Honda recall: Some 2023-2024 Accords, HR-Vs lack seat belt part

Original article: https://www.npr.org/2023/11/26/1215301412/honda-accord-hrv-recall-seatbelt

Honda is recalling a few hundred thousand of its 2023-2024 Accord and HR-V models after vehicles were found missing a part of a seat belt mechanism that protects riders in the event of a crash.

Front seat belt pretensioners were installed without a rivet during assembly, according to the recall notices released last week by Honda and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

A seat belt pretensioner that is missing a rivet may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a collision, according to the federal agency.

Some 300,000 of the sedans and SUVs are subject to the recall, however Honda estimates that no more than 1% of those cars actually have the defect.

Owners can take their cars to a dealer for inspection and, if needed, a pretensioner replacement, at no charge. Honda says it will directly notify the owners of affected vehicles by mail starting Jan. 8.

Since the first production date of the recalled vehicles in April 2022, through Nov. 16, 2023, there have been no reports of injuries or deaths related to the issue, according to the NHTSA.

Earlier this month, Honda recalled nearly 250,000 vehicles due to a manufacturing defect that could cause engines stall while driving.

How can I tell if my Honda Accord or HR-V is affected by the seatbelt defect recall?

Owners can determine if their specific vehicles are included in the recall by visiting recalls.honda.com or by calling (888) 234-2138.

What should I do if my Honda or HR-V is recalled for the seatbelt defect?

Registered owners of all affected vehicles will be contacted by mail and asked to take their vehicle to an authorized Honda dealer. The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the seat belt pretensioner assembly with a non-defective part.

Owners who have paid to have these repairs completed at their own expense may be eligible for reimbursement, in accord with the recall reimbursement plan on file with NHTSA.

More information about this recall can be found here.

Additional coverage about this recall:

• NBC News: Honda recalls almost 304,000 Accords and HR-Vs over seat belt defect
• CNN: Honda recalls more than 300K Accords, HR-Vs over seat belt issues
• CBS News: Honda recalls more than 300,000 Accords and HR-Vs over missing seat belt piece
• AP News: Honda recall: Over 300,000 Accords, HR-Vs could be affected