Honda Malaysia compensates customers for Takata airbag recall

Honda car owners affected by the Takata airbag inflator recall will be compensated RM50 daily for the 'loss of use of car' during the waiting period for the replacement parts.

In a statement today, Honda Malaysia Sdn Bhd said affected customers need to register themselves at www.productrecall.honda.com.my to obtain this. The compensation period begins today and ends on Aug 31, 2016.

Upon arrival of the replacement parts for the Takata driver front airbag inflators, the registered customers with Honda Malaysia will be notified and advised to replace the airbag inflators within two days.

As for the replacement process, the carmaker has opened up three temporary Service Central Hubs and 24 Mobile Hubs where customers can go and get their parts replaced.

The service central hubs, operating seven days a week from Aug 1 until Sept 30 from 8am to 7pm except on public holidays, are located at:

*Northern Hub (next to SMJK Convent Dato’ Keramat School) No. 401, Jalan Dato’ Keramat, 10150 Georgetown, Penang.

*Central Hub Soo & Sons Metal Works Sdn Bhd (next to Columbia Asia Hospital) Lot 15, Jalan 13/6, Section 13, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

*Southern Hub Oriental Assemblers Sdn Bhd 99 & 99A-C, Jalan Tampoi, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor.

"Due to the multiple recalls for both Takata driver and passenger front airbags inflators, it would be possible that one vehicle is recalled for both Takata airbag inflators replacement. In such a situation, we will prioritise Takata driver front airbag inflator replacement based on parts availability and due to the low stock availability of Takata passenger front airbag inflator," the statement said.

To book their appointment with the service central hubs, customers can call the Honda toll free 1-800-88-2020.

The mobile hubs, meanwhile, would be set up at 21 selected Petron service stations and three Honda Family Road Trip locations.

The mobile hubs will open from Aug 5 until Sept 25 every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at three different locations from 8am to 7pm.

Honda Malaysia mobile hubs location

Honda's trained mobile teams would also be placed at all the hubs to further expedite the replacement activities.

"These teams will visit used car dealers to check the status of secondhand Honda cars being sold and, if required, the airbag inflators will be changed immediately to ensure that the airbag inflators in the affected secondhand Honda cars are replaced properly before they are sold to new owners," the statement said.

Buyers of secondhand Honda cars are also advised to check their vehicle status by keying in their vehicle VIN (chassis number) at www.honda.com.my or www.productrecall.honda.com.my.

Honda Malaysia said it would continue to alert and inform customers of the importance of replacing the affected vehicles' airbag inflators.

"Owners of Honda vehicles affected by airbag inflator product recall are advised to get their vehicles checked and parts replaced at any authorised Honda dealers as soon as possible."