Honda recalls 130,000 more cars

Honda Australia has recalled another 131,775 cars as part of the global Takata airbag scandal that has now affected 4.89 million vehicles built in Japan, Thailand and the US.

This week's recall comes in addition to the 33,434 vehicles Honda called back Down Under last June, as well as the 102,000 Nissans and 181,000 Toyotas recalled last week as a result of potentially lethal airbags supplied by the Japanese airbag maker.

Now confirmed as affected in Australia are 2004-2009 Jazz, 2002-2008 CR-V, 2004-2005 Civic and 2004-2007 Accord Euro models totalling 109,551 vehicles in which the front passenger airbag inflator could explode, potentially spraying shrapnel around the cabin.

The same problem affects the driver's airbag in 2005-2006 Jazz and 2007 CR-V vehicles, totalling a further 22,224 Honda vehicles in Australia, where more than 448,000 Toyota, Honda and Nissan vehicles have now been involved in the Takata saga.

According to Honda's official recall notice, the "airbag inflator propellant wafers may have an increased potential for moisture intrusion over time.

"Moisture intrusion could potentially make the inflator assembly more susceptible to rupture during airbag deployment. The ruptured inflator may create metallic fragments that could contact an occupant, increasing the risk of injury."

At least five overseas deaths have been linked to the faulty airbag debacle, which Honda denies led to the departure of former Honda president Takanobu Ito in February.