Honda is subject to three federal investigations involving more than 700,000 vehicles | Carscoops

      Federal investigators are looking into reports of airbag failures, loss of power, and defective seat belt systems affecting numerous vehicles.

      16 hours ago

      by Michael Gauthier

      The NHTSA is investigating nearly 710,000 Hondas due to safety concerns.

      Three distinct inquiries focus on airbags, seat belts, and power loss.

      Affected models include the Odyssey, Pilot, and CR-V Hybrid vehicles.

      While Ford is recognized for leading in recalls, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched three simultaneous investigations into Honda. This action follows their recent inspection of the Acura ILX for a potential braking problem.

      One particularly concerning investigation is regarding inadvertent airbag deployments in 2018-2022 Honda Odysseys. The government has received 18 complaints alleging that side airbags can unexpectedly deploy while the vehicle is in motion.

      Further details indicate that these activations can occur after hitting a pothole or other minor road irregularities. However, such minor impacts should not trigger airbag deployment.

      This represents a significant safety concern, as airbags can potentially injure occupants and startle drivers, possibly leading to accidents. There is at least one reported incident where this malfunction has caused injuries to two individuals.

      The Office of Defects Investigation is conducting a preliminary evaluation to "determine the scope and severity of the potential problem and to fully assess the potential safety-related issues."

      Issues with the Seat Belt Warning System in Pilots?

      The second investigation pertains to the 2023 and 2024 Pilot, which may have a malfunctioning warning system for the rear passenger seat belt. The government has received six complaints along with several field reports concerning this matter.

      Owners claim that the safety system may produce both false positives and false negatives. This could lead drivers to disregard warnings or mistakenly believe that rear seat passengers—especially children—are properly buckled when they are not.

      Like the previous investigation, this is a preliminary evaluation aimed at understanding the scope and severity of the problem as well as its potential impacts.

      Power Loss in CR-V Hybrids

      Lastly, there are troubling reports indicating that 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrids can unexpectedly lose power at highway speeds. This intermittent issue is often preceded by a “flashing check engine light” right before the power loss occurs.

      Drivers may need to coast to the side of the road and restart their vehicle to resolve the issue, but this action also resets the check engine light and erases fault codes.

      The sporadic nature of the problem and the clearing of codes complicate identifying the root cause, leading to unresolved issues even after owners pursue repairs. This problem could affect 124,795 vehicles, with 48 complaints and several field reports already logged by the government.

      In summary, these three investigations encompass a total of 708,369 vehicles, with the potential airbag issue in the Odyssey impacting the largest number—441,002 minivans.