NHTSA says 313,000 Honda vehicles have high-risk Takata air bags

Honda and Acura vehicles from the 2001 to 2003 model years should have defective Takata air bags replaced immediately. (Photo: Shutterstock)

(Bloomberg) – Owners of about 313,000 Honda and Acura vehicles from the 2001 to 2003 model years should have defective Takata Corp. air bags replaced immediately because new tests show the devices in those models have a far greater risk of rupturing, U.S. regulators said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in a statement Thursday that the Honda and Acura models affected were recalled between 2008 and 2011, with about 70% of them already repaired. The agency said it and Honda are trying to alert owners of the remaining vehicles from that group to avoid further deaths or injuries.