NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V661
Manufacturer Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Components AIR BAGS
Potential Number of Units Affected 1,357,311

 

Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

 

Summary

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Insight, Fit and Pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the 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.

Lastly, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in 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.

These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

 

Remedy

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin November 13, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda’s numbers for this recall are M2J and S2K.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

Check if your Honda has a Recall

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A18-098
September 28, 2018
Version 1

Safety Recall: Takata Front Passenger’s Airbag Inflator (Phase 4)

Following NHTSA direction, there are five phases based on three different zones.

If the iN VIN status inquiry directs you to do this campaign, follow the applicable procedure regardless of where the vehicle is currently located because it may have moved between different states. Make sure you file a claim using the correct warranty claim information to avoid your claim being rejected.

 

AFFECTED VEHICLES

Zone A

 

Zone A applies to model year 2014 through 2015 vehicles that are located or ever registered in: 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

 

Zone B applies to model year 2011 through 2015 vehicles that are located or ever registered in: 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

 

Zone C applies to model year 2010-15 vehicles that are located in: 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.

 

BACKGROUND

NHTSA and its independent expert reviewed the findings of three independent investigations into the Takata air bag inflator ruptures. According to NHTSA, the combination of time, high temperature fluctuations, and humidity contribute to the degradation of the propellant in the inflators. NHTSA has concluded that this degradation can cause the propellant to burn too quickly, creating more pressure than the inflator can withstand, and, in extreme cases, causing the inflator to rupture and send shrapnel through the airbag toward vehicle occupants. NHTSA is prioritizing the recall of airbag inflators based on the risk of injury or death to vehicle occupants.

Currently there are five planned phases to this campaign. The final phase will launch in about a year per NHTSA direction. Additionally, AHM may add new affected models or affected years to each phase. Always do an iN VIN status inquiry to see if a vehicle is affected.

For more information about these inflator recalls, go to www.safercar.gov and use keyword TAKATA.

 

NOTE

If the VIN status inquiry indicates that the vehicle is subject to any open safety recalls, including the driver’s airbag inflator, make sure to also complete those recall repairs before returning the vehicle to the customer. If you are unable to complete any open recall, advise the customer of the recall status and when the recall could be completed.

Make sure you review this service bulletin for installation instructions and details about model applicability.

 

REPAIR PROCEDURE TABLE OF CONTENTS

This bulletin has repair procedures for several vehicles. Make sure to use the applicable procedure for the vehicle you are working on.

 

 

CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION

Owners of affected vehicles will be sent a notification of this campaign.

Do an iN VIN status inquiry to make sure the vehicle is shown as eligible.

Some vehicles affected by this campaign may be in your used vehicle inventory.

Failure to repair a vehicle subject to a recall or campaign may subject your dealership to claims or lawsuits from the customer or anyone else harmed as a result of such failure. To see if a vehicle in inventory is affected by this safety recall, do a VIN status inquiry before selling it.

 

CORRECTIVE ACTION

Replace the passenger’s airbag inflator, then return the original, undeployed inflator as directed.

 

PARTS INFORMATION

 

 

NOTES

• The inflator kit box must be used to return the recalled inflator to its supplier. Be careful not to damage the inflator kit box.
• If the recalled, undeployed inflator is not returned, the warranty claim for that vehicle will be charged back to your dealership.
• To return the undeployed inflators, follow the shipping instructions outlined in PIB A15-0002, Inflator Kit Return Process.
• Parts staff can scan the part number and serial number from the outside of the box into the warranty claim by using the Controlled Part Serial No. screen and scanning the applicable information. Refer to the Job Aid Ordering and Managing Replacement Inflators for more information.

 

REQUIRED TOOLS

 

 

NOTES

• Each dealer was previously sent over 10 tools. If you need more, the gauge is available for dealer ordering.
• This tool is for use on the inflators with blue collars only.

 

WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION

NOTES

• Process claims as quickly as possible so that resources can be properly allocated.
• Enter the part number of the inflator that you received into the warranty claim, not the part number that you ordered. For more information, refer to step 6 of REPAIR PROCEDURE.
• To avoid non-payment of warranty claims, the serial number on the box of the new airbag inflator must be entered into the warranty claim. For more information, refer to step 6 of REPAIR PROCEDURE.
• To avoid a warranty claim being charged back to your dealership, you must return the recalled, undeployed inflator to its supplier. Follow the shipping instructions outlined in PIB A15-0002, Inflator Kit Return Process.
• The serial number is encoded into the bar code printed on the label inside of the box and on a label attached to the outside of the box. If your dealership uses a scanner, you can scan the serial number from either place into the claim.
• The part number is encoded into a barcode attached to the outside of the box. If your dealership uses a scanner, you can scan the part number into the claim.
• If you confuse the serial number and part number when entering the claim information, your claim will automatically be rejected.
• For more information about scanning and filing airbag inflator recall claims, refer to Ordering and Managing Replacement Inflators. From the iN, select Service, Warranty, then Claims Reference Guide. Under HOT TIPS/ TOPICS, select Ordering and Managing Replacement Inflators.
• Each VIN is assigned to a specific campaign. Make sure you file a claim using the correct warranty claim information to avoid your claim being rejected. Replacing the front passenger’s airbag inflator

 

Skill Level: Repair Technician

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A18-098

September 28, 2018

Version 1

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RCRIT-18V661-7810.pdf

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Statement by American Honda Regarding Expanded Recall of Takata Non-desiccated Passenger Front Airbag Inflators: Phase 4

September 28, 2018

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RMISC-18V661-6841.pdf

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Manufacturer Notice

September 28, 2018

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RCMN-18V661-4559.pdf

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Manufacturer Notice

September 28, 2018

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RCMN-18V661-0559.pdf

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DIR 4 – VEHICLE INFORMATION BY ZONE (PSPI-6)

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RMISC-18V661-2729.pdf

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Manufacturer Notice

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RCMN-18V661-7508.pdf

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DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RMISC-18V661-5933.pdf

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Recall Acknowledgement

September 28, 2018

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RCAK-18V661-4562.pdf

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