Official Statement from Honda Malaysia : SRS Fatality

Statement from Honda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

Re: Another Confirmed Rupture of Takata Driver’s Airbag Inflator in Malaysia
on June 26, 2016

Statement date: June 27, 2016

Honda has confirmed that the Takata single stage (SDI) driver’s airbag inflator
ruptured in a crash on June 26, 2016 in Malaysia. The crash resulted in the tragic death of the driver. No official cause of death has been yet determined. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family of the driver during this difficult time.

Honda has confirmed during an inspection with the Royal Malaysia Police that the Takata single stage (SDI) driver’s airbag inflator ruptured in the crash of a 2005 Honda City on June 26, 2016 in Selangor state. The vehicle involved in this crash was included in a Malaysian Product Update (recall) announced on May 21, 2015, requiring replacement of the SDI inflator of the Takata driver’s front airbag.

Since 2015, this vehicle involved in this crash has been included in both driver’s
Takata airbag inflator and passenger’s Takata airbag inflator recalls. Three mailed recall notices related to those recalls were sent to the owner. Our records indicate that the recall repair was never completed.

Honda is communicating with representative of the driver’s family in an effort to
resolve their remaining concerns. Out of respect for the family, Honda will not
provide any personal information.

Very Important Note to Honda Owners

Honda Malaysia continues to urge owners of Honda vehicles affected by the Takata airbag inflator product recall to get their vehicles repaired at authorized dealers as soon as possible. Vehicle owners can check their vehicles’ product recall status at www.honda.com.my or call our toll free number at 1-800-88-2020 or visit any Honda authorized dealers.

Advice from TOVA

It is very very strongly advised that Honda owner checks for whether their car is affected by the recall and if so, to have the airbag replaced IMMEDIATELY. This is not longer wise to "plan" to do so "ASAP". ASAP is no longer immediately enough. Please take action NOW !

It is now possible to check for recalls online via the Honda Malaysia official website at http://www.honda.com.my. We will be publishing a short step by step article on how to do so.

HONDA MALAYSIA RECALLS 147,894 UNITS OF HONDA VEHICLES (2003 - 2011 YM)

Petaling Jaya, 23 June 2016 – Honda Malaysia today announced that it is extending its proactive measure to ensure customer safety by recalling 147,894 units of Honda vehicles to replace the front passenger airbag inflator.

The vehicle models involved in this recall are Accord (2003-2011 YM), City (2009-2011 YM), Civic (2007-2011 YM), CR-V (2008-2011 YM), Freed (2009-2011 YM), Insight (2011 YM), Jazz (2009-2011 YM) and Odyssey (2004-2008 YM).



Honda Malaysia assures customers that safety is the company’s priority. The company regrets the inconvenience caused.

Honda Malaysia reiterates that all of its current selling models are not affected and will continue to uphold transparency and stringent control to ensure customer safety.

All affected customers will be informed via a notification letter, which will include details of the recall. Customers who receive the notification are advised to bring the letter and their vehicles to the nearest authorized Honda dealer for inspection.

The replacement works will be carried out once the parts are ready. Parts and labour charges related to this recall will be borne by Honda Malaysia.

Honda owners can also check their vehicle recall status by calling the Honda Toll Free number 1-800-88-2020 or log on to www.honda.com.my, or visit any authorized Honda dealers.

Honda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. continues to urge all owners of Honda vehicles affected by the airbag inflator recall to get their vehicles checked and parts replaced at any authorized Honda dealers as soon as possible upon receipt of the notification letter.

ALL-NEW CIVIC MAKES ITS FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE AT MY AUTO FEST 2016

Seri Kembangan, 20 May 2016 – The 10^th Generation All-New Civic made its first public appearance today at My Auto Fest 2016. The preview of the All-New Civic was officiated by Yang Berhormat Datuk Ab. Aziz Kaprawi, Deputy Minister of Transport together with Mr. Katsuto Hayashi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Malaysia.

A brand new Lunar Silver Metallic colour will be introduced in this 10^th Generation All-New Civic, which can be viewed at My Auto Fest 2016. Customers will also be able to place a booking for the All-New Civic at the show. The All-New Civic will be available in two engine variants for the Malaysian market, the 1.5L VTEC Turbocharged and 1.8L i-VTEC.

My Auto Fest 2016 will take place from 20^th – 22^nd May 2016 (10am – 9pm) at Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre (MIECC). Come and be one of the first in Malaysia to see the stylish and technologically advanced All-New Civic.

Besides getting a preview of the soon-to-be launched All-New Civic, visitors to the Honda booth at My Auto Fest 2016 can also view and book other Honda models namely Jazz, City, HR-V and CR-V with discount up to RM9,900. Furthermore there will be lucky draws, merchandise sales, kids’ corner and various activities conducted at the Honda booth.

For more information, call Honda’s Toll Free number at 1-800-88-2020 or log on to www.honda.com.my or www.ridethedream.my to discover more about the exciting features of the All-New Civic.  

Highlights of 2015 for Honda Malaysia from the media gathering event

2015 was a record year for Honda in Malaysia when Honda Malaysia achieved a total sales volume of 94,902 cars sold, way above the 85,000 target they set at the beginning of last year. This figure represents a 14.2% of the market share (based on a total number of 666,674 cars sold in 2015). It was an amazing 22% growth based on year on year achievement. 

This spectacular achievement was additionally capped by Honda Malaysia achieving the status of being the best selling non-national model in the Malaysian market (non-national means excluding Proton and Perodua). The month of December 2015 was also another record for Honda Malaysia where total sales exceeded 10,000 units for the first time, hitting 10,741 cars sold. 

Honda Malaysia credits the success to four models : CR-V, HR-V, City and Jazz. The City and Jazz together contributed 58% of the total sales, both being market leaders in their segments (B-segment sedan and hatchback). No doubt the HR-V would have contributed more had it been launched earlier in the year.

Honda Malaysia also expanded their East Malaysia presence significantly in 2015, which saw sales grew 36% from the previous year.

For 2016, it is estimated that the total market size will shrink due to the adverse economic situation in the country with a market size estimated to drop by 4 to 5% down to 630k to 640k units. However, Honda Malaysia still set themselves an ambitious target to continue to grow their sales, setting the 2016 target at 90,000 units. 

For 2016, Honda Malaysia plans two new CKD (locally assembled) models, one an FMC and the other an MMC. The FMC is widely known to be the new 10G Civic which has just been launched in Thailand and will be making its way around ASEAN thereon. The MMC is widely expected to be for the Accord. 

Part of the strategy for achieving the ambitious 90,000 sales target will be Honda Malaysia's continued expansion plans for the East Malaysian market, in addition to the opening of more dealership, service centers, and body & paint shops.

More info on the Honda Malaysia battery product update

The latest Honda Malaysia "product update" (recall) involving the over 90,000 vehicles have received much attention. At the annual Honda Malaysia media gathering event that was held earlier today, I took the opportunity to seek more details on this recall.

The product update/recall involves the identification of a batch of batteries installed into new Honda vehicles which was found to be 'below spec'. The said batteries supposedly have shortened lifespan and will fail to retain charge after less than the expected 1 to 1.5 years of usage (i.e. the batteries could fail in less than 1 year) or, the specified warranty period of the battery. So the recall seeks to replace those batteries which are still within the specified warranty period but which are still working, with a new one. 

I.e. with this recall, Honda Malaysia wishes to avoid their customers facing the inconvenience of their battery dying prematurely. Yes, when the battery dies prematurely within the warranty period, the owner can still get it replaced for free. But all car owners knows well the inconvenience (to say the least) of having the battery die. In this case, Honda Malaysia replaces the battery with a new one even if it is still working and hopes to avoid affected customers facing the inconvenience.

Honda Malaysia stresses that the recall only involves the battery. There is no damage caused by the battery. Furthermore, not all batteries from the batch will definitely fail but likelihood is high. So Honda Malaysia decided to replace the batteries which are under warranty even if they are still working fine.

One item which is unusual is that the recall involves some vehicles which goes as far back as 2003. That is 13 years ago. While there are isolated cases where batteries lasts well past the expected 1 to 1.5 years of warranty period, it would be extremely rare indeed for a battery to last 13 years. In any case, the warranty period of the original battery supplied with a 2003 car would have been long expired by now. For this situation, Honda Malaysia explains that it is related to those cars where the owners continued to have it serviced at authorized Honda service centers and where they have replaced the battery with a new unit bought from the service center. For such cases, where the battery is still within the warranty period, Honda will replace the battery.

So the recall doesn't necessarily involved 94,000 cars only possibly up to 94,000 cars. In fact, the cars that are affected is expected to be way below 94.000. This is also one recall where if an owner decides not to have it done, there will be no damage to the car except that the battery could fail within its warranty period in which case it would have been replaced for free as well. The recall just allows batteries which are still good and within warranty to be replaced as a 'preemptive' measure.

For those whose Honda falls within the period of manufacture given by Honda, they can check if their car is covered under the recall by one of four methods : 

• wait to see if they receive the notification letter from Honda Malaysia
• contact either Honda Malaysia hotline (1-800-88-2020) 
• or any authorized Honda service center, 
• visit the Honda Malaysia website at http://www.honda.com.my to check online.

HONDA MALAYSIA ANNOUNCES PRODUCT UPDATE FOR 93,929 UNITS OF HONDA VEHICLES (2003 – 2016 YM)

7 March 2016 – Honda Malaysia today announced that it is taking another proactive measure to ensure customer safety by changing the battery in 93,929 units of Honda vehicles.

This product update involves the replacement of the 12V battery for the City (2003 - 2014 YM & 2016 YM), Jazz (2009 YM, 2012 & 2013 YM, 2015 & 2016 YM), Civic (2010, 2012 & 2013 YM), Insight (2011 - 2013 YM), CR-Z (2012 - 2013 YM), Freed (2010 – 2012 YM) and CR-V (2013 YM). 

Honda Malaysia assures customers that safety and offering the best product performance are the company’s priority.

Honda Malaysia ensures that other current selling models are not affected.

There have been no injuries or crashes related to this issue reported in Malaysia.

All affected customers will be informed via notification letters, which will include details of the product update. Customers who receive the letter are advised to send their vehicles to the nearest authorized Honda dealer for inspection.
 

Should a replacement be required, the replacement of the battery will be carried once the parts are ready and all parts and labour charges related to this product update will be borne by Honda Malaysia.

Honda owners can also check their vehicle’s product update status by calling Honda’s Toll Free number 1-800-88-2020 or log on to www.honda.com.my, or visit any Honda authorized dealers.

Summary of Honda CEO Speech on February 24, 2016

Below is the summary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. President & CEO Takahiro Hachigo's speech which he gave in a press conference on February 24 (2016) to explain his future vision and direction for the company.

【Introduction】

When I assumed the presidency, I introduced two themes to be pursued for the creation of a new Honda.
   •Advancement of the six-region global operation structure
   •Development of challenging products unique to Honda

The Honda Walking Assist Device, which we began lease sales in Japan, is one example of “challenging products unique to Honda.” We are now preparing to evolve this business in Japan as well as in countries outside of Japan.

For the joy of our customers around the world, Honda wants to continue delivering attractive products unique to Honda through our broad range of businesses including motorcycle, automobile and power products businesses as well as HondaJet and Honda Walking Assist Device business.

At the same time, we recognize a need for a fundamental transformation of business operations especially with our automobile business in order to further strengthen our operational structures. To this end, we began taking some initiatives.