Cars, Japanese Automaker | featured news

The latest recall covers Honda Pilot models produced during the 2009 through 2013 model-years and Odyssey minivans from 2011 through 2013. Customers are being asked to take the vehicles to their dealers for inspection of the driver’s-side airbags and, if necessary, for repairs.It’s the latest in a series of problems Honda has had with airbags that have now resulted in the recall of several million vehicles in recent years. That includes one problem in which airbags could inflate over-aggressively, causing shrapnel to fire into the passenger compartment.

In a remarkable turnaround, Toyota is likely to set a record for auto sales this year. It has focused much effort on the U.S., refreshing its lineup and expanding its manufacturing in the country.

Japan’s two largest automakers appear to be locked in a race to achieve the dubious distinction of having recalled more vehicles than any other automaker during 2012 for an array of safety-related problems.

Two weeks after Japan’s March 11 earthquake knocked out more than 650 of Toyota Motor Corp.’s suppliers, halting worldwide production, the automaker had to decide where to focus its resources. It picked the Prius.

Honda Motor Co. said Monday it was set to voluntarily recall 936,000 cars globally to repair problems with power windows and computer equipment. Honda said no serious injuries or fatal accidents were reported due to the problems, and the repair bill would be limited to about $17 million in Japan.

Honda is recalling 2.5 million cars and SUVs worldwide  to repair the software that controls the automatic transmission, the automaker said.

Toyota recalled 106,000 first-generation Prius hybrid cars globally on Wednesday for faulty steering caused by a nut that may come loose.

Honda Motor Co. is expanding a recall so it can check the driver's air bags on another 833,000 vehicles for a possible defect.

Toyota has agreed to pay more than $32 million in penalties after two federal investigations that faulted the Japanese automaker for its handling of recent auto recalls, the U.S. Transportation Department announced Monday night.

The car manufacturer is rewarding those who purchase a new Toyota by January 3 with a $500 debit card for tweeting about it.