Which Honda Vehicles Have Dangerous Takata Airbags?

Posted on
Author
Scott McCracken
Tagged
#airbags-and-seat-belts #recall

Takata's inflators use a chemical called ammonium nitrate to inflate the airbag during a crash. The ammonium nitrate can become unstable when exposed to temperature fluctuations or high humidity, causing the inflators to explode with an unexpected amount of force. How much force? Enough to rupture the metal canister during a deployment and spray sharp fragments out into the cabin during a crash.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), at least 15 drivers have been killed and 250 people injured by an exploding Takata inflator.

High Risk Vehicles ∞

Certain 2001-2003 Honda and Acura vehicles have been labeled as having a “high risk” of airbag inflator ruptures. In late June 2016, NHTSA urged owners of these cars to stop driving immediately.

"With as high as a 50 percent chance of a dangerous airbag inflator rupture in a crash, these vehicles are unsafe and need to be repaired immediately,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Folks should not drive these vehicles unless they are going straight to a dealer to have them repaired immediately, free of charge."

MakeModelYears
AcuraCL2003
TL2002-2003
HondaAccord2001-2002
Civic2001-2002
CR-V2002
Odyssey2002
Pilot2003

To their credit, Honda has gone through an unprecedented effort to notify owners on this list. In addition to going door-to-door looking for registered owners, Honda has made over 35 million phone calls and sent over 1 million text messages to any owner whose vehicle is still unrepaired.

According to NHTSA's data, however, only 70% have received repairs. That leaves 313,000 vehicles that need critical repairs immediately. If you own one these cars:

  1. Visit SaferCar.gov to check whether their vehicle has any outstanding safety recalls.
  2. Call your nearest dealer and schedule a no-cost, immediate repair.
Illustrator location illustraion provided by Honda recall notice

Full List of Honda Vehicles with Recalled Takata Inflators ∞

Given the scope of these recalls, NHTSA decided to spread out the recalls to get replacements to owners in the highest-risk regions or zones first. The last wave of inflator-related recalls is expected to begin in early 2020.

A zone is a group of states and territories where a vehicle was originally sold or registered at some point in time.

  • Zone A: Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • Zone B: Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
  • Zone C: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
MakeModelYearsLimited To
HondaAccord2008-2013Zone A
2008, 2010Zone B
2009Zone C
2012
Accord (4-cylinder)2001-2007
Accord (V6)2001-2002
Accord Crosstour2008-2013Zone A
2010Zone B
Civic2006-2011Zone A
2006-2008, 2010Zone B
2009Zone C
2001-2011
Civic GX2006-2011Zone A
2006-2008Zone B
Civic Hybrid2003-2005
2006-2013Zone A
2006-2008, 2010Zone B
2009Zone C
Crosstour2010-2012
CR-V2005-2013Zone A
2005-2008, 2010Zone B
2009Zone C
2002-2004
2016
CR-Z2011-2015
Element2003-2011Zone A
2003-2008, 2010Zone B
2003-2004, 2009Zone C
FCX Clarity2010-2013Zone A
2012-2014
Fit2007-2013Zone A
2007-2008, 2010Zone B
2009Zone C
2007-2014
Insight2010-2013Zone A
2010Zone B
2010-2014
Odyssey2002-2004Zone A, B, C
Pilot2011-2013Zone A
2003-2008Zone A, B
2010Zone B
2003-2004, 2009Zone C
2005-2012
Ridgeline2006-2013Zone A
2006-2008, 2010Zone B
2009Zone C
2012-2014

More information about the "zones" is available on CarComplaints.com.

Take Action ∞

Owners of these vehicles are urged to call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit this site for more information.

"Consumers that are uncertain whether their vehicle is impacted by the Takata recalls, or any other recall, can contact their manufacturer’s website to search, by their vehicle identification number (VIN) to confirm whether their individual vehicle has an open recall that needs to be addressed."

Honda Owners Killed or Injured by a Takata Airbag Inflator ∞

A list of alleged Takata airbag deaths and injuries going back to 2003 has started to surface following government investigations, recalls and a growing number of lawsuits. That includes the tragic stories of the following Honda owners:

  • Delia Robles, Corona, California — On September 30th, 2016, Robles hit a Chevy pickup head-on at an intersection, causing the airbag to explode when it deployed.
  • 13 Year Old Boy from Grove City, Pennsylvania — On July 22, 2015, a 13 year old apparently took the keys to the family's Honda Accord, lost control and traveled off Route 58 in Mercer County. The 4:46 a.m. crash caused the front airbag to explode after the car hit a fallen tree.
  • Ashley Parham of Midwest City, OK — On May 27, 2009, just days after graduating high school, Ms. Parnham's 2001 Honda Accord bumped another car at slow speeds in a parking lot. It was enough to trigger the airbags and the defective Takata inflator ruptured and sent metal shards throuh Ms. Parnham's carotid artery. She was only 18 years old and dreamed of becoming a teacher.
  • Gurjit Rathore of Richmond, VA — On Christmas Eve 2009, 33-year old Gurjit Rathore was driving her 2001 Honda Accord when she hit a mail trunk. The airbag detonated and sent shrapnel through the cabin that tragically caused Ms. Rathore to bleed to death in front of her children.
  • Hein Tran of Orlando, FL — Mrs. Tran was killed by an exploding Takata airbag in her 2001 Honda Accord during a low speed accident. When law enforcement showed up, the wounds were so severe that they thought she had been stabbed in the neck.
  • Law Suk Leh of Borneo, Malaysia — Mrs. Leh was killed while driving her 2003 Honda City from a severe puncture wound to the neck. She was in the final week of her pregnancy.

Generations Where This Problem Has Been Reported

This problem has popped up in the following Honda generations.

Most years within a generation share the same parts and manufacturing process. You can also expect them to share the same problems. So while it may not be a problem in every year yet, it's worth looking out for.

Further Reading

A timeline of stories related to this problem. We try to boil these stories down to the most important bits so you can quickly see where things stand. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts for your vehicle over at CarComplaints.com.

  3. The 4th phase of Honda’s Takata airbag recall is set to get underway next month.

    Honda says it has made a lot of progress with existing recall repairs because plenty of replace airbag inflators are available. The 77.7 percent completion rate out of nearly 13 million recalled vehicles has allowed Honda to issue the recall now instead of waiting until December. An automaker that’s actually ahead of schedule on a recall? What world is this?…

    keep reading article "The Next Phase of Honda’s Massive Takata Recall is Ahead of Schedule"

  5. Malaysia has had enough of people ignoring Takata airbag recall warnings, and will start imposing fines] on owners who don't get their recalled inflators fixed.

    Malaysian Transport Minister, Anthony Loke, made the announcement following confirmation of another death in a Honda vehicle that involved a ruptured Takata airbag inflator. Or in this case, Honda says two Takata airbag inflators ruptured in the same crash.…

    keep reading article "Malaysia is Tired of Owners Ignoring Takata Warnings"

  6. 2001-2002 Accord. 2001-2002 Civic. 2002 CR-V. 2002 Odyssey. 2003 Pilot. If you own one of these vehicles and you haven't replaced their Takata inflators, the next knock on your door could be from a Honda representitive.

    And you should answer ... it might just save your life.

    In addition to going door-to-door with about 550 teams of representatives, Honda says it has made more than 35 million phone calls to customers and sent more than 1 million text messages, trying to convince owners to get the vehicles repaired.

    Desperate times. Desperate measures.

    keep reading article "550 Honda Representitives Are Going Door to Door, Begging Certain Owners to Replace Their Takata Inflators"

  7. Takata's chapter 11 bankruptcy plan has been approved by a Delaware judge.

    While that means some reorganization, pay-offs for creditors, yadda yadda etc ... the dollar figure I was interested in involves how much is being set aside for injury victims.

    The action makes official the agreement that requires the airbag manufacturer to pay $850 million to help automakers cover some of the cost for airbag recalls. Another $125 million will be paid to compensate drivers injured by exploding airbags.

    The plan also includes a "channeling injunction" for future victims. Unfortunately I don't see any mention of compensation for the families of people killed by the inflators, but I'm sure we'll see future litigation in those cases.

    keep reading article "Takata's Bankruptcy Has Been Improved. What Does That Mean for Victims?"

  8. Nichol Lynn Barker Pahlck's 2002 Honda Accord was involved in a "crash that should not have been fatal," according to Florida authorities.

    Pahlck's family denies receiving any recall notices although Honda said in previous statements that 21 airbag recall notices were mailed over the years to registered owners of the Accord, including 10 recall notices sent to the current owner.

    The 2002 Accord is part of the Takata "High Risk" list. Regardless, these stories are hard to read and point to the importance of getting any recalled inflators replaced.

    keep reading article "2002 Accord Mother of Three Killed by Takata Airbag"

  9. It's a new year, so we're out with the old and in with the ... ahh, crap. There's another Takata recall for Honda owners? 2018 ... 2017 ... it's all the same.

    This recall involves 717,000 vehicles which, I believe, brings the grand total of recalled vehicles to 72 quadrillion or so.

    The Takata airbag inflators are at risk of exploding due to the metal inflators that contain the explosive chemical, ammonium nitrate. The chemical can become unstable due to heat, time and moisture, something that has already killed at least 21 people worldwide, most of those deaths occurring in Honda vehicles.

    keep reading article "Honda Vehicles Need Passenger-Side Takata Replacement"

  10. Honda. Takata. Recall. Three words that I'm tired of typing and you're sick of hearing about.

    Yet here we are with another recall of 1.3 million Honda and Acura vehicles with ticking time-bombs for airbags. Many of the vehicles are being recalled for a second time.

    You probably know the script by now:

    1. Over time Takata airbag inflators are susceptible to moisture.
    2. When that moisture mixes with the airbag's propellant, the inflators become unstable and can explode sending shrapnel throughout the cabin.
    3. The problem is responsible for 11 deaths in the USA alone.

    Honda has now recalled 11.4 million vehicles for this problem. Eleven point four million! Find out if yours is on the most recent list.

    keep reading article "Yes, There's Another Honda Takata Recall"

  11. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) makes a lot of announcements, but here's one thing you'll rarely hear from them: a plea to stop driving your car. Immediately.

    NHTSA says based on new testing of Takata airbag inflators, 313,000 older vehicles have a 50 percent chance of experiencing ruptures of the inflators during the deployment of the airbags. A FIFTY percent chance. That's about 49.999999% too high.…

    keep reading article "NHTSA to Honda Owners: Stop Driving Immediately"

  13. Your vehicle might be involved in one of the largest and most dangerous recalls in automotive history. Honda is recalling 2.2 million vehicles with PSDI-5 Takata inflators.

    You've probably heard about Takata by now. They're the ones responsible for airbag inflators that explode with too much force, sometimes sending metal shrapnel flying throughout the cabin. They're also the ones that have been linked to a number of deaths and injuries.

    The good news here is that these particular inflators (PSDI-5) don't have the same history of rupturing. The bad news is replacement parts aren't expected to be available until later this year.

    Needless to say, Takata isn't going to make anyone's holiday card list.

    keep reading article "PSDI-5 Takata Inflators Recalled in 2.2 Million Honda Vehicles"

  14. An additional 104,000 vehicles are joining the growing list of Honda cars with dangerous Takata airbag inflators. Owners will need to have their car's driver-side inflators replaced.

    This includes the 2001 Accord, 2004 Civic, and 2008 Pilot. Honda hasn't said when the recall will begin, but the moment it does you **need to get your airbags serviced.

    This is a very dangerous problem that demands attention. Concerned owners with questions can contact Honda customer service at 800-999-1009.…

    keep reading article "More Takata Airbags Recalled"

OK, Now What?

Maybe you've experienced this problem. Maybe you're concerned you will soon. Whatever the reason, here's a handful of things you can do to make sure it gets the attention it deserves.

  1. File Your Complaint

    CarComplaints.com is a free site dedicated to uncovering problem trends and informing owners about potential issues with their cars. Major class action law firms use this data when researching cases.

    Add a Complaint

  2. Notify CAS

    The Center for Auto Safety (CAS) is a pro-consumer organization that researches auto safety issues & often compels the US government to do the right thing through lobbying & lawsuits.

    Notify The CAS

  3. Report a Safety Concern

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the US agency with the authority to conduct vehicle defect investigations & force recalls. Their focus is on safety-related issues.

    Report to NHTSA