Recall 16V344 affects 1,790,894 2002-2011 Honda and Acura vehicles for passenger air bag inflators that rupture. Repair is free at any franchised Honda dealer.
Honda is recalling 1,790,894 2002-2011 vehicles, including Pilot, Odyssey, and Ridgeline models, under recall 16V344 because passenger frontal air bag inflators can rupture after long exposure to humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture can send metal fragments into occupants, causing serious injury or death, and the dealer repair will be free once available.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The passenger frontal air bag inflator in the 2002-2011 Honda Pilot, Rl, Ridgeline, Element, Fit, Cr-V, Mdx, and Odyssey sits inside the air bag module on the passenger side of the dash. In a crash that calls for air bag deployment, the inflator burns propellant and sends gas into the bag so it fills before the passenger moves forward.
In NHTSA campaign 16V344, the defect is inside the inflator. The propellant wafers break down over time after exposure to high humidity and repeated temperature changes. When the air bag activates, that degraded propellant burns too aggressively, builds too much pressure inside the inflator body, and ruptures the metal housing.
There is no warning sign before failure. The air bag warning light does not have to come on for this inflator problem to be present.
Who's affected?
Spans 8 models from 2002-2011, all tied to the passenger-side front air bag inflator module.
| 2008 Honda Pilot | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2007 Acura Rl | front air bag |
| 2007 Honda Ridgeline | front air bag |
| 2007 Honda Element | front air bag |
| 2009 Acura Rl | front air bag |
| 2009 Honda Ridgeline | front air bag |
| 2005 Honda Pilot | front air bag |
| 2008 Acura Rl | front air bag |
| 2008 Honda Fit | front air bag |
| 2008 Honda Ridgeline | front air bag |
| 2008 Honda Element | front air bag |
| 2011 Acura Rl | front air bag |
| 2011 Honda Element | front air bag |
| 2011 Honda Ridgeline | front air bag |
| 2010 Honda Element | front air bag |
| 2010 Acura Rl | front air bag |
| 2010 Honda Ridgeline | front air bag |
| 2009 Honda Element | front air bag |
| 2007 Honda Pilot | front air bag |
| 2006 Honda Element | front air bag |
| 2006 Acura Rl | front air bag |
| 2006 Honda Pilot | front air bag |
| 2007 Honda Fit | front air bag |
| 2006 Honda Cr-V | front air bag |
| 2006 Acura Mdx | front air bag |
| 2006 Honda Ridgeline | front air bag |
| 2005 Honda Element | front air bag |
| 2005 Acura Rl | front air bag |
| 2003 Honda Pilot | front air bag |
| 2002 Honda Odyssey | front air bag |
| 2003 Honda Odyssey | front air bag |
| 2005 Honda Cr-V | front air bag |
| 2004 Honda Odyssey | front air bag |
| 2003 Honda Element | front air bag |
| 2003 Acura Mdx | front air bag |
| 2004 Acura Mdx | front air bag |
| 2004 Honda Pilot | front air bag |
| 2004 Honda Element | front air bag |
| 2005 Acura Mdx | front air bag |
| Units affected | 1,790,894 |
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?
An air bag inflator rupture can send metal fragments into the cabin, striking occupants and resulting in serious injury or death. If your VIN is included, schedule the passenger frontal air bag inflator replacement soon and avoid delaying the dealer visit. Repair will be free at any franchised Honda dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm whether your 2002-2011 Honda or Acura Pilot, Rl, Ridgeline, Element, Fit, Cr-V, Mdx, or Odyssey is included in this recall.
- Call Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138 to confirm repair access for recall number 16V344.
- Contact a franchised Honda dealer after Honda confirms your VIN, and ask for the free passenger frontal air bag inflator replacement that removes the rupture-prone inflator.
- Bring the recall notice if Honda mailed one. If not, reference Honda recall KA0, KA1, KA2, or KA3 when you call.
- Limit passenger-seat use until the repair is complete, because an inflator rupture can send metal fragments into the cabin during air bag deployment.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Honda technician replaces the passenger frontal air bag inflator covered by campaign 16V344. Honda says the recall began June 27, 2016, and the replacement is free of charge. The filing does not give a repair time, so ask the service desk how long the vehicle will be in the shop when the appointment is set. Honda has a general reimbursement plan on file for this recall. If you already paid for a related passenger air bag inflator repair before the recall notice, contact Honda customer service with your repair paperwork and ask how to submit a reimbursement claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 23, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 26, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
| May 26, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| June 27, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| June 29, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V344?
Recall 16V344 covers 1,790,894 2002-2011 Honda Pilot, Rl, Ridgeline, Element, Fit, Cr-V, Mdx, and Odyssey vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can rupture during deployment. Honda dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator for free.
What should I do if my 2002-2011 Honda Pilot, Rl, Ridgeline, Element, Fit, Cr-V, Mdx, or Odyssey is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 16V344. If it is, contact a franchised Honda dealer to schedule the passenger frontal air bag inflator replacement. Reference recall number 16V344 and Honda recall numbers KA0, KA1, KA2, or KA3 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall repair to be performed at no cost, and Honda says dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at a franchised Honda dealer.
What is the safety risk in recall 16V344?
The risk is serious injury or death from an inflator rupture during a crash that deploys the front air bags. NHTSA campaign 16V344 says metal fragments can strike vehicle occupants. The repair path is the free passenger frontal air bag inflator replacement at a Honda dealer.
What if I bought this Honda used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the first owner, and this recall depends on model year, model, and registration history by zone. Check your VIN, then call a franchised Honda dealer if your vehicle is included.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V344000 |
|---|---|
| Honda customer service | 1-888-234-2138 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V344 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V344000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Report (PDF) - Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (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 May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →