Recall 17V220 covers 37,421 2003 Honda Accord coupes with replacement Takata passenger inflators. Repair will be free at franchised Honda dealers once available.
Honda is recalling 37,421 2003 Accord coupes with four-cylinder engines because a replacement passenger frontal air bag module can contain a Takata inflator that can rupture after long-term propellant degradation. Metal fragments from an inflator rupture can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death; the Honda dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The passenger frontal air bag module in a 2003 Honda Accord Coupe sits in the dashboard and protects the front passenger in a frontal crash. The module contains the folded air bag and an inflator, the small metal canister that produces gas to fill the bag during deployment. Accord Coupes built with the four-cylinder engine originally used a non-Takata passenger module.
The problem starts when the passenger frontal air bag module has been replaced, such as after a prior crash. A service part listing error allowed a Takata replacement module with a PSPI inflator to be installed in a car that originally had a Neaton module. Over long exposure to lower absolute humidity, temperature changes, and temperature cycling, the inflator propellant degrades. During a crash deployment, that degraded inflator can rupture instead of filling the bag normally.
There is no warning sign before failure. The air bag looks normal until a crash deployment, so the repair path depends on confirming whether the VIN and air bag service history place the vehicle in recall 17V220.
Who's affected?
| 2003 Honda Accord | front air bag |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 37,421 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2003 Honda Accord is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.
What's the safety risk?
NHTSA campaign 17V220 reports that a passenger frontal air bag inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, striking the driver or other occupants and causing serious injury or death. Confirm whether your VIN is included, then schedule dealer inspection and inflator replacement when the repair is open. Repair will be free at any franchised Honda dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2003 Honda Accord is included in this recall.
- Look for Honda's owner letter, mailed on May 10, 2017, before making a dealer appointment.
- Contact a franchised Honda dealer to request the free passenger frontal air bag inflator inspection and Takata inflator replacement.
- Reference recall number 17V220 when you call Honda or the dealer.
- Avoid using the front passenger seat until Honda confirms the passenger frontal air bag inflator has been inspected or replaced.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Honda technician inspects the passenger frontal air bag module and replaces any Takata inflator installed in that module. Honda expected this recall to begin May 1, 2017, but this record lists the remedy as under development, so confirm repair availability before arranging service. The final dealer repair will be free once available. If you already paid for a related passenger air bag inflator repair before the recall notice, Honda's standard reimbursement plan covers documented expenses. Contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138 with your paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 30, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 31, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| March 31, 2017 | Dealer notification ended |
| May 1, 2017 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| May 1, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| May 10, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V220?
Recall 17V220 covers 37,421 2003 Honda Accord Coupe vehicles with replacement passenger frontal air bag modules that can contain a Takata inflator. If that inflator ruptures, metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death.
What should I do if my 2003 Honda Accord is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Accord is included in recall 17V220. If it is, contact a franchised Honda dealer and ask for the passenger frontal air bag module inspection. Reference recall number 17V220 and Honda recall number KF0 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the safety defect at no cost. Honda dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any Takata inflator used in the passenger frontal air bag module free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is an inflator rupture in the passenger frontal air bag module. During a crash, the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, striking the driver or passengers and causing serious injury or death.
What if I bought this Honda Accord used?
The recall still follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Accord is included, then contact a franchised Honda dealer. Used-vehicle ownership does not remove the free repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V220000 |
|---|---|
| Honda customer service | 1-888-234-2138 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V220 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V220000 |
Source documents
-
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 Recall Report (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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →