“The seat belt anchor channel for the driver and front passenger seat belts was designed out of specification, causing interference between the buckle channel and the release button,” Honda said in its report. “The surface of the grooved channel can degrade 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 in Car and Driver’s 2022 best-selling cars. The models included in the recall are the 2017 and 2017 CR-Vs. 2020, 2018 and 2019 Accord, 2018 and 2019 Accord Hybrid, 2018 and 2020 Odyssey, 2019 and 2020 Acura RDX and 2019 Insight.
The company said in the report that increased friction could pose a safety risk.
“If the seat belt buckle is not fastened, the occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant,” Honda wrote.
Honda has received more than 300 warranty claims related to the issue between March 22, 2019 and January 16, 2023, but according to the company, there have been no reports of injuries or deaths related to the seat belt issue since early March.
Honda’s recall comes a month after the Japanese automaker recalled more than 114,000 Fit and HR-V vehicles due to a backup camera problem. A February NHTSA report indicates that Honda has issued a recall for vehicles with keyless ignitions because the display may not turn on and prevent the vehicle from displaying video from the backup camera. Honda estimated that 100 percent of the vehicles could have the problem.
Other automakers like Toyota and Chevrolet have recently announced recalls for a variety of reasons, from faulty software to missing or defective parts.
So what’s next for Honda owners affected by the latest recall? The company said in a report to US safety regulators that owners affected by the seat belt problem should contact Honda by April 17 by mail. When owners receive a notification from Honda, they will be instructed to receive a free seat belt buckle. replacement of the kit at an authorized dealer according to the company.
