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Honda Motor Co. announced today it has recalled 304,000 vehicles globally because they may contain defective air bags.

The global recall affects some of Honda and Acura’s most popular models, including the Accord, Civic, Odyssey and Pilot, over concerns that the vehicles’ air bags could burst in a crash due to defective inflators, sending metal and plastic pieces flying and potentially causing injury or death.

Some 273,000 of the cars recalled are in the U.S. and Canada, Honda said.

The recall announced today by the Japanese automaker is the sixth recall since 2008 for the same problem, and brings the total number of cars recalled to nearly 2 million.

By comparison, rival carmaker Toyota has recalled about 12 million vehicles in the past two years, according to the Associated Press.

Earlier this year, Honda recalled nearly 700,000 vehicles in Asia and North America citing stalling engines.

Honda said there have been 20 accidents so far related to the air bag problem, including two deaths in the U.S., both in 2009.

The specific list of cars affected by Honda’s expanded recall includes: 2001 and 2002 Accord, 2001 to 2003 Civic, 2001 to 3003 Odyssey, 2002 and 2003 CR-V, 2003 Pilot, 2002 and 2003 Acura 3.2 TL and 2003 Acura 3.2 CL.

More information about the recall from Honda Motor Co.

The Associated Press Contributed to this report.