Honda Recall: Accord, Civic and Acura TL Airbag Problems Pose Risk

Nearly half a million Honda Accord, Honda Civic and Acura TL cars are being recalled due to airbag problems which could cause pieces of metal to shoot through the airbag during a collision. The defect has already killed at least one person and injured several others.

Honda Motor Co. announced the airbag recall on Friday, saying it was expanding an earlier recall from November to include 440,000 more vehicles, including 2001 and 2002 Accords, 2002 and 2003 Acura TL Sedans and 2001 Civics.

The Honda airbag problems are linked to a defect that could cause the inflator to over-pressurize the airbag when deployed. The high pressure can cause the inflator to rupture, sending a burst of metal shrapnel into the passenger compartment. The defect is only known to occur in the driver’s side airbag.

Did You Know?

Millions of Philips CPAP Machines Recalled

Philips DreamStation, CPAP and BiPAP machines sold in recent years may pose a risk of cancer, lung damage and other injuries.

Learn More

The company says that the defective airbags affect only some of the cars in the models and years listed, and recommends that registered owners wait until they receive a Honda recall notice from the company before they take the car into a dealership to have the inflators replaced.

Owners of affected vehicles should begin receiving recall notices by mail within the next couple months, the company announced. The Honda Civic and Acura recall notices will also include instructions on scheduling a repair.

Honda car owners can also check to see if their vehicle is affected at http://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/SEO/HondaRecall.asp and http://owners.acura.com/recalls/.

Image Credit: |

24 Comments

  • KristinOctober 21, 2016 at 7:14 am

    I was a car accident last October. I was a passenger in a 1999 Honda Civic. The airbag exploded and cut a hole in my face. I ended up having to get 50 stitches. Am I eligible to take part in the lawsuit?

  • BootymanFebruary 10, 2015 at 11:02 pm

    I read all of these. I believe air bags are useless, and like seatbelts, can cause more damage than good. That is why I always disable any airbags in any vehicle I have owned. Maybe that is why some of you did not have your airbags deploy, because it had been disabled.

  • Truly ConfusedApril 10, 2013 at 1:43 am

    If you want to contact the execs at Honda about your issues, their email addresses are: john_mendel@ahm.honda.com, Tetsuo_Iwamura@ahm.honda.com, Takuji_Yamada@ahm.honda.com, Yuji_Shiga@ahm.honda.com, taku_kitamura@ahm.honda.com, kurt_antonius@ahm.honda.com, richard_colliver@ahm.honda.com, jeff_conrad@ahm.honda.com

  • RommyJanuary 19, 2013 at 6:38 pm

    January 16 2013.. I was driving back home from Walmart when I start feeling dizzy .. I start loosing my vision and I try to pull out but I don't know how I finished in the other side of the road.. I hit my head in the stairwell and the window and my knees on the front.. My body hurts everywhere... Now I realize that my airbag didn't work... My car is a Acura 2003 tl 3.2...

  • MichelleJanuary 16, 2013 at 6:33 pm

    I finally started working again on 11/15/12 after being unemployed x8 mos. On the morning of 11/28/12, I was in an auto accident, on my way to my new job, my air bags deployed in my 2011 Chevy CRUZE and the one down by my leg slammed into my right lower leg leaving me w/ a tibial plateau and fibula fractures!! I would have walked away from that accident w/ a bruised sternum, from the seat belt, [Show More]I finally started working again on 11/15/12 after being unemployed x8 mos. On the morning of 11/28/12, I was in an auto accident, on my way to my new job, my air bags deployed in my 2011 Chevy CRUZE and the one down by my leg slammed into my right lower leg leaving me w/ a tibial plateau and fibula fractures!! I would have walked away from that accident w/ a bruised sternum, from the seat belt, and a bruised nose from the steering wheel airbag. Instead, I am once again, off of work x 8 wks w/o any income and many bills to be paid!! My new employee health insurance may not cover my treatment and I cannot even afford to go to physical therapy! Please, some one explain to me why these auto manufacturers are going crazy w/ putting SO MANY airbags in their new vehicles knowing that airbags hurt many people when they deploy?? I read an article that Toyota is putting the leg airbags in it's 2013 Rav 4 too!!!

  • jennaJanuary 8, 2013 at 3:57 pm

    I was I a accident about a month ago I slid on ice and hit a pole not even going 5 miles in hour after I got control of the car I just tapped the pole. My airbags deployed cut my fingers wide open I need 250 stitches in my hand. My car is a 1999 accura tl. And when my airbags deployed the sound was really loud and smoke came out it burned my pants. The passenger side airbag deployed late but when [Show More]I was I a accident about a month ago I slid on ice and hit a pole not even going 5 miles in hour after I got control of the car I just tapped the pole. My airbags deployed cut my fingers wide open I need 250 stitches in my hand. My car is a 1999 accura tl. And when my airbags deployed the sound was really loud and smoke came out it burned my pants. The passenger side airbag deployed late but when it did I smacked my mom in the face and left a burn mark on her left cheek. I don't know how to go about this but everyone I've talked to told me that ur airbags should never come out just bumping a pole

  • markMarch 31, 2012 at 8:16 am

    I was in a head on colision recieving a brain injury. My 1999 Honda Civic was totaled and neither the seat belt nor the airbag deployed.

  • erikJanuary 7, 2012 at 9:03 pm

    i was in an accident in april 2011 in my 2003 acura cl. someone hit me from behind going 70 mph. i hit the car in front of me causing my airbags to deploy. i dont have proof cause my car was taken away from me before i could investigate. my girlfriend who was the passenger whole right side of her face was destroyed. the surgon said her bone turned to gravel. she needed a 12 hour reconstructive sur[Show More]i was in an accident in april 2011 in my 2003 acura cl. someone hit me from behind going 70 mph. i hit the car in front of me causing my airbags to deploy. i dont have proof cause my car was taken away from me before i could investigate. my girlfriend who was the passenger whole right side of her face was destroyed. the surgon said her bone turned to gravel. she needed a 12 hour reconstructive surgery on her face. she now is going to have perment double vision in her right eye and have servre headaches for the rest of her life. i got the recall for the airbags ten days after the accident. i want to know if anyone else has had this problem and if so if there is a class action suit against honda/acura. if not, there should be. they should be held responsable for the injuries people have gotten from there airbags. the way the injuries were to my girlfriend there is no way that anything but the airbag could of done that to her face. i have a picture of her face right after the accident after she regained consiousness and its so centerally located in one area of her face that i know something came out of that airbag. there nothing that she could of hit her fface on that would have done that to her face.

  • CrystalSeptember 5, 2011 at 6:40 pm

    I was in a car accident in Aug 03, 8mths after purchasing my new Honda Civic Ex. I was the only person involved in my car accident. While driving down the road I looked down and not realizing I was on the edge of the road where I panicked and jerked my steering wheel. My car began to turn sideways where my passenger front side impacted a mailbox and began to flip. While flipping my seat belt relea[Show More]I was in a car accident in Aug 03, 8mths after purchasing my new Honda Civic Ex. I was the only person involved in my car accident. While driving down the road I looked down and not realizing I was on the edge of the road where I panicked and jerked my steering wheel. My car began to turn sideways where my passenger front side impacted a mailbox and began to flip. While flipping my seat belt released allowing me to be thrown through the drivers window, The seat belt during the flipping caused my ARM to be severely burned and also being cut where was 3/4 of the way almost amputated. I now have radial nerve damage in my arm and also limp wrist. I'm not able to open or close my hand, but stop have my arm. Neither air bag deployed. I also had a broken pelvic bone along with my hip bone on both sides. I am now 32 and completely disabled, and have been since my accident. Honda still has not had recalls for their srs sensors! Someone needs to start a class action law suit due to this. What will it take?? At the time of my accident there had been no reports about this car, wish I would've known then, I would've never purchased a Honda! I have not since!

  • mikeApril 16, 2011 at 6:19 am

    My wife was in her 2002 Honda accord today and got in a front end collision it wiped out the front end and the dash just about pinned her in the car it is about five inches lower than it should be she was driving about forty miles and hour and no air bags went off and the seat belt did not lock...wtf...anyone know a good lawyer

  • JorgeDecember 21, 2010 at 10:13 am

    my wife and her fried where on an accident yesterday and the airbags malfunction they seem to have neck back shoulder and knee injuries I am sure am going to need a lawyer and just looking today I found out about the recall airbags.i took my car to the de as lership some time ago and I tougth the repairs were fixed when I tok it for service.

  • RogerOctober 9, 2010 at 8:05 pm

    I have a 2008 Acura TL. I N AUGUST OF 2010 my air bag on the passenger side exposed itself . The metal framing which the air bag attached to was outlined on my dash. Concerned that it will not deploy when needed . I think it's a chemical reaction when the sun hits it. I only have 20,00 miles and no response from Acura. Not happy , any one else have a similar problem ?

  • ScottSeptember 25, 2010 at 2:27 am

    I have two 2002 Accords that are exhibiting transmission behavior that indicates they will fail, all under normal operating conditions. This behavior is similar to the MANY reported cases of owners of this model and year. This is the last year of this model generation (1998-2002) which was included in a recall for faulty transmissions. The 2002 model was the only model not recalled, even though[Show More]I have two 2002 Accords that are exhibiting transmission behavior that indicates they will fail, all under normal operating conditions. This behavior is similar to the MANY reported cases of owners of this model and year. This is the last year of this model generation (1998-2002) which was included in a recall for faulty transmissions. The 2002 model was the only model not recalled, even though it uses the same transmission. I, along with hundreds of other 02 Accords owners, documented these experiences at CarComplaints.com. There has been no reasonable explanation as to why this model year was not included in the recall!

  • CraigAugust 24, 2010 at 7:52 pm

    I have an 2005 Acura TL. My airbag light does not always go off after starting the car. I had a mechanic look at it and was told it is because of a faulty seat belt latch. The cost to fix it is $300.00 Are safety features such as seat belts and airbags considered wear and tear items? I would like Acura to fix this for free. If I was to have an accident and the airbags do not deploy, who is respons[Show More]I have an 2005 Acura TL. My airbag light does not always go off after starting the car. I had a mechanic look at it and was told it is because of a faulty seat belt latch. The cost to fix it is $300.00 Are safety features such as seat belts and airbags considered wear and tear items? I would like Acura to fix this for free. If I was to have an accident and the airbags do not deploy, who is responsible?

  • DavidAugust 22, 2010 at 9:41 pm

    After my Acura TL 2007 parked at sunlight for prolonged time I hear loud sound like deep breath from the passenger air bag dashboard location when I start the engine. Is anybody have such experience? My concern is that it may inflate without reason or may not inflate properly when needed.

  • Jason W.March 9, 2010 at 3:07 pm

    My gf was broadsided and the side bag did not deploy in her 08 Civic. Have there been any updates? Now I have a used 99 Accord and the bags did not deploy when she rear ended another car. I haven't heared anything on those either.

  • shriramMarch 2, 2010 at 9:58 pm

    My Honda 2002 met with an accident in which the impact of collision was head on the driver side. But the air bag didn't deploy on the driverside , instead was deployed on front passenger side. The seatbelt also didn't work properly and didn't restrained me from hitting the steering wheel. I hit really hard on the steering wheel because airbags didn't deploy and was severely hurt in my chest, bone[Show More]My Honda 2002 met with an accident in which the impact of collision was head on the driver side. But the air bag didn't deploy on the driverside , instead was deployed on front passenger side. The seatbelt also didn't work properly and didn't restrained me from hitting the steering wheel. I hit really hard on the steering wheel because airbags didn't deploy and was severely hurt in my chest, boney cage and back. Why didn't driverside airbag was deflated during the accident? It's one of the most important safety feature. Also same with the seat belt. Why Honda is boasting of these saftey feature when they don't work, when needed the most.

  • Linda GFebruary 25, 2010 at 12:47 am

    Anyone know if 1998 Civics are in the recall? My daughter was in an accident, air bag deployed with such force that it broke her arm.

  • Ellie GFebruary 19, 2010 at 2:44 pm

    My daughter was in an accident where she was t-boned by another vehicle after failing to stop at a stop sign. Side impact at about 55 MPH. It caused her car to roll over several times before landing upsidedown. The front and side airbags on the passenger side that was hit deployed, but her side curtain airbags DID NOT deploy, causing her to hit her head against the driver door glass. Aren't the[Show More]My daughter was in an accident where she was t-boned by another vehicle after failing to stop at a stop sign. Side impact at about 55 MPH. It caused her car to roll over several times before landing upsidedown. The front and side airbags on the passenger side that was hit deployed, but her side curtain airbags DID NOT deploy, causing her to hit her head against the driver door glass. Aren't the air bags supposed to go off in a roll over accident on both sides?

  • BrianFebruary 19, 2010 at 5:09 am

    My daughters boyfriend was driving our 2001 Honda Civic, while going through an intersection another woman in a Mini Cooper blew the red light causing our civic to broad side the Mini, our Air bag module (Cannister) exploded like a grenade, it was obviously made with way too much accelarant, it blew the steering wheel apart, almost ripped the bag assy from the steering wheel, smashed out the instr[Show More]My daughters boyfriend was driving our 2001 Honda Civic, while going through an intersection another woman in a Mini Cooper blew the red light causing our civic to broad side the Mini, our Air bag module (Cannister) exploded like a grenade, it was obviously made with way too much accelarant, it blew the steering wheel apart, almost ripped the bag assy from the steering wheel, smashed out the instrument panel, and showered the occupants of the car with shrapnel , luckily no one was hit in the face,my daughters boy friend was cut and permanently scared on his hand. Notified Honda, they tried to buy the Civic from the wrecking yard, when they were told i still owned the car, they flew engineers from Honda and Tacata? the bag manufacture out from the east cost to inspect the car, at first a representative hired by Hondato inspect the car tried to tell me it was normal and caused by the impact of the collision?? I called BS, when they figured out that I with my mechanical background wasnt going to buy it, they changed theri line, after inspecting the vehicle, the airbag enginer sat back in our Civics seat and looked at me and said, well obviously this was not supposed to happen, I basically said no duh! A few weeks late honda sent me a letter thanking me for my cooperation in the matter, and it allowed them to see what could happen in a "unique event" I contacted attorneys and basically they said since no one was grossly injured or maimed, it wasn't worth their while, it was a few months later that the recalls came out for this problem on the Civic.

  • KristenFebruary 8, 2010 at 11:31 pm

    I had a wreck in the middle of January in my 2001 Honda Accord coupe. I was pulling into the gas station and I cannot tell you what happened because I simply do not remember. All I know is that I went through a BP gas station window and my airbags did not deploy. If I had not had my seatbelt on, I would have been killed. Correct me if I am wrong, but aren't Hondas suppose to be some of the safest [Show More]I had a wreck in the middle of January in my 2001 Honda Accord coupe. I was pulling into the gas station and I cannot tell you what happened because I simply do not remember. All I know is that I went through a BP gas station window and my airbags did not deploy. If I had not had my seatbelt on, I would have been killed. Correct me if I am wrong, but aren't Hondas suppose to be some of the safest cars on the road? I need a lawyer so Honda knows how to make their vehicles safer and so maybe, if I ever decide to buy another Honda, my airbags will actually work. It's ridiculous to pay $13,000 for a car, and not have my airbags work. I believe I should be compensated for this ridiculous problem. Help...please!!!

  • victorDecember 1, 2009 at 9:56 pm

    I was in car accident my 2003 ford ranger flipped three times and the airbags did not deploy I really need a lawyer can somebody help me.!!!!!!

  • ShaunieNovember 3, 2009 at 8:30 am

    I was in a collision this evening were I rear ended a vehicle at over 70mph and my airbags did not deploy causing me head trama.

  • JacquelineAugust 4, 2009 at 5:41 am

    I was broadsided by another vehicle. My airbag burst when a solid heavy metal missle ejected through the shaft missing punching a hole through my skull only because I hit the steering wheel. I called Honda and they denied having any knowledge of this defect. I asked at that time if they were going to wait until someone got killed before they started some kind of recall. Well, I guess that's ju[Show More]I was broadsided by another vehicle. My airbag burst when a solid heavy metal missle ejected through the shaft missing punching a hole through my skull only because I hit the steering wheel. I called Honda and they denied having any knowledge of this defect. I asked at that time if they were going to wait until someone got killed before they started some kind of recall. Well, I guess that's just what they did. I am sorry no one at Honda listened to me. I even tried hiring an attorney but he wouldn't take the case because Honda denied any liability.

Share Your Comments

I authorize the above comments be posted on this page*

Want your comments reviewed by a lawyer?

To have an attorney review your comments and contact you about a potential case, provide your contact information below. This will not be published.

NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

More Top Stories

Gardasil Lawsuits Over Failure To Warn Doctors About HPV Vaccine Risks Cleared To Move Forward
Gardasil Lawsuits Over Failure To Warn Doctors About HPV Vaccine Risks Cleared To Move Forward (Posted today)

A federal judge has cleared Gardasil lawsuits to move forward, after paring down plaintiffs' claims to those alleging Merck either failed to warn, or fraudulently concealed, the HPV vaccine's risks from the medical community.