by Large-Scale Investigation of Safety Issues
Although Ford is often associated with the largest number of recalls, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration simultaneously initiated three separate investigations regarding Honda vehicles. This occurs approximately a week after the start of the Acura ILX inspection due to potential brake system problems.
Inadvertent Airbag Deployment
One of the most concerning investigations pertains to the inadvertent deployment of airbags in 2018-2022 Honda Odyssey minivans. The government has received 18 complaints alleging that the side airbags can randomly activate while the vehicle is in motion.
Some of these activations, reportedly, occur after hitting a pothole or other road irregularity. However, such relatively minor impacts should not trigger airbag deployment.
This is a serious safety issue because airbags can injure passengers as well as startle the driver, causing an accident. Unfortunately, this is not a theoretical threat – the government is aware of one incident that reportedly injured two people.
The Office of Defects Investigation is conducting a preliminary evaluation to “determine the scope and severity of the potential problem and fully assess potential safety issues.”
Issues with the Seat Belt Warning System
The second investigation focuses on 2023 and 2024 Pilot models, which may have a faulty seat belt warning system for rear passengers. The government has received six complaints, as well as numerous field reports related to this issue.
Owners claim that the safety system can produce both false positives and false negatives. This could lead to drivers ignoring warnings or believing that passengers in the rear seats – especially children – are buckled up when they are not.
Loss of Power in CR-V Hybrid Models
Finally, there are alarming reports that 2020-2022 CR-V hybrid models may lose power at highway speeds with minimal warning. This is reportedly an intermittent issue preceded by a “flashing check engine light immediately before the loss of driving force.”
Drivers appear to be forced to pull over to the side of the road, where they can turn the ignition off and back on. This reportedly resolves the issue but clears the check engine light and fault codes.
The intermittent nature of the problem and the clearing of codes make it difficult to find the root cause, leading to the issue remaining unresolved even after owners seek repairs. The problem may affect 124,795 vehicles, and the government has received 48 complaints as well as several field reports.
Overall, the three investigations cover 708,369 vehicles. The potential airbag issue with the Odyssey would have the greatest impact, as it could concern 441,002 minivans.
These simultaneous federal investigations point to systemic quality control issues at one of the most reliable automakers. The variety of identified problems is particularly striking – from electronic safety systems to mechanical drivetrain components. For owners of the involved models, it is important to monitor official communications from the manufacturer and immediately contact dealerships if any signs of the described malfunctions are detected. Such investigations typically last several months before a decision is made regarding the necessity of a vehicle recall.
