If your VIN is in recall 15V320, Acura will replace the driver air bag inflator for free at any franchised Acura dealer.
Acura is recalling 6,281,043 2001-2011 vehicles, including Mdx, Accord, and Civic models, because moisture intrusion and manufacturing variation can make the driver frontal air bag inflator rupture over time. In a crash that deploys the air bag, metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death; Acura dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The driver frontal air bag inflator is the metal canister inside the steering-wheel air bag module. In a crash, it produces gas that fills the driver air bag so the cushion opens in front of the driver. On these 2001-2011 Acura vehicles, the recalled part is a Takata driver frontal air bag inflator.
The problem is inside the inflator. Moisture intrusion and manufacturing differences affect the inflator material as the vehicle ages. When the air bag deploys, that degraded material can make the inflator rupture instead of staying contained. A rupture means the inflator breaks apart during deployment, so the air bag system does not work as designed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The vehicle can start and drive normally, and the air bag warning light is not identified as an early sign for this recall.
Who's affected?
Spans passenger vehicles, SUVs, minivans, and a pickup across the 2001-2011 model years, all tied to the driver-side front air bag inflator module.
| 2003 Acura Mdx | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2005 Honda Accord | front air bag |
| 2004 Honda Accord | front air bag |
| 2003 Honda Accord | front air bag |
| 2002 Honda Accord | front air bag |
| 2001 Honda Accord | front air bag |
| 2004 Honda Civic | front air bag |
| 2003 Honda Civic | front air bag |
| 2002 Honda Civic | front air bag |
| 2001 Honda Civic | front air bag |
| 2003 Honda Cr-V | front air bag |
| 2002 Honda Cr-V | front air bag |
| 2003 Honda Element | front air bag |
| 2003 Honda Odyssey | front air bag |
| 2002 Honda Odyssey | front air bag |
| 2003 Honda Pilot | front air bag |
| 2005 Honda Element | front air bag |
| 2006 Honda Ridgeline | front air bag |
| 2006 Acura Mdx | front air bag |
| 2006 Honda Cr-V | front air bag |
| 2006 Honda Pilot | front air bag |
| 2006 Honda Element | front air bag |
| 2007 Honda Pilot | front air bag |
| 2007 Honda Element | front air bag |
| 2008 Honda Pilot | front air bag |
| 2008 Honda Element | front air bag |
| 2005 Honda Pilot | front air bag |
| 2009 Honda Element | front air bag |
| 2010 Honda Element | front air bag |
| 2011 Honda Element | front air bag |
| 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid | front air bag |
| 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid | front air bag |
| 2001 Honda Civic Gx | front air bag |
| 2002 Honda Civic Gx | front air bag |
| 2003 Honda Civic Gx | front air bag |
| 2004 Honda Civic Gx | front air bag |
| 2005 Honda Civic Hybrid | front air bag |
| 2004 Honda Element | front air bag |
| 2005 Honda Civic | front air bag |
| 2007 Honda Accord | front air bag |
| 2002 Acura Tl | front air bag |
| 2003 Acura Tl | front air bag |
| 2004 Acura Mdx | front air bag |
| 2003 Acura Cl | front air bag |
| 2004 Honda Pilot | front air bag |
| 2004 Honda Cr-V | front air bag |
| 2005 Honda Cr-V | front air bag |
| 2004 Honda Odyssey | front air bag |
| 2005 Acura Mdx | front air bag |
| 2006 Honda Accord | front air bag |
| Units affected | 6,281,043 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash that deploys the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments toward the driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death. Schedule the recall repair soon; this recall replaces the driver frontal air bag inflator. Repair is free at any franchised Acura dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2001-2011 Acura Mdx, Accord, Civic, Cr-V, Element, Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline, Civic Hybrid, Civic Gx, Tl, or Cl is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Acura dealer to schedule the free driver frontal air bag inflator replacement that removes the rupture-prone inflator.
- Bring the recall notice if Acura has mailed one. If not, reference recall number 15V320 when you call.
- Tell the dealer if the driver frontal air bag was replaced before September 12, 2014; this recall still requires another replacement.
- Schedule the repair before relying on the vehicle for regular driving, since the defect involves the driver frontal air bag in a crash.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Acura technician replaces the driver frontal air bag inflator with the recall remedy part. Parts and labor are covered, and the recall repair is free now. If the driver frontal air bag was replaced under an earlier recall before September 12, 2014, this recall still requires another replacement. Vehicles repaired on or after September 12, 2014 under a prior driver frontal air bag inflator recall already received a different inflator design and do not need this additional service.
Timeline
| May 28, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 29, 2015 | Dealer notification began |
| June 5, 2015 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 1, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
| July 1, 2015 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V320?
Recall 15V320 covers 6,281,043 2001-2011 Acura vehicles with a driver frontal air bag inflator that can rupture during deployment. Metal fragments can strike the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator for free.
What should I do if my 2001-2011 Acura Mdx, Accord, Civic, Cr-V, Element, Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline, Civic Hybrid, Civic Gx, Tl, or Cl is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 15V320. If it is, contact a franchised Acura dealer to schedule the driver frontal air bag inflator replacement. Reference recall number 15V320 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. The recall remedy states that dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator free of charge. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the safety defect at no cost to the owner.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is serious injury or death from metal fragments during a crash with driver frontal air bag deployment. The inflator can rupture instead of deploying normally. If your VIN is included, arrange the free inflator replacement with a franchised Acura dealer.
What if I bought this Acura used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether the vehicle is included, then give recall number 15V320 to the Acura dealer when scheduling the free inflator replacement.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V320000 |
|---|---|
| Acura customer service | 1-888-234-2138 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V320 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V320000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Report (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 1, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →