Arizona AG sends repair gift cards as part of defective airbag settlement

PHOENIX — The Arizona Attorney General’s Office mailed out more than 15,000 incentive repair gift cards as part of a $5 million settlement with Honda over its use of defective Takata airbags.

The gift cards, which are worth $50 each, were part of a settlement that was reach in October to encourage customers to repair their cars at no cost and remove the faulty airbags from their vehicles.

The office also mailed out $100 restitution checks in November to more than 15,000 Arizonans who purchased Honda or Acura cars between Sept. 1, 2012 and Nov. 3, 2015, according to a press release.

There are approximately 40,000 Arizonans with Honda or Acura vehicles that have the flawed Takata airbags on the road still, the release said.

Honda used Takata airbag inflators for more than 15 years in certain vehicles. The defective airbag inflators have the possibility of rupturing and sending metal shrapnel throughout the vehicle’s cabin.

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office alleged that Honda should have warned its customers by September 2012, but consumers were not notified until November 2015 following regulators’ $200 million fine of Takata, which filed for bankruptcy in 2017.

Arizonans who have cars that fit the criteria should immediately repair the airbags and not wait for the gift cards to arrive, according to the release.

Eligible recipients do not have to take any action to receive the gift card. The airbag repairs are free at authorized Honda or Acura dealerships.

Anyone that owns a Honda or Acura car are advised to visit Honda’s airbag recall website or call its customer service department at 888-234-2138.

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