Problems · by component

2002 Honda Accord air bags problems

274 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Honda Accord cite air bags, 26% of all 1,062 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.

Complaints
274
26% of all complaints
Crashes
87
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
80
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the driver's side air bag warning light remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 354,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 29, 2024Air bagsODI 11611624
“On Sept. 28, 2023 I was driving this car and it was on a very rough highway and it went into a skid and flipped over and was totaled. It was towed to Willow Creek, CA for one week. I was badly injured and had no way to get to Willow Creek, CA so I had to pay $500 for it to be stored and they eventually got the title of the car from me and allegedly disposed of the 2002 Accord. I did not see it after the accident as I was bedridden and unable to travel to see the condition of my car. The passenger's side of the back seat was GONE and you could see the ground, I do remember that much despite my severe injuries to my head and body. I was the driver and the driver's side airbags failed to deploy despite the numerous time I took it in to Mid-City Motor World in Eureka, CA responding to numerous airbag recalls. I was told prior airbag recalls had not worked and that is why I had to keep going back to have them done over and over again. I am the original owner of this car and I got hurt badly in this accident. It has been over two months now and I have yet to fully recover. I often wonder if I ever will fully recover as I still have pain in my back, arms, legs and…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 30, 2023Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11557577
“recalled COMPANY HONDA reason I follow them too much time recalled my car over 10 year from 2007 to now , But It did not work , It is not fix include my car was destroy more , they destroy horn my car more , include cheatting and charged my money Recalled INSURANCE department OF CALIFORNIA : they abused POWER Violate my human right and my civil right before COURT and CONGRESS , Include theft my mail certified I bought INSURANCE full way , I was involve accident TO DID NOT HIT RUN and I DID NOT AT FAULT , MY car was total loss , my head pain , injury and I was Vomit , I am not solve settlement and compensation for me , opposite order FEDERAL POLICE KIDNAP , FALSE arrest and mugshot my face as crime and TREASON when I save all my life , my enjoy even my stomach for Tax and full Insurance yes, now I am disability , But before I am disability , I was cosmetologist and professional electronic at MD, OR, CA, AZ I did not involve welfare for my son grown up I live alone and I am single mom I pay full tax and full insurance by my blood , my bone marrow , my tear eye and my sweat ' yes, I love USA and loyal with USA with all my heart I filial piety to all AMERICAN , I…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 2, 2022Air bags, Seat belts, StructureCrash reportedODI 11467144
“The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the contact crashed into a guard rail, and then the median's metal barrier. None of the air bags deployed upon impact. The contact sustained a bulging disc in her neck, and her husband, who was the passenger, had a broken neck. The contact and her husband later received medical treatment at the hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and later taken to the contact's residence, where it remained. The insurance company did not deem the vehicle totaled. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. Prior to the collision, the vehicle had previously been serviced for the driver's and passenger's side air bags. The failure mileage was 258,673.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 25, 2022Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11448860
“WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHERE A LATTER FLEW OUT OF THE BACK OF A GUYS TRUCK AND BECAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND I HIT HIM WHEN I COULDN'T STOP FAST ENOUGH AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS BERRYBRUISED UP AND I DID GO TO THE HOSTPITAL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 30, 2020Air bags, StructureCrash reportedODI 11302956
“I WAS IN A BAD CAR ACCIDENT WAS ON SATURDAY, 11/02/2019, WHERE BOTH CARS WERE TOTALED. I WAS A STOPLIGHT ON A CITY STREET (GLENWOOD DR) WAITING TO TURN LEFT. AS I PROCEED TO TURN LEFT ON A GREEN ARROW (GOING APPROX 5 MILE/HR) I WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY A VEHICLE TRAVELING (PER THE OTHER DRIVER'S STATEMENT) APPROXIMATELY 37-40 MILE/HR AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. A LARGE PART OF THE IMPACT WAS ABSORBED BY THE LEFT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THEN TRAVEL TO THE PASSENGER DOOR. MY AIRBAGS HAD BEEN RECALLED THIS SUMMER AN TAKEN TO HONDA OF CONYERS WHERE THEY WERE REPLACED. UNFORTUNATELY, NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT. I WAS THE DRIVER AND MY 14-YEAR OLD NIECE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. MY NIECE DIDN'T SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES; HOWEVER, I HAVE SOME SPINAL INJURY AND WAS SEEN BY THE EMORY ORTHOPEDIC AND SPINE CENTER WHERE THEY THEN ASSIGNED A TREATMENT PROGRAM WHERE I AM TO RECEIVE PHYSICAL THERAPY 2 X PER WEEK FOR 4 WEEKS ( THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE, MANUAL THERAPY, STRETCHING, PARASPINAL STRENGTHENING, MODALITIES PRN, AND C-TRACTION.) I'VE ATTACHED 3 PHOTOS OF MY VEHICLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 14, 2019Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11280145

Showing 6 of 274 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

3 recalls on this component

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 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
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026

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