TORRANCE, Calif. - Honda has expanded a previously announced recall of certain 2001 and 2002 model-year vehicles to replace the driver’s airbag inflator in an additional 378,758 Honda and Acura vehicles in the U.S. The driver’s airbag inflators in these vehicles may deploy with too much pressure, which can cause the inflator casing to rupture and could result in injury or fatality.

Honda owners can go to http://owners.honda.com/recalls or call (800) 999-1009; Acura owners can go to http://owners.acura.com/recalls or call (800) 382-2238 to find out more and schedule repairs.

TORRANCE, Calif. – Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc., today said it will recall approximately 133,000 2010 Model Year Prius vehicles and 14,550 Lexus Division 2010 HS 250h vehicles to update software in the vehicle’s anti-lock brake system. The ABS, in normal operation, engages and disengages rapidly (many times per second) as the control system senses and reacts to tire slippage.

Some 2010 Model Year Prius and 2010 HS 250h owners have reported experiencing inconsistent brake feel during slow and steady application of brakes on rough or slick road surfaces when the ABS is activated in an effort to maintain tire traction.

Other Health Safety and Recall headlines:

FALLS CHURCH - A roundup of news from the field of safety and recall:

• Warehouse seizure: At the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Marshals on Tuesday seized a wide range of human and animal food products stored under insanitary conditions at Mid-States Closeouts, a distribution warehouse in Ellsworth, Wis. The products were seized under a warrant issued by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. U.S. Marshals seized all FDA-regulated human and animal food susceptible to rodent and pest contamination or other filth. During an FDA inspection of Mid-States Closeouts conducted in November and December 2009, the agency found widespread and active rodent infestation, numerous gnawed packages of human and animal food, rodent excreta pellets on, in, and around food packages and rodent nesting material. (more…)

TORRANCE, Calif. – Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc., today said it will begin fixing accelerator pedals in recalled Toyota Division vehicles this week. Toyota’s engineers have developed and tested a solution that involves reinforcing the pedal assembly in a manner that eliminates the excess friction that has caused the pedals to stick. In addition, Toyota has developed a solution for vehicles in production.

Parts to reinforce the pedals are being shipped for use by dealers, and dealer training is under way. Toyota dealers will work extended hours to complete the recall campaign as quickly and conveniently as possible, some even staying open 24 hours a day.

Toyota vehicles affected by the recall include:

• Certain 2009-2010 RAV4s
• Certain 2009-2010 Corollas
• 2009-10 Matrixes
• 2005-10 Avalons
• Certain 2007-10 Camrys
• Certain 2010 Highlanders
• 2007-10 Tundra
• 2008-10 Sequoia

No Lexus Division or Scion vehicles are affected. Also not affected are Toyota Prius, Tacoma, Sienna, Venza, Solara, Yaris, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Highlander hybrids and certain Camry models, including Camry hybrids. Further, Camry, RAV4, Corolla and Highlander vehicles with Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) that begin with “J” are not affected by the accelerator pedal recall.

In the event that a driver experiences an accelerator pedal that sticks in a partial open throttle position or returns slowly to idle position, the vehicle can be controlled with firm and steady application of the brakes. The brakes should not be pumped repeatedly because it could deplete vacuum assist, requiring stronger brake pedal pressure. The vehicle should be driven to the nearest safe location, the engine shut off and a Toyota dealer contacted for assistance.

Detailed information and answers to questions about issues related to this recall are available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and (800) 331-4331.

NORTH HILLS, Calif. — The infant product maker Munchkin Inc. purchased Lindam, the U.K.’s baby safety and nursery products brand. The purchase adds Lindam’s safety portfolio, including gates, to a Munchkin portfolio that includes categories such as bath, care, travel and feeding as well as pet categories through the company’s pet division, Bamboo.

“Munchkin’s purchase of Lindam accomplishes two strategic objectives for our future growth,” stated Steven B. Dunn, chairman and chief executive officer, Munchkin, Inc. Lindam is a privately held company based in the U.K. Lindam’s current baby care portfolio includes safety gates, baby monitors, feeding accessories, jumpers and other nursery products. (more…)

DETROIT – A new Ford model will have a more precise turn signal that should decrease road confusion. New blinker technology, coming this summer on the 2011 Fiesta, will have two settings. The first notch will blink three times, then shut off. For a continuous blink, motorists just need to move the signal all the way to the bottom. The move promises to prevent the common situation where a driver leaves his blinker on while driving down the road. (more…)