Honda adds 437,000 cars to existing global recall over faulty air bags

The company will replace the driver’s side air bag inflator on the cars because they can deploy with too much pressure, causing the inflator to rupture and injure or kill the driver.

Honda, Japan’s No. 2 automaker, said Wednesday it was adding 17,000 cars in Japan and elsewhere to the recall that was first announced in November 2008.

That came after news Tuesday that it was recalling 378,000 cars in the US for the same problem. The latest US recall affects certain 2001 and 2002 Accord sedans, Civic compacts, Odyssey minivans, CR-V small sport utility vehicles and some 2002 Acura TL sedans.