Honda Recalls 440,000 Vehicles: Airbags May Deploy Unexpectedly

Honda has issued a safety recall for 440,830 Odyssey minivans. This vehicle has second and third row curtain airbags that can deploy unexpectedly under certain driving conditions. This recall impacts the 2018-2022 Odyssey.

According to recall reportSupplemental restraint systems (SRS), as car airbags are known, have software control logic that can misinterpret certain inputs as side impacts, causing the curtain airbags to deploy. Driving over potholes, speed bumps, and road debris in the Odyssey can trigger this.

Honda first became aware of the potential problem in November 2017 and opened an investigation that lasted nearly four years. In July 2021, Honda discovered that poor road surfaces, passing debris, or objects hitting the undercarriage can cause the second and third row airbags to deploy.

But in October of that year, the automaker determined there were no safety concerns related to this issue.

The new NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation opens in October 2025. Initial Evaluation. The agency had received 18 complaints alleging inadvertent airbag deployment and informed Honda of the findings.

In early 2026, the automaker continued its investigation and, in early April, determined that the defect was related to motor vehicle safety and required a recall. Honda said it is aware of 130 warranty claims related to this issue, with 25 reports of injuries.

Honda will instruct owners to take their vehicle to an authorized dealer, where a service technician will reprogram the SRS ECU with the correct implementation parameters or replace it with appropriate software.

Motorcycle Pickup1: It’s hard to understand how an airbag suddenly deploying without a crash isn’t considered a safety issue, but we’re glad Honda has finally fixed the issue. Americans are covered in low-quality roads, and the last thing any owner should have to deal with is an overly sensitive airbag.