Honda faces a U.S. safety investigation and potential recall of 240,193 of its 2004 Accord sedans after the driver-side airbag failed during two crash tests.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began the inquiry last week after airbag failures during tests of damage when higher-riding light trucks crash into cars from the side, agency spokesman Rae Tyson said. The bag fabric had a large tear and didn't fully inflate, the Washington-based agency said.

The U.S. agency is reviewing steps to reduce side crashes, which account for 25 per cent of road deaths. Fatalities among car occupants are 29 times those in light trucks when a truck hits a car from the side. Auto makers have agreed to put head-protection airbags in half of 2008 models. Such airbags are an option on the 2004 Accord.