Problems · by component

2004 Acura MDX air bags problems

26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Acura MDX cite air bags, 15% of all 171 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 7 recalls on this component.

Complaints
26
15% of all complaints
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Airbag light has been lit for a while now for my 2004 Acura MDX. I originally took the car to Courtesy Acura for them to check what causing it. They told me that the sensor should be replaced and I paid $260+. After replacing sensor, the Airbag light still lit. They told me that they need to replace the front seatbelt buckles. One buckle (PART NO: 04813-S3V-A62ZC) arrived but the other one has been backordered for a while now (almost a year) and there's no ETA from American Honda on when the part (PART NO: 04816-S3V-A61ZC) will be available. This is a safety issue since the Airbag will not deploy in case of accident. Hope you guys can help me expedite the process and escalate the issue with American Honda. Thank you soo much!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 6, 2025Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11634387
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, TURNING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE DRIVER IN FRONT SUDDENLY STOPPED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THEM. THE VEHICLE'S PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED OUT OF IT'S COMPARTMENT, HOWEVER, THE DRIVER'S SEAT AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER RECEIVED INJURIES TO THEIR ARMS, KNEES, AND FACE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT STATED THEY RECEIVED INJURIES TO THEIR ARM AND KNEES, HOWEVER, NO MEDICAL ASSISTANCE WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE REMAINING INSIDE ITS' COMPARTMENT AND THE SEAT BELTS HAVE LOCKED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 30, 2020Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11331690
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A THREE VEHICLE CRASH, WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FIRST VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY CAUSING A SECOND VEHICLE TO ALSO STOP AFTER CRASHING INTO THE FIRST VEHICLE WHICH THEN CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE SECOND VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST, BACK AND NECK INJURIES BUT DID NOT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE OTHER DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEATS BELTS AFTER THE CRASH REMAINED LOOSE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO PROVIDE AN ESTIMATE OF THE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V501000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2019Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11244477
“TAKATA RECALL MY AIRBAGS WERE REPLACED TWICE ALREADY THROUGH RECALL REPAIR AND THE AIRBAG SENSOR CAME BACK ON LAST WEEK, MOMENT IT CAME ON I WAS IN MOTION AND THE STEERING WHEEL I WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING. THIS RESULTED IN ME SIDE-SWIPING AND OBJECT, HITTING THE CURB AND FLATTENING MY TIRE. THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER RECALL ON MY VEHICLE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 29, 2019Electrical system, Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc)Crash reportedODI 11210663
“THE AIRBAG LIGHT WARNING CONTINUES TO COME ON AND STAY ON. SOMETIMES IS GOES OFF, BUT COMES BACK ON LATER. THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER IN CHARGE OF AIRBAG RECALL AND THE ONLY SOLUTION OFFERED WAS PAYING A HEFTY FEE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE WITHOUT GUARANTEE. THIS WAS REPORTED IN 2014 AND HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM BEFORE THIS AND CURRENTLY, 2019.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 3, 2019Electrical system, Air bags, Unknown or otherODI 11205617
“TAKATA RECALL.I HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA WARNING THAT MY VEHICLE CONTAINS A DEFECTIVE OR POTENTIALLY DEFECTED AIRBAG INFLATOR AND IS UNDERECALL.R”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 11, 2017Air bagsODI 11054066

Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

7 recalls on this component

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jun 27, 2019NHTSA 19V501000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jun 27, 2019NHTSA 19V499000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.

Air bagsReported Mar 6, 2019NHTSA 19V182000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2011 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2011 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2008 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2008 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2008 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling model year 2002-2004 Odyssey and model year 2003-2004 Acura MDX, Honda Element, and Honda Pilot vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported May 24, 2016NHTSA 16V344000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Air bagsReported May 28, 2015NHTSA 15V320000

Air bags

Free remedy

American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa are addressed by this recall. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Air bagsReported Nov 4, 2014NHTSA 14V700000

Air bags

Free remedy

American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in California, and equipped with Takata-brand air bag inflators. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Air bagsReported Jun 20, 2014NHTSA 14V353000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 11, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2004 MDX problem areas