Massive Honda Recall: Accords, HR-Vs Affected Due to Seat Belt Defect—Here's What Owners Need To Know

A massive Honda recall, which affects hundreds of thousands of Accords and HR-Vs, has been confirmed by the Japanese automotive giant.

Honda filed a notice with the National Highway Traffic Safety on Tuesday, November 21, to confirm that it is conducting a recall due to a seat belt defect. If you own a Honda Accord or an HR-V, here's what you need to know about this latest recall.

Massive Honda Recall: Accords, HR-Vs Affected Due to Seat Belt Defect

(Photo : Ricardo Ceppi/ Getty Images)
A car is diplayed inside a Honda car automobile dealership after the Japanese company announced the cease in the production of cars in Argentina on August 14, 2019, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Honda will produce the model HR-V in its plant in the locality of Campana until the second trimester of 2020.

Yahoo Finance reported that Honda will recall 303,700 Accords and HR-Vs. The Japanese automaker wants to recall Accords manufactured between October 4, 2022, and October 14, 2023.

Meanwhile, HR-Vs that will be recalled are those built between April 26, 2022, and October 14, 2023.

"The recall population was determined based on manufacturing records. The production range reflects all possible vehicles that could experience the problem," said Honda via its official NHTSA filing.

The automotive giant explained that the main reason for the recall was a defect in the mentioned cars' seat belts. Honda explained that a manufacturing issue led to the front seat belt pre-tensioners without a rivet.

For those unfamiliar with this car part, the rivet secures the quick connector and the wire plate in seat belts. Honda said that the occupant will not be properly restrained since a rivet is missing.

This is a big deal since it increases the risk of injury in a collision. Honda confirmed that rivets are missing in Accords and HR-Vs because their assembly skipped installation.

The Japanese automaker clarified that they haven't received any injury or death report linked to the seat belt defect as of November 16.

What Honda Owners Need To Do

(Photo : Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
A general view of a Honda car dealership on September 15, 2022 in Farmingdale, New York, United States. Many families along with businesses are suffering the effects of inflation as the economy is dictating a change in spending habits.

Honda said that affected Honda owners will be contacted via mail. They will be asked to take their Honda-HRs or Accords to the nearest authorized Honda dealer in their areas.

Once their vehicles are delivered, Honda dealer staff will inspect and replace the seat belt pre-tensioner assembly with a non-defective one (if needed).

If you noticed the issue before the recall's announcement, Honda said that you would be eligible for reimbursement if you ever repaired the issue with your own money.

Honda has already issued around 14 recalls in 2023, affecting millions of its vehicles.