Honda expands recall

Honda Motor Co. expanded a recall first issued in 2008 by 378,758 vehicles Tuesday to fix an air bag that may deploy too forcefully.

The expansion brings the total number of Honda vehicles recalled in the United States because of an air bag defect to 826,425.

Honda will replace the air bag inflators, which can deploy with too much pressure, causing the inflator casing to rupture and send metal fragments through the air bag in some instances.

The company said it was aware of 12 incidents, including one fatality and 11 cases of injury, caused by the faulty inflators.

Worldwide, Honda is recalling 952,118 vehicles for this problem and may issue more recalls in other regions. It issued the first U.S. recall, of 3,940 2001 Accord and Civic models, in November 2008, then expanded that recall by 443,727 vehicles last July.

The recall now includes 2001 and 2002 Accord, Civic, Odyssey, CR-V and some Acura TL cars.