MORE than 7,000 Honda cars made in Swindon are being recalled by the Japanese motor giant amid safety concerns following the death of a pregnant woman in Malaysia.

The casualty was involved in a road traffic collision in July when her airbag failed to deploy properly.

Her death was the fifth linked to the defect.

Takata Corporation, the Japanese firm responsible for the airbag, shipped its parts for manufacture at Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) in Swindon.

Following this woman’s death, which was the first in a Honda vehicle, 12,781 vehicles are being recalled, with 7,361 of those Civic models built in Swindon in 2004.

A spokesman for Honda UK said: “In the airbag factory (LaGrange, US), propellants were exposed to uncontrolled humidity conditions during line stop.

“Absorbed moisture reduces propellant density resulting in high combustion speed and excessive pressure within the inflator, leading to rupture of the inflator body.”

The defect deploys the airbag violently and has resulted in shrapnel being sprayed from the steering wheel on impact, which has injured those involved in incidents.

The official recall is yet to begin, but Honda staff began to mobilise in the past fortnight, with e-mails and letters being prepared for any Civic owners from that era.

It is hoped the official instructions will be released before Christmas.

“The process started a couple of weeks ago, but we haven’t yet contacted all the owners,” the spokesman said.

“We will send out letters and e-mails to whichever details we have on file for the owners and instruct them to bring their vehicles into a nearby dealer to have the problem rectified.”

The latest accurate information will soon be posted at www.honda.com/recalls, where vehicle identification numbers can be entered to get specific data on whether your car is a risk.

Honda is keen to stress the car does not need to have been bought in 2004 to have been created that year.

This remains the only incident involving a Honda vehicle as far as the manufacturer is concerned, and there have thus far been no incidents in the UK or Europe.

Anyone who is concerned they may own a vehicle at risk is advised to contact their nearest dealer as soon as possible.