Honda Odyssey Airbags May Deploy Without A Crash

NHTSA Takes A Closer Look

Following the recall of more than 325,000 Honda Odysseys for a rearview-camera defect, the minivan is back on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) radar. This time, however, it is only a defect-petition review for now, covering 806,963 units from the 2011–2017 model years – essentially spanning the fourth-generation iteration, codenamed RL5.

According to the NHTSA review opened on July 13, the vehicles could experience inadvertent airbag deployment. It could happen even without the usual triggers, such as a crash, rollover, or a sufficiently strong G-force event. Such a failure could cause an injury or distract the driver, potentially leading to a collision.

Airbags Take Center Stage

The failure report summary lists only one incident, resulting in one injury and no fatalities. However, the petitioner cited 10 complaints alleging the same failure, suggesting it is not an isolated case, although the agency has yet to determine whether those complaints are related. The petition also alleges that the vehicle’s diagnostic trouble codes may conflict with information recorded by the Supplemental Restraint System, potentially creating an inaccurate record of the airbag system’s operation.

Again, this is only a technical review of the complaints. NHTSA will decide whether to grant the petition and launch a formal defect investigation or deny it.

Although NHTSA has not issued any special driving instructions or identified a specific trigger, owners may want to avoid potholes and hard road impacts where safely possible, and cross speed bumps slowly. They should try not to make sudden evasive maneuvers to avoid them. If an SRS or airbag warning light appears or an unusual diagnostic code is logged, the vehicle should be inspected as soon as possible.

The Story Is Still Developing

While this evaluation remains ongoing, the fifth-generation Odyssey (involving 2018–2022 models) was recently hit with a proposed class-action lawsuit over a similar airbag issue. Incorrect programming in their airbag control units can cause the side airbags to deploy during strong road impacts, such as potholes, speed bumps, or road debris.

The Odyssey has a generally strong reputation for reliability, even compared with rivals such as the Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Pacifica. However, issues like these can undermine owners’ confidence in an otherwise trusted family hauler.

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