Honda is recalling 412,308 model-year 2019–2022 CR-V and 2020–2022 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger airbag inflator can rupture during deployment, sending metal fragments into the cabin. Repair is free at any Honda dealer.
Honda has issued a "do not drive" advisory for affected vehicles until the airbag inflator is replaced. The defect can cause serious injury or death even in a low-speed crash. Schedule the free repair before driving the vehicle again.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
Not every 2019–2022 CR-V or 2020–2022 Pilot has the defective inflator — production windows vary by plant. The official, free per-VIN check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly, and add you to a free watchlist for new recalls.
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.
What's wrong?
The front passenger airbag in affected Honda CR-V and Pilot vehicles uses an inflator built between March 2018 and August 2021 at the Tochigi plant. Honda's investigation found that exposure to repeated thermal cycling — common in vehicles parked outdoors across hot summers — can cause the inflator's propellant to degrade. When the airbag deploys, the degraded propellant burns at a higher pressure than the inflator housing was designed to contain.
The result: the metal housing can rupture rather than vent, sending fragments outward through the airbag fabric and into the cabin. NHTSA has documented twelve confirmed ruptures across the affected production range, including three injuries and one fatality.
Who's affected?
This recall covers two model lines across four model years:
| 2019–2022 Honda CR-V | 312,184 units |
|---|---|
| 2020–2022 Honda Pilot | 100,124 units |
| Total | 412,308 units |
| Production window | March 2018 – August 2021 |
| Field incidents | 12 confirmed ruptures · 3 injuries · 1 fatality |
| Affected component | Front passenger airbag inflator (Takata-supplied, post-2018) |
Whether your specific vehicle is in the affected production window depends on its VIN. Honda will mail notification letters to registered owners between June 1 and June 21, 2026.
What's the safety risk?
NHTSA's official consequence statement: "An inflator rupture during airbag deployment may result in metal fragments striking and injuring vehicle occupants, increasing the risk of injury or death." Honda has confirmed one fatality in the affected production range. The risk applies to both driver and front passenger; rear passengers are not affected.
What should I do?
- Stop driving the vehicle. Honda has issued a do-not-drive advisory. The defect can cause serious injury in any deployment, including low-speed crashes.
- Call any Honda dealer to schedule the free repair. You do not need to be the original owner. You do not need to have purchased the vehicle from that dealer. The repair is free under federal law.
- Ask the dealer for loaner transportation if needed. Honda is providing free loaner vehicles to owners who cannot otherwise transport themselves while waiting for the repair.
- Confirm the work order references campaign 26V-318. The dealer will replace the front passenger airbag inflator. The repair takes approximately 60 minutes.
- Keep your repair receipt. If you've already paid out of pocket for a related repair, Honda may reimburse you. Submit receipts through the customer service line below.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my specific Honda is affected?
Use your VIN. Production windows vary by plant; not every 2019–2022 CR-V or 2020–2022 Pilot has the defective inflator. Run a free VIN check to see definitively.
What does the free repair involve?
A Honda dealer will replace the front passenger airbag inflator with a redesigned unit. The repair takes about 60 minutes and is performed at no cost under federal recall law.
Can I drive the vehicle to the dealer for the repair?
Honda's do-not-drive advisory applies until the repair is performed. Call the dealer first; many will arrange to pick the vehicle up or send a mobile technician for the inflator replacement.
What if I no longer own the vehicle?
If you've sold or traded the vehicle, the recall transfers with it. The new owner can have the repair performed free at any Honda dealer regardless of how the vehicle changed hands.
How long do I have to get this fixed?
There is no expiration. Federal recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer for as long as the vehicle exists. However, given the do-not-drive advisory, schedule the repair as soon as possible.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/recalls/26V-318 |
|---|---|
| Honda recall hotline | 1-888-234-2138 |
| Honda customer service | 1-800-999-1009 |
| Manufacturer recall # | YDB |
| NHTSA recall # | 26V-318 |
This article was edited by Daniel Marshall, an ASE-certified technician with 15 years of independent shop experience, and reviewed against the NHTSA campaign record on May 5, 2026 at 14:22 ET. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's safety risk statement; that text is reproduced verbatim above. Editorial standards →