Continental recalls 5 million US airbag systems

Continental Automotive Systems has reportedly admitted supplying “potentially defective air bag control units to 5 million vehicles used by Honda, Fiat Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, and three other manufacturers built over a five-year period worldwide”, according to a Reuters report. Continental Automotive told the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that electronic systems built between 2006 and 2010 could fail and air bags may not deploy in a crash or may deploy without warning.

For its part Honda said it will notify owners and dealers will replace the air bag control units, free of charge. Parts are expected to be available in Autumn 2016. Interim notifications will be mailed to owners beginning on 15 March 2016 and a second notice will be mailed when remedy parts are available.

A Continental spokeswoman is quoted as saying the recall involves between 1.5 million and 2 million vehicles in the US.