Honda recalls nearly 100,000 vehicles due to potential airbag issues

Honda is reportedly conducting a recall of 98,892 vehicles across 13 Honda and Acura models in the United States due to a potential issue with the passenger airbag sensor. As reported by Car and Driver on Tuesday, the potential defect lies in the passenger weight sensor in the front seat, which could cause the airbag to deploy incorrectly during a collision.

The affected models include the Acura TLX, RDX, and MDX, as well as the Honda Ridgeline, Pilot, Passport, Odyssey, Insight, HR-V, CR-V, Fit, Civic, and Accord. According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the problem originates from a capacitor on the front passenger weight sensor’s circuit board. This component is prone to cracking and internal short-circuiting when exposed to moisture.

According to the recall documents, the defect was triggered by a change in the base material used for the sensor’s circuit board. This replacement material allows for additional pressure on the circuit board, increasing the risk of the capacitor cracking. The NHTSA noted that the expansion of the recall follows the discovery of supplier errors in calculating the end of the production period for the problematic components, the use of inaccurate data to identify affected vehicles, and an inadequate verification process.

As a corrective measure, Honda and Acura dealers will replace the passenger weight sensors with new components using the original base material, which has been declared free of the defect. Honda plans to begin notifying affected vehicle owners via mail starting from 6 July 2026.