In the midst of an open call for Takata whistleblowers, Honda is investigating the death of a driver whose 2002 Honda Accord was recalled but apparently wasn't repaired.
Carlos Solis, 35, was driving the Accord, which was part of a 2011 recall for air bag issues, when he collided with a 2003 Infiniti G35 the night of Jan. 18, NBC News reported. The automaker has no record that his Accord was ever repaired.
Honda is investigating the incident and suspects that another death in California may also be related to the faulty air bags, which can explode in the event of a crash. According to company spokesman Chris Martin, Honda has confirmed three deaths and 52 injuries in the United States in connection with Takata air bag recalls.
"Since this tragic event occurred very recently, no official cause of death has yet been determined by local authorities," the automaker said in a statement quoted by the Los Angeles Times.
"Honda has not yet been able to inspect the vehicle and airbag components in order to confirm if an inflator rupture occurred in this crash. We are currently working with representatives of the driver's family to gain the access necessary to conduct a comprehensive investigation."
With a record 60 million-plus vehicles recalled in the U.S. last year, consumers are likely suffering from recall fatigue; however, federal regulators and automakers alike urge them to check the repair status on their vehicles.
Owners can see if their vehicles have been recalled using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration search tool by inputting their vehicle identification number.
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