Honda announced on Tuesday that it is recalling 750,000 vehicles in the United States due to a defect related to airbags, which may deploy unintentionally during a crash.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issue stems from a potential crack and short circuit in the front passenger seat weight sensor, leading to the failure to suppress the airbag as intended. As a remedy, dealers will replace the seat weight sensors.
The recall encompasses specific models, including Honda Pilot, Accord, and Civic vehicles from the model years 2020–2022.
Additionally, some Honda CR-V and Passport vehicles from the model years 2020 and 2021 are also included in the recall.
In an official statement submitted to the safety regulator, Honda reported 3,834 warranty claims related to the issue.
However, the company assured that there have been no reports of injuries or fatalities associated with the recall problem since June 2020.
Honda offered an explanation for the defect’s origin, stating that after a natural disaster impacted a subcontractor’s manufacturing plant, a temporary change in the base material of the printed circuit board for the seat weight sensor occurred.
The alternative material used “could allow additional strain on the printed circuit board,” according to Honda.
This recall follows a similar move by Toyota Motor in December, where they recalled 1.12 million vehicles worldwide due to a sensor short circuit that could prevent airbags from deploying as designed.
In the same month, Honda recalled 4.5 million vehicles globally, including 2.54 million in the United States, due to the risk of fuel pump failure.
