Massive Safety Recall: Over 517,000 Jeep, Honda, and Acura Vehicles Flagged for Airbag Issues
The global automotive industry is facing a renewed spotlight on occupant safety as Jeep, Honda, and Acura have announced major safety recalls affecting more than 517,000 vehicles worldwide. These separate campaigns address critical defects in side airbag deployment software and front passenger weight sensors, respectively. Both issues present significant risks to passenger safety, prompting immediate action from federal safety regulators and the manufacturers themselves.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Hit by Software Defect Delaying Side Airbags
The largest portion of the recall campaign affects Stellantis, with 419,035 Jeep Grand Cherokee models built between 2022 and 2026, alongside Grand Cherokee L models from the 2023 to 2025 model years. According to documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a software anomaly in the occupant restraint controller module could fail to properly trigger the side-impact airbags during a collision.
Investigators discovered that a minor software error can cause door airbag pressure sensor faults to remain indefinitely active. If a crash occurs, this glitch can severely delay the deployment of the side curtain airbags, violating federal motor vehicle safety guidelines. Stellantis began tracking this issue in early 2023 following an influx of warranty claims regarding airbag warning lights. To resolve the defect, authorized dealers will perform a free software update on the occupant restraint module. Jeep plans to begin notifying affected vehicle owners directly by mid-June.
Honda and Acura Expand Recall Over Cracked Weight Sensors
Meanwhile, Japanese auto giants Honda and Acura are recalling 98,892 vehicles due to a faulty front passenger seat weight sensor. This campaign is a direct expansion of an earlier safety action from 2024 that covered over 750,000 units. A subsequent investigation in 2025 revealed that even more models were fitted with the compromised components.
The defect stems from a natural disaster at a tier-2 supplier facility, which forced a tier-1 supplier to substitute the base material used in the sensor's printed circuit boards. This alternative material was not thoroughly verified and is highly susceptible to stress. When exposed to humidity, capacitors on the board can crack and short-circuit. Consequently, the safety system could miscalculate the weight on the passenger seat, potentially deploying front airbags at full capacity even if an infant or young child in a car seat is present.
Honda has confirmed 228 warranty claims related to this issue, though thankfully, no injuries or fatalities have been reported. Dealerships will swap the defective seat weight sensors with redesigned, verified parts free of charge. Owner notification mailers are expected to go out in early July.
Which Honda and Acura Models Are Affected?
The expanded recall covers a broad array of popular sedans, SUVs, and minivans across several model years. Below are the key vehicles included in the safety recall:
- Acura MDX (2017-2020, 2022-2026)
- Acura RDX (2019-2024)
- Acura TLX (2018-2021, 2023)
- Honda Accord & Accord Hybrid (2016-2022)
- Honda Civic, Hatchback & Type R (2016-2022)
- Honda CR-V & CR-V Hybrid (2017-2022)
- Honda Fit (2018-2020)
- Honda HR-V (2019-2021)
- Honda Odyssey (2018-2026)
- Honda Pilot (2017-2022)
- Honda Ridgeline (2017-2021, 2023, 2025)
Owners of any of the vehicles listed above are urged to contact their local dealerships or visit the NHTSA safety recall portal to verify their vehicle's status and schedule a free repair appointment.
Image Credit & Source: Original Article