Honda disclosed a significant recall affecting 750,000 vehicles in the United States, citing a defect with the airbag system. This defect could result in airbags deploying unintentionally during a crash.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identified the issue as stemming from a potential crack and short circuit in the front passenger seat weight sensor. This malfunction could fail to suppress the airbag deployment as designed. To address this concern, Honda dealerships are set to replace the faulty seat weight sensors.
The recall encompasses specific models across Honda’s range, including the Pilot, Accord, and Civic from the 2020-2022 model years, alongside select CR-V and Passport vehicles from the 2020 and 2021 model years. In a regulatory filing, Honda reported receiving 3,834 warranty claims related to this issue yet confirmed no injuries or fatalities since June 2020.
Honda traced the origin of the defect back to a disruption caused by a natural disaster at a subcontractor’s manufacturing plant. This event led a supplier to temporarily substitute the base material in the printed circuit board of the seat weight sensor. The substituted material reportedly could impose additional strain on the printed circuit board, increasing the risk of malfunction.
