Honda has issued a recall for 66,846 vehicles in Canada over concerns related to airbag sensors in front passenger seats. The recall, announced on Tuesday, pertains to various Honda and Acura models from the years 2020 to 2022.
The recall notice highlights potential complications with weight sensors integrated into the seat structure, which may cause frontal and knee airbags to deploy erroneously, even when no adult is seated in the passenger seat. This malfunction poses a risk of injury to children and infants.
According to Honda, the issue arose after its Tier 1 supplier temporarily altered the base material in the printed circuit board of the seat sensors following a “natural disaster” at its Tier 2 supplier’s manufacturing plant. Insufficient verification of the temporary base material led to additional strain on the circuit board, resulting in capacitor cracking and internal short circuits.
In the event of a crash, these short circuits could trigger airbag deployment despite the absence of an adult passenger, heightening safety concerns.
Honda advises affected vehicle owners to monitor the passenger airbag indicator and the SRS warning light for any abnormalities. Dealers have been notified of the issue, and owners will receive notifications by mail starting in March, instructing them to bring their vehicles to authorized Honda or Acura dealers for inspection and potential repairs.
Owners who incur expenses for these repairs may be eligible for reimbursement, although Honda notes that service parts are currently available in limited quantities.
To determine if their vehicle is affected, Honda owners can visit www.Honda.ca/recalls or call 1-888-946-6329 for further assistance.