Agency Probes Air Bag Deployment

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will undertake an engineering analysis of complaints that air bags deploy accidentally in some Acura Legends and Honda Preludes.

The safety agency said 41 complaints have been filed involving the air bags in those models built in 1992 and ’93.

In five accidents, drivers reported losing steering control because the bags deployed after the car’s tire or undercarriage hit a curb, pothole or ditch. Eight injuries have been reported.

“We believe the air bags are operating properly,” a spokesman for Honda North America Inc. said. The company is working with NHTSA on the investigation.

Although the investigation could eventually lead to a recall of the vehicles to fix them, most such probes are dropped.

About 145,300 of the Legends and Preludes are on the road.