Nearly 304,000 Honda Accords and HR-Vs are being recalled because of potentially defective seat belts.
According to Honda’s safety report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “The front seatbelt pretensioners were installed without rivets securing the quick disconnect and wire plate.” Seatbelt pretensioners are devices that tighten seatbelts to keep occupants in place when cars brake hard or have an accident.
“Seatbelt pretensioners that are missing a rivet will not properly restrain the occupant in the event of a collision, increasing the risk of injury,” Honda added.
The automaker noted that as of November 16, there were no reports of injuries or deaths related to the problem, but there were seven warranty claims.
Here’s what Honda drivers should know:
Which Hondas are being recalled?
The recall affects 2023 and 2024 model year Honda Accords and HR-Vs manufactured between October 4, 2022 and October 14, 2023.
Honda estimates that less than 1% of recalled vehicles require repairs.
How do I check if there is a recall on my Honda?
Drivers can enter their vehicle identification number on Honda’s recall website or call (888) 234-2138 to check if their vehicle is affected. Honda also plans to notify individual owners by mail around January 8th.
Regardless of make or model, drivers can always enter their VIN number on the NHTSA website to check for recalls.
Check the car recalls: Honda, BMW and Subaru are among the 528,000 vehicles recalled
What do I do if my car is recalled?
Owners are asked to take recalled vehicles to an authorized Honda dealer for inspection and, if necessary, seat belt pretensioner replacement.
Both inspection and repair would be free at authorized Honda dealers.
Any owners who have already paid for repairs related to the recall would be eligible for a refund, according to Honda.