Honda Recalls Nearly 100,000 Vehicles Over Airbag Defect That Could Increase Injury Risk

Honda has announced a recall affecting nearly 100,000 vehicles after discovering a defect that could cause airbags to deploy when they shouldn't.

According to federal safety regulators, the issue involves the front passenger seat's occupant detection system. A component inside the seat weight sensor may crack after prolonged exposure to humidity, potentially creating an electrical short circuit that interferes with the system's ability to correctly identify who is sitting in the seat.

The concern is particularly serious because the defect could trigger deployment of the front passenger airbag and knee airbag during a crash even when the seat is occupied by someone for whom airbag activation should be suppressed.

Honda says this could include infants in child safety seats, young children, or smaller passengers who fall below the system's deployment threshold. In those situations, unintended airbag deployment could increase the risk of injury rather than reduce it.

The recall covers a wide range of Honda and Acura models produced over multiple years, including:

• Honda Civic (2016-2022)
• Honda Accord (2016-2022)
• Honda Accord Hybrid (2017-2022)
• Honda Civic Hatchback (2017-2021)
• Honda Civic Type R (2017-2018, 2021)
• Honda CR-V (2017-2022)
• Honda Pilot (2017-2022)
• Honda Ridgeline (2017-2021, 2023, 2025)
• Acura MDX (2017-2020, 2022-2026)
• Honda Odyssey (2018-2026)
• Honda Fit (2018-2020)
• Acura TLX (2018-2021, 2023)
• Honda HR-V (2019-2021)
• Honda Passport (2019-2021)
• Honda Insight (2019-2022)
• Acura RDX (2019-2024)
• Honda CR-V Hybrid (2020-2022)

Honda reports receiving 228 warranty claims potentially related to the issue as of May 14. Despite those claims, the company says it has not received any reports of injuries or fatalities connected to the defect in the United States between February 2021 and October 2025.

The root cause has been traced to a capacitor located within the sensor's printed circuit board. Under certain conditions, moisture exposure can cause the component to crack, eventually leading to sensor malfunction.

To correct the problem, Honda and Acura dealerships will replace the affected seat weight sensor with an updated component at no cost to owners.

Owners of impacted vehicles will receive notification letters beginning July 6. Once notified, they will be instructed to schedule an appointment with an authorized dealer for the repair.

The recall affects some of Honda's most popular models, including the Civic, Accord, CR-V, and Pilot, meaning tens of thousands of drivers may need to visit their local dealership in the coming months.

While no injuries have been linked to the defect so far, Honda is urging owners not to ignore the recall notice. Occupant detection systems play a critcal role in modern airbag operation, and even a small malfunction can have serious consequences during a collision.

Customers seeking additional information can contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138 or Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238.

For now, Honda says the repair is straightforward, but addressing the issue promptly remains the safest cours of action for affected owners.