Last week, Honda Malaysia announced unprecedented measures to reach out to owners of cars fitted with faulty Takata airbag inflators. The measures were wide ranging, if not admirable, with Honda Malaysia showing leadership and a steely resolve to stem a crisis that has affected various brands and millions of vehicles around the world, some with deadly consequences for the owners.
The steps announced by Honda Malaysia include:
1. The setting up of three ‘Service Central Hubs’ (covering Northern, Central and Southen regions of Peninsula Malaysia) to support airbag inflator replacements, in addition to what’s being carried out by Honda dealers. These temporary hubs are operational from 1st August to 30th September 2016, seven days a week (except public holidays) from 8am to 7pm.
2. The addition of 24 ‘Mobile Hubs’ located at Petron service stations (21) and Honda Road Trip roadshow venues. Manned by Honda Malaysia’s trained staff, these mobile hubs aim to widen the airbag replacement coverage, they will also visit used car dealers to check on any pre-own Honda vehicles that may be affected and undertake rectifications if required. The Mobile Hubs will be operational from 5th August 2016 to 25th September 2016 every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 7pm.
(Click here for information on the Honda airbag hubs)
3. Monetary compensation for ‘loss of use of car’; this applies over the period of 28th July to 31st August 2016, and only for owners who have yet to register an appointment with Honda Malaysia to get their airbags replaced. Upon securing an appointment (after 28th July 2016), Honda Malaysia will pay up to RM50 a day if the replacement airbag isn’t in stock.
In reading the latest recall FAQ published on Honda Malaysia’s website (refer to the portion covering ‘Loss of Use Reimbursement’), we also noticed that Honda Malaysia is officially advising owners with vehicles that require airbag replacement to NOT drive their cars (see below and read the full FAQ).
Also, to another question related to the extent of compensation, Honda Malaysia is also ‘suggesting’ to owners and occupants of cars that have yet to replace faulty passenger side airbag to ‘sit at the back’.
Lastly, we also noticed that Honda Malaysia is no longer using the term ‘precautionary update’, instead the recall is now rightly called ‘product recall’. Thank you for setting that straight, Honda Malaysia.