Honda Seatbelt Problems Result in Recall For Over 300,000 Accord, HR-Vs

More than 300,000 Honda Accord and HR-V’s are being recalled, due to problems with front seatbelts that may not properly restrain occupants in the event of an auto accident, increasing the risk of serious injuries.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Honda recall (PDF) on On November 21,  after determining that a the front seat belt pretensioner may have been assembled without a rivet that secures the quick connector and wire plate.

A pretensioner is engineered to retract the seatbelt in the event of a crash, aiding in restraining the occupant to avoid ejection or further injuries. Officials are warning that the seatbelt pretensioner lacks a rivet that normally secures the quick connector and wire plate, which can cause the Honda seatbelts to fail in the event of a crash.

As a result of the Honda seatbelt problems, the NHTSA indicates the Accord and HR-Vs from 2023-2024 model years fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, “Occupant Crash Protection,” 209, “Seat Belt Assembles,” and 210, “Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages.”

Honda Seatbelt Recall

Honda first learned about the problem in May 2023, after receiving a customer complaint regarding a seatbelt pretensioner failure. Following the report, Honda’s investigative division opened an inquiry into the matter and requested the affected parts in September.

Following an investigation into the manufacturing process, Honda determined a certain population of vehicle seatbelt pretensioners may have been assembled incorrectly and issued a safety recall of impacted vehicles.

Honda plans to begin notifying owners on January 8 with instructions on how to schedule an appointment with an authorized Honda dealer to receive a free vehicle inspection, where dealers will be instructed to replace the seatbelt pretensioner if necessary, free of charge.

For more information on the recall, owners may contact Honda customer service by phone at 1-888-234-2138 and reference recall MG7 and NG5. They may also contact the NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline by phone at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or visit their website at www.nhtsa.gov.