Honda recalling 405K vehicles over airbag issue

Statement by American Honda Regarding SRS Control Unit Recall: 2003-2004 Honda Odyssey; 2003 Acura MDX

09/18/2013 - TORRANCE, Calif.
Approximately 374,000 Honda and Acura vehicles affected in the United States
The SRS airbag system will be repaired, free of charge
No crashes have been reported related to this issue

American Honda will recall approximately 318,000 Honda Odyssey vehicles from the 2003-2004 model years and approximately 56,000 Acura MDX vehicles from the 2003 model year in the U.S. to address potential malfunctions of the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) airbag system in these vehicles due to electrical interference. To prevent malfunction, an electrical noise filter will be installed adjacent to the SRS control unit, free of charge.

Honda has received a small but increasing number of complaints in recent months of inadvertent airbag deployment in these vehicles, which are equipped with SRS control units that contain computer chips similar to those used in airbag system control units installed in other manufacturers' vehicles that were recalled in the last year. No crashes have been reported to Honda related to this issue.

Honda is announcing this recall to encourage owners of all affected vehicles to take their vehicles to an authorized dealer as soon as they receive notification of this recall from Honda. Mailed notification to customers will be sent in late-Oct. 2013, and, at that time, owners of vehicles from the affected model years will be able to determine if their vehicles require repair by going on-line to www.recalls.honda.com and www.recalls.acura.com or by calling (800) 999-1009 for Honda owners or (800) 382-2238 for Acura owners, and selecting option 4.

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Chevrolet donates 300 vehicles damaged by Sandy to help train first responders

Chevrolet Donates 300 Vehicles to Train First Responders
Water-damaged vehicles will assist in simulating disasters at Guardian Centers

DETROIT – Chevrolet is donating up to 300 cars, crossovers and SUVs rendered unsalable during Hurricane Sandy to help train first responders at Guardian Centers in Perry, Ga.

The water-damaged vehicles are expected to help provide a realistic environment to simulate real-world incidents and natural disasters for first responders to make accurate and quick responses to victims.

"When Hurricane Sandy hit the northeast in November we had a number of new vehicles at ports and on dealer lots that were flooded," said Chris Perry, U.S. vice president, Chevrolet Marketing. "We could not sell them, so instead of crushing them, Chevrolet is using these vehicles to help train those who respond to just such disasters."

As the exclusive automotive partner of Guardian Centers, Chevrolet is helping to create a transportation system that provides realistic scenarios in a metropolitan environment for first responders at all levels of government, the military and civilian organizations.

Designed as a purpose-built training solution for all phases of disaster preparedness, Guardian Centers offers a fully operational, modern cityscape simulator for first responders to test their plans, skill sets, equipment and leadership. With the ability to provide realistic immersions from small unit exercises up to 7,000 participants in multi-jurisdictional agencies, Guardian Centers brings the disciplines of Technical Rescue, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosives together with leadership training and academics in one location.

"The vehicles we received from Chevrolet are an essential component of full immersion disaster response training in a metropolitan environment," said Geoff Burkart, founder and CEO of Guardian Centers. "Chevrolet has given the millions of first responders throughout North America the ability to exercise in metropolitan scenarios that will look and feel just like their home cities.

"This level of realism and effectiveness cannot be overstated," Burkart said. "You can't expect first response professionals to conduct realistic training in a sterile environment. Every metropolitan area in the world must deal with vehicle traffic and first responders should be provided a training environment that helps condition them for what they will face on the job."

The vehicles will be used in conjunction with role players for wide area searches, traffic congestion in emergency situations, counter terrorism, public order and mass casualty exercises.

Also in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Chevrolet donated 24 full-size Express passenger and cargo vans to Habitat for Humanity for use in its restoration efforts in the hardest-hit areas of the super storm.

About the Guardian Center

The Guardian Centers are a unique private-sector solution to an emerging and rapidly growing national problem-the lack of appropriate facilities to conduct meaningful, realistic, effective and large scale emergency response exercises. As a private sector entity, Guardian Centers has the capability to meet any and all client needs and more. It will offer the most realistic training ground to prepare the nation's first responders for man-made and natural disasters. For more information, visit http://www.guardiancenters.com.

About Chevrolet

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

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