Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2016-2017 Fits & HR-Vs with a customer complaint of the SRS Light On with the impact sensor DTCs stored.. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Honda HR-V airbags problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
8crashes
7injuries
What stands out
Among the 7 model years of Honda HR-V in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
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.
Engineering request for investigation - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2016-2017 Fits & HR-Vs with a customer complaint of the SRS Light On with the impact sensor DTCs stored. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is investigating certain 2016-2017 Fits & HR-Vs with a customer complaint of the SRS Light On with the impact sensor DTCs stored. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗THIS COMMUNICATION IS INFORMING HONDA OF A DELAMINATION ISSUES WITHIN AN I.C. PRODUCED BY NXP AND ASSEMBLED INTO AIRBAG SENSOR SUPPLIED BY DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA, INC. THIS DELAMINATION ISSUE MANIFESTS ITSELF AS AN OPEN CIRCUIT WITHIN THE SENSOR, CAUSING A DTC TO BE SET ON THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH A DECLARING AIRBAG LIGHT.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗THIS COMMUNICATION IS INFORMING HONDA OF A DELAMINATION ISSUES WITHIN AN I.C. PRODUCED BY NXP AND ASSEMBLED INTO AIRBAG SENSOR SUPPLIED BY DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA, INC. THIS DELAMINATION ISSUE MANIFESTS ITSELF AS AN OPEN CIRCUIT WITHIN THE SENSOR, CAUSING A DTC TO BE SET ON THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH A DECLARING AIRBAG LIGHT.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a pattern of airbag non-deployment during frontal collisions. In one 50 mph head-on crash with brake failure, the driver sustained head injuries, spent 7 hours in the hospital, and noted the vehicle was totaled. Another owner reported a 40 mph head-on impact with no airbag deployment and injuries to neck and shoulders requiring medical attention; the vehicle was totaled at 29,900 miles. A third describes a 48 mph rear-end collision with airbag failure and chest/neck injuries. Two separate incidents cite no airbag deployment in front-end collisions at city speeds, one resulting in concussion from hitting the steering wheel. One owner was in two accidents across separate years—an embankment impact with $10,000 front-end damage and a subsequent multi-vehicle rear-end chain reaction—with no airbags deploying either time, leading to head injuries, broken nose, and permanent spinal and neck injuries. Another incident involved brake failure into a stationary semi-truck with airbag non-deployment and facial/neck injuries.
One owner reports an SRS warning light appearing spontaneously after parking, with no prior issues.
One narrative mentions visible dashboard line on the passenger side that becomes more apparent with heat; Honda technician confirmed this is normal design for airbag window.
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag non-deployment in frontal collisions
Multiple owners report that airbags failed to deploy during frontal or head-on crashes at speeds ranging from 40-50 mph and at least one low-speed impact. Injuries sustained include head trauma, neck and shoulder injuries, chest injury, spinal injury, and facial injuries requiring hospitalization.
When: At impact during accidents; mileage ranges from 1,200 to 29,900 miles reported
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags did not deploy during frontal collision at 40 mph; Airbags did not deploy during frontal collision at 50 mph; Airbags did not deploy during head-on impact at 48 mph; Airbags did not deploy during front-end collision at unknown speed; Airbags did not deploy in two separate accidents (embankment and rear-end combined impact); Airbags did not deploy during crash into stationary semi-truck; No airbag deployment in front-end collision in city street
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One complaint states manufacturer was made aware and sent vehicle to claims department. Most complaints indicate no service action or manufacturer contact.
SRS warning light illumination
One owner reports Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) warning light turned on spontaneously with no known impact or collision history prior to the complaint.
When: Occurred after parking at Costco; specific mileage not provided
Symptoms owners cite: SRS warning light turned on without known cause or impact
Brake system failure concurrent with airbag non-deployment
Multiple complaints describe brake failure leading to collision, followed by airbag non-deployment. Owner notes that almost every other 2016 Honda HR-V has a recall for brake failure, but theirs did not.
When: During driving; one incident at over 35 mph, one at unknown speed, one at 50 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Complete brake failure at highway speed (50 mph); Brake failure at unknown speed while attempting to avoid deer; Brake failure at highway speed causing collision into stationary semi-truck
Visible airbag deployment line on passenger dashboard
Owner reports visible rectangular line with cross-line visible on passenger-side dashboard that increases in appearance with heat and sunlight exposure. Honda service technician explained this is normal and represents the airbag deployment window.
When: Visible on vehicle; noted to increase with heat exposure
Symptoms owners cite: Visible raised line in rectangular shape under dashboard plastic on passenger side; Line becomes more apparent with sunlight and heat exposure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda service technician stated this is expected design in this model for airbag deployment
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2016 Honda HR-V?
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 2016 Honda HR-V?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 44,278 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2016/Honda/HR-V.
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.