“The seatbelt buckle channel for the driver and front passenger was manufactured outside of specification, causing interference between the buckle channel and the release button,” Honda said in its report. “The surface coating of the buckle channel can deteriorate over time and the release button can shrink against the channel at low temperatures, increasing friction.”
The models affected by the recall include some of Honda’s most popular vehicles, including the CR-V and Accord, which were featured on Car and Driver’s best-selling cars of 2022. The models affected by the recall are the CR-V between 2017 and 2020, the Accord between 2018 and 2019, the Accord Hybrid between 2018 and 2019, the Odyssey between 2018 and 2020, the Acura RDX between 2019 and 2020 and the 2019 Insight.
The company said in the report that the increased friction could pose a safety risk.
“If the seat belt buckle does not engage, the occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the occupant’s risk of injury,” Honda wrote.
Honda received more than 300 warranty claims related to the issue between March 22, 2019 and January 16, 2023, but the company said there had been no reports of injuries or deaths from the seat belt issue as of early March.
The Honda recall comes a month after the Japanese automaker recalled more than 114,000 Fit and HR-V vehicles over a problem with the rear camera. A February NHTSA report shows that Honda ordered the recall for those ignition-equipped vehicles because the display may not power on and the car is unable to display the video image from the rear view camera. Honda estimated that 100 percent of cars may have the defect.
Other automakers, such as Toyota and Chevrolet, have recently announced recalls for a variety of reasons, from faulty software to missing or faulty parts.
So, what’s next for Honda owners affected by the latest recall? The company said in its report to U.S. safety regulators that owners affected by seatbelt issues should expect Honda to contact them by mail on April 17. When owners receive Honda’s notice, they will be instructed to obtain a free seatbelt replacement from an authorized dealer, the company said.
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