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Honda Recalls Nearly 100,000 Vehicles Over Airbag Defect
Honda is recalling 98,892 vehicles in the United States after a defect was found in the front passenger seat weight sensor, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall report.
The recall affects select Honda and Acura vehicles from the 2016 through 2026 model years. The issue involves a capacitor inside the printed circuit board of the front passenger seat weight sensor. Over time, exposure to humidity may cause the capacitor to crack and create an internal short circuit.
That matters because the sensor helps the vehicle determine whether the front passenger airbag should deploy. In certain crashes, the front passenger frontal and knee airbags may deploy even when deployment should be suppressed, such as when an infant in a child seat, a child, or a smaller person is in the seat. NHTSA says that it can increase the risk of injury.
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Which Vehicles Are Affected?
The affected model lines include the Acura TLX, RDX, and MDX, along with the Honda Accord, Civic, CR-V, Fit, HR-V, Insight, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot, and Ridgeline. Some hybrid and performance variants are also included, such as the Accord Hybrid, CR-V Hybrid, Civic Hatchback, and Civic Type R.
Why Honda Expanded the Recall
The recall expands on a previous Honda recall from February 2024. Honda said the expanded population was tied to supplier and tracking issues, including an incorrect production end date for the defective parts, inaccurate data linking parts to vehicles, and gaps in verifying vehicles that received defective service parts.
The defect traces back to a temporary material change at a supplier. After a natural disaster affected a tier-two supplier’s manufacturing plant, the tier-one supplier used a different base material in the printed circuit board. Honda said that the material was not sufficiently verified for this use and could place extra strain on the circuit board.
Warranty Claims & Reported Incidents
As of May 14, Honda reported 228 warranty claims tied to the issue in the U.S. The company said it had no reports of injuries or deaths related to this defect.
Owners may notice warning signs before repair. The SRS warning light may come on, and the passenger airbag indicator may remain off. Even if no warning light appears, owners should still check whether their vehicle is included.
Honda and Acura dealers will replace the front passenger seat weight sensor with a non-defective part at no cost. The replacement sensor uses a printed circuit board made with the original verified base material.
Dealer notifications began around May 22, 2026. Owner notification letters are scheduled to be mailed starting July 6, 2026.
What Owners Should Do Next
Owners should check their vehicle identification number through NHTSA’s recall lookup tool or Honda’s recall website. They can also contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Until the repair is completed, owners should pay attention to airbag warning lights and avoid assuming their vehicle is unaffected based only on the model name. This recall applies to specific production ranges, so a VIN check is the safest way to confirm status.
For more industry updates, visit our automotive news section.