Honda Side Airbag Problems Prompt NHTSA Investigation Amid Injury Reports

Separate investigations have also been opened into other Honda vehicles due to defects involving rear seatbelt warning systems and loss of motive power.

More than 441,000 Honda Odyssey vehicles are under federal investigation following reports that side airbags have deployed unexpectedly, posing a potential risk of injury or collision.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Honda side airbag investigation on October 28, after receiving reports of problems with the side airbags inflating without warning while vehicles were in motion, often after hitting a bump, uneven pavement or other surface irregularities.

Side airbags are designed to deploy along the sides of a vehicle’s seats or doors during a side-impact crash, creating a protective barrier between occupants and the interior panels, glass or incoming objects. In the Honda Odyssey, these airbags help reduce the risk of head, chest and pelvic injuries by cushioning the force of impact during a collision.

When these airbags deploy unexpectedly, however, they can strike occupants with significant force and startle the driver, increasing the likelihood of losing control of the vehicle. Sudden inflation could also obstruct the driver’s view or attention, raising the risk of an accident even in otherwise normal driving conditions.

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) resume (PDF) indicates that the manufacturer has received at least 18 complaints regarding the issue, including two reports of injuries.

Federal regulators have launched a preliminary evaluation targeting 441,002 Honda Odyssey minivans from model years 2018 through 2022 to assess the scope and seriousness of the potential safety hazard.

Rear Seatbelt Investigation

On the same day it announced the side airbag probe, NHTSA also opened an investigation into the rear seatbelt warning system in certain Honda Pilot SUVs. The system is designed to alert drivers when passengers in the back seats are not properly buckled, helping ensure everyone remains secured during a crash.

However, inaccurate seatbelt alerts may cause drivers to believe rear passengers are safely restrained when they are not, or lead occupants to ignore the warnings altogether. This raises particular safety concerns for children and others who depend on accurate prompts to buckle up.

The preliminary evaluation covers approximately 142,572 model year 2023 and 2024 Honda Pilot vehicles, following reports that seatbelt indicators were providing false information for both second- and third-row seats. According to an ODI report (PDF), the investigation was launched after at least six consumer complaints alleging faulty rear seatbelt warnings were received.

Loss of Motive Power Investigation

A third investigation was launched on October 28 into approximately 124,795 model year 2020 through 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid vehicles, after federal regulators received at least 48 owner reports describing intermittent loss of power while driving, a defect that could increase the risk of a crash. 

The ODI resume (PDF) reports that the loss of motive power occurs without warning at highway speeds and is accompanied by a flashing check engine light immediately beforehand.

Motive power can be restored by turning the ignition off and back on. However, this also clears the check engine light and any fault codes that were set. 

The intermittent nature of this fault, combined with the absence of fault codes, often leads to multiple visits to repair facilities without any successful repairs.

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