The main reason behind this issue is a problem with the weight sensor in the front passenger seat. This sensor contains a printed circuit board, and there is a possibility that a capacitor on this board may develop a crack, leading to a short circuit. As a result of this sensor failure, the control unit of the supplemental restraint system does not receive accurate information regarding the weight of the front passenger. The sensor in question was manufactured by Aisin Electronics Illinois, which is a subsidiary of the Aisin Corporation based in the United States.
Aisin Electronics Illinois specializes in automotive control units and made a change to the base material of the printed circuit board due to a natural disaster that occurred at the manufacturing plant of one of their suppliers. Both Honda and the tier-1 supplier discovered that this new material could put additional strain on the printed circuit board, which ultimately causes the capacitor to malfunction.
If the sensor fails, the SRS warning light will turn on, and the passenger airbag indicator will remain off. According to documents submitted to the federal watchdog, two sensor assemblies are being recalled. These assemblies have the part numbers 81167-T2F-L012-M1 and 81168-T2F-L012-M1.
The first warranty claim related to this issue was received by Honda in August 2020. Initially, Honda and Aisin Electronics Illinois conducted an investigation into the matter until March 2021. However, no defects were found during this time. The investigation was later resumed as Honda continued to receive warranty claims from customers in the United States reporting problems with the sensors.
As of January 25 of this year, American Honda Motor Co. was informed of a total of 3,834 claims in the US market. These claims were submitted between June 13, 2020 and January 19, 2024. The solution to this issue involves replacing the faulty circuit boards with new ones that are made with the correct base material. Vehicles produced on or after January 7, 2022 already feature circuit boards with the correct material, according to the attached report.
Owners will receive notifications no later than March 18, 2024. In the meantime, owners can easily check if their vehicles are affected by entering the 17-character VIN on the automaker’s website or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website. The recall affects a total of 13 different models, including various Acura and Honda vehicles. Production dates for these vehicles range from April 25, 2019 to January 7, 2022. If you own one of these potentially affected vehicles, it is recommended to contact your nearest dealership as soon as possible to inquire about parts availability and schedule an appointment.