Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passenger's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Honda Accord airbags problems
critical 138 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
138
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
28crashes
1fire
37injuries
2fatalities
What stands out
Owners have filed 138 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Airbags accounts for 19% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 12 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service Bulletin - American Honda is conducting an inspection of certain vehicles that have previously had the passenger's airbag inflator replaced as part of the Takata Passsenger's Airbag Inflator recall. If you completed the repair described by this service bulletin on or before May 10, 2019, make sure to use the Warranty Claim Information provided below.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - American Honda is conducting an inspection of certain vehicles that have previously had the passenger's airbag inflator replaced as part of the Takata Passsenger's Airbag Inflator recall.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passengers airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passengers airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2009 Accord airbag system exhibits two opposite failure modes: unintended deployments and complete non-deployment during crashes. Owners report passenger-side, driver-side, and curtain airbags deploying at highway speeds (50–75 mph) with no impact or after minor contact—tire blowouts, pothole strikes, door slamming—that leave no visible damage. Honda blames prior accidents or road hazards, pointing to minor frame scratches as proof, but insurance adjusters and owners dispute whether such minor marks warrant deployment. Other owners report the opposite: airbags completely failing to deploy in actual 30–75 mph collisions, rollovers, and head-on crashes, resulting in serious injuries including lacerations, broken bones, lung damage, and fatalities.
Airbag warning lights malfunction chronically, cycling on and off while driving or staying lit permanently, leaving drivers unsure if airbags will function in a crash. Seat-back sensor replacements provide only temporary relief. Takata inflator recalls (campaigns 16V346000, 17V030000, 18V042000) dragged on for 6–12+ months without parts, forcing owners to restrict front-seat use with no loaner vehicles. Honda failed to notify owners when parts finally arrived, and some dealers didn't schedule appointments until months after receiving stock. Recall information is inconsistent—VINs appear on government databases but not Honda's public site, dealers initially deny recalls then later confirm them, and corporate refuses to disclose what airbag brand is installed.
Same Honda Accord airbags reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended Airbag Deployment
Passenger-side, driver-side, or curtain airbags deploying without collision impact or with minimal/no visible impact. Owners report deployments while driving straight, merging, closing doors, or after very low-speed contact. Honda attributes many to prior accidents or minor road hazards (potholes, rocks), which owners dispute when no visible damage is found.
When: Various speeds (5–75 mph), some while parked or maneuvering; many between 50k–151k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag deploys without crash or warning; Loud pop noise reported; Minimal or no visible frame/body damage despite deployment; Deployment during low-speed bumper contact or tire blowout; Deployment triggered by closing passenger door or road irregularity
Codes mentioned: 16V346000, 17V030000, 19V502000, 18V042000
Repairs/costs cited: $2,600 for airbag replacement (one owner); Honda denied claims citing prior accidents or road hazards; insurance companies also skeptical of causation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls 16V346000, 17V030000, 18V042000, 19V502000 issued; Honda blamed prior accidents or road contact; no compensation in disputed cases
Airbag Failure to Deploy in Crash
Multiple reports of airbags failing to deploy during actual collisions, rollovers, and high-impact crashes at speeds of 30–75 mph. Driver-side, passenger-side, or all airbags remained inactive despite severe impacts that should have triggered deployment. Injuries ranged from whiplash to lacerations, broken bones, lung tears, and one fatality.
When: Crashes at 30–75 mph; mileage range 21k–147k miles; some vehicles had prior recalls or warning indicators
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment in frontal collision; No deployment in side-impact or rollover crash; Partial deployment (e.g., driver's side only, not passenger's); Airbag warning light illuminated before crash in at least one case; Occupants sustained injuries without airbag protection
Codes mentioned: 16V346000, 06594835
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles totaled or destroyed; no repairs attempted in most cases; one case involved prior recall repair that did not resolve underlying issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls issued (16V346000); manufacturer directed one contact to have insurance investigate; minimal support documented
Airbag Warning Light Malfunction
Passenger-side airbag off-indicator illuminating intermittently or constantly with no occupant in seat, or malfunctioning after sensor replacement. Light cycles on and off while driving, or remains lit permanently. Dealers initially attribute to sensor sensitivity or object-detection design, then perform seat-back sensor replacement that provides only temporary relief or none at all.
When: From 36k miles onward; intermittent issues lasting years; one failure occurred after prior sensor replacement in January 2014
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag off light illuminates intermittently or constantly; Light comes on during driving regardless of occupancy; Light cycling on and off while vehicle is in motion; Problem persists or recurs after dealer sensor replacement; Owner uncertainty about whether airbags will function in crash
Codes mentioned: 16V346000
Repairs/costs cited: Seat-back sensor replaced (January 2014 in one case); replacement provided temporary relief or failed to resolve issue; one contact noted $100 diagnostic fee charged before acknowledgment of defect
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers initially denied defect; some Florida vehicles excluded from humidity-zone recall; no systematic remedy identified
Takata Inflator Defect—Parts Unavailability and Recall Delays
Owners received recall notifications (Campaigns 16V346000, 17V030000, 18V042000) but faced prolonged unavailability of replacement parts, sometimes spanning 6–12+ months. Honda issued interim letters instructing owners not to use front passenger seat but provided no loaner vehicles or alternative transportation. Owners were unable to determine when repairs would occur, dealers did not proactively notify owners when parts arrived, and some appointments were delayed until months after parts became available.
When: Recall notifications issued July–August 2016; parts unavailable through December 2016 and beyond; some delays extended into 2017–2018
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received but parts listed as not available; No estimate provided for when parts would arrive; Dealer unable or unwilling to schedule repair for extended period; No loaner vehicle or alternate transportation offered; Owner forced to restrict vehicle use (no front passengers) for months
Codes mentioned: 16V346000, 17V030000, 18V042000
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement parts eventually became available but Honda did not notify owners; owners learned of availability through media or by calling dealers; one dealer had parts 'for a while' but next appointment not until March 2017
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall campaigns 16V346000, 17V030000, 18V042000 issued; interim letters instructed no front passengers but offered no loaner/transport; no timely notification when parts available; Honda blamed owners for 'slow response' in articles
Airbag System Electrical/Sensor Faults
Airbag control unit failures, short circuits in airbag inflator wiring, supplemental restraint system sensor failures, and seat-weight sensor defects. One contact reported a short to the airbag inflator on the driver's side; passenger-side identical defect was recalled, but driver's side was not covered under recall or extended warranty, forcing owner to pay for repair.
When: From 36k to 147k+ miles; some detected only when airbag light illuminated or after crash investigation
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates; Burning odor detected prior to airbag light; Short to airbag inflator (electrical fault); Supplemental restraint system sensor failure; Front-weight sensor failure causing airbag light to remain on after recall repair
Repairs/costs cited: Airbag control unit replacement (independent mechanic); one case required $882.32 front-weight sensor repair after recall; driver-side inflator short not covered by extended warranty despite identical passenger-side defect being recalled
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls issued for some defects (e.g., passenger-side inflator); driver-side inflator short not covered; Honda refused warranty coverage for weight sensor following recall repair
Recall Administration and Communication Failures
VINs listed on recall.gov or dealer systems but not on Honda's public website; inconsistent recall status reported by dealers; Honda corporate provided form letters instead of technical information; dealerships denied recalls existed then later confirmed they applied; some owners received multiple conflicting notifications or were not notified when parts became available. Dealer communication often vague or contradictory.
When: Recall notifications and inquiries from 2014–2017; communication gaps persisted for years
Symptoms owners cite: Recall listed on government site but not Honda's website; Dealer initially denies recall exists, then confirms it applies; Honda corporate refuses to disclose airbag make/model or recall status; Owner receives recall letter months after eligible for repair; Dealer has access to safety information not disclosed to public; Conflicting information from different dealers about same VIN
Codes mentioned: 16V346000, 17V030000, 18V042000
Repairs/costs cited: None; communication issues only
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Form letters sent; corporate refused to disclose airbag details or provide recall timelines; dealers blamed owners for not calling; Honda blamed owners for slow response in media statements despite delays in notifying owners of parts availability
Synthesized from 138 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
There was a recall on the airbags in august and I was not notified. Just wanted to an updated to see when my vehicle would be serviced.
Called the car place several times to see what I needed to do in case later on my airbags does not deploy in a car wreck.
Airbag (unknown whether tamara) recall: rec'd letter from american Honda dated july 2016 notifying me of recall and saying "Honda will send you another letter when parts become available...". As of today (12/27/16) I've received nothing, so I called my local dealer - larry hopkins Honda; sunnyvale ca. Was told they have parts; have had them for a while! - but next appointment isn't until march…
Had airbags trouble with your 2009 Honda Accord?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2009 Honda Accord?
It's a serious issue. 138 complaints have been filed, including 28 reports involving a crash and 2 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 61 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 65,000 and 110,741 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 65,000; a quarter make it past 110,741. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Honda/Accord.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.