TORRANCE, Calif. -

Honda revealed this week that it has added 833,000 more vehicles to a previously announced recall of Honda and Acura units from model years 2001 through 2003 that deals with the driver’s side airbag inflator.

Affected models in this recall are certain Honda Civic and Accord vehicles from model years 2001 and 2002, the 2002 Honda Odyssey, Honda CR-V units from 2002 and 2003, select 2002 and 2003 Acura 3.2 TL and 2003 Acura 2.3L vehicles.

Honda added these units to the recall because it is possible that these additional models had their original driver’s airbag module replaced with an affected service part, the automaker explained.

While only a small fraction are said to contain the defective service part, by including this large sum of vehicles, Honda is hoping “to ensure that all 2,430 recalled airbag inflator service parts are replaced.”

“These vehicles were not included in the earlier safety recalls because the driver’s airbag modules originally installed in them were not affected by the potential safety issue,” Honda said in a statement.

“However, Honda has now determined that a number of affected service part airbags were installed in these vehicles in the process of a collision repair or other vehicle service. Owners of all potentially affected vehicles are being notified because Honda has not been able to determine which specific vehicles received one of those parts,” it added. “The replacement driver’s airbag inflators in affected vehicles may deploy with too much pressure, which can cause the inflator casing to rupture and could result in injury or fatality.”

Honda will begin notifying customers via mail late this month.

“Honda is aware of several incidents related to the earlier recall and expansions and is announcing this new recall expansion to encourage all owners of included vehicles to take their vehicle to an authorized dealer as soon as they receive mailed notification from Honda,” the company noted.

Honda went on to say: “If an owner is confident that the driver’s airbag in their vehicle never has been replaced, they can inform Honda by signing and returning a postage-paid postcard that will be included with the recall notice. All others are encouraged to have their vehicle inspected by an authorized Honda or Acura dealer.”