with extreme force, the SRS control unit may interpret the input as a crash and command the side seat airbag and/or side curtain airbag to deploy. Airbags that unexpectedly deploy may increase the risk of injury. Honda has received 19 injury claims related to this issue. Honda is announcing this recall to encourage each owner of an affected vehicle to take it to an authorized dealer as soon as they receive notification of this recall from Honda. Mailed notification to customers will begin in mid-December 2015. Additionally, owners of these vehicles can now determine if their vehicles will require repair by going to www.recalls.honda.com or by calling (888) 234-2138.

Honda Clarity enters hydrogen competition with $369 lease price

Ok, so we were wrong. When Honda said in January that the monthly lease price for the 2017 Clarity Fuel Cell sedan would be "under $500," we assumed that that meant, oh, maybe $499. After all, that's what the two other hydrogen vehicles available in the US, the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell, cost [ See below]. Given that the Mirai's $57,500 MSRP and the Clarity's then-expected $60k price tag, we figured the lease prices would pretty much match, too. Mea culpa. Honda just announced that the Clarity will lease for just $369 a month for 36 months, with $2,499 due at signing. That price includes $15,000 of fuel over three years and 20,000 annual miles. As with other advanced technology vehicles, Honda is making traditional vehicles available for times when the hydrogen car's 366-mile range and weak refueling infrastructure isn't enough to get you where you want to go. The fuel cell vehicle will be available in California at some point yet in 2016, but only to people who, "live or work near Honda's network of 12 approved fuel cell vehicle dealerships located in select California markets." There are six such dealerships in Southern California, five in the Bay Area and one in Sacramento, Honda says. UPDATE: Totally forgot that Toyota dropped Mirai pricing to $349 earlier this year. We've adjusted the headline. Related Video: Featured Gallery Honda Clarity Fuel Cell News Source: Honda Green Honda Hydrogen Cars lease honda clarity

Honda and Mario Andretti cite pedestrians for excessive slowness

Honda and the Andretti family have a lot to celebrate at the moment. Andretti Autosport driver Ryan Hunter-Reay won the 2014 Indianapolis 500 in his Honda-powered car, and Marco Andretti, Mario's grandson, also managed to take the third step on the podium. Apparently, the victory is making them feel magnanimous because Honda and Mario Andretti are giving the chance to ride with him in a two-seat, open wheel car.
To promote the contest, they created the Honda Speed Patrol to ticket anyone going too slow. It's an interesting idea, and the chance to ride with Andretti would be the opportunity of a lifetime. Perhaps the biggest shock of the video, though, might be when you realize how short Mario is when you see him milling about in public. Scroll down to watch one of America's most respected racers cite people in Chicago for being too slow.