Honda has just issued a recall of almost 304,000 Honda Accords and HR-Vs over a seat belt defect that could increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
According to the company, the affected vehicles are from the 2017 and 2018 model years. They have a front passenger seat belt buckle that may not properly fasten in the event of an accident.
The seat belt buckle was supplied by a Korean-based third-party supplier and was not a part of the Honda production line. Specifically, the company identified potential problems with the plastic housings used to assemble the seat belt buckles.
In some cases, the plastic housing could be damaged in a crash, which could then cause the buckle to malfunction and not properly secure a passenger in the front seat.
Honda told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that they discovered the defect in July 2018. The company opened their own investigation into the issue and gathered input from both the supplier and the NHTSA.
The company intends to repair or replace defective units free of charge. Honda will begin contacting affected owners in mid-April 2019. Owners are encouraged to take their vehicles to a Honda dealership for inspection and repair. Honda recommends that drivers not use the front passenger seat belt in the meantime.
Safety is of the utmost importance to Honda, and the company takes the safety of their customers very seriously. Thankfully, no injuries or deaths have been reported in relation to this defect. That said, it is still important for Honda owners to have their cars serviced as soon as possible and to follow safety recommendations.