The passenger side air bag is not working. Even with a passenger on the seat, the air bag indicator is OFF. Sometimes the airbag indicator works but most times it does not detect a passenger
2018 Honda Accord airbags problems
severe 41 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
41
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
3crashes
4injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 41 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.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2018 Honda Accord has a well-documented SRS airbag system problem affecting multiple failure modes: intermittent warning lights that clear on restart, passenger airbag sensor failures, airbag non-deployment during collisions, and at least one case of spontaneous airbag deployment. Owners report dealers charging $250+ for diagnostics and $4,000+ for repairs, with Honda refusing warranty coverage and rejecting recall responsibility despite dozens of similar complaints.
The 2018 Honda Accord shows a pattern of SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) faults across 40 complaints. Most common: the "Supplemental Restraint System Problem. See Your Dealer" message appears intermittently on the dashboard, then vanishes when the car restarts. Owners report this happening randomly while driving or on startup, sometimes daily for months or years, with no fault code present when a dealer scans the vehicle while the light is off. Diagnostic codes retrieved include B0020-13 (left side airbag inflator open or increased resistance) and B00D5-14.
Passenger airbag sensor failures are also reported—the indicator stays on when empty, fails to detect occupants, or blinks in patterns. One owner's airbags deployed spontaneously during normal driving, striking a pole and causing vehicle damage and burn injuries. Another reported driver steering wheel airbag failed to deploy during collision while other airbags activated, resulting in neck and head injuries. A third incident involved low-speed impact into a house with no airbag deployment.
Several owners note the SRS warnings began after seatbelt recall service, suggesting possible electrical issues from that work. Dealers quote $4,000 for repairs; some recommend replacing the entire SRS module without confirming the root cause. American Honda has refused warranty coverage and refuses to initiate a recall despite acknowledging multiple complaints.
Same Honda Accord airbags reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Intermittent SRS warning light and dashboard message
Dashboard warning 'Supplemental Restraint System Problem. See Your Dealer' illuminates intermittently while driving or on startup, then clears when vehicle is restarted or turned off. Owners report the warning comes and goes randomly with no consistent pattern or triggering event.
When: Reported from 2 months after purchase through 94,000 miles; varies by vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: SRS warning message appears on dashboard; SRS/airbag light blinks or illuminates intermittently; Warning disappears when vehicle is restarted; No warning retrieves fault code when vehicle is scanned at dealership while light is off
Codes mentioned: B0020-13 (open or increased resistance in left side airbag inflator), B002013, B00D5-14
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers quote $4,000 for repair; one diagnostic charged $250 with another $250 for re-diagnostic by manufacturer; one dealer recommended replacing entire (expensive) SRS module to troubleshoot; another found fault code disappears when SRS harness tester installed and recommended replacing left side airbag inflator
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: American Honda refuses to pay for repairs without a recall; one manufacturer notification acknowledged but vehicle deemed out of warranty at 30,000 miles
Passenger airbag indicator malfunction
Passenger airbag warning indicator fails to illuminate 'OFF' when no passenger is present, remains on even with passenger seated, or fails to detect passenger weight in seat. In one case, light blinks with 5-second gaps randomly.
When: Reported at low mileage (200 miles, 1,090 miles) and throughout vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag warning light stays on continuously; Light fails to turn off when no passenger in seat; Light fails to illuminate when passenger seated; Light blinks intermittently with regular intervals; Passenger airbag does not activate despite occupant in seat
Codes mentioned: B0020-13
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer diagnosed at 1,090 miles but did not repair; one owner told passenger weight sensor needs replacement; one dealer unable to retrieve fault code and did not repair
Airbag non-deployment during collision
Airbags fail to deploy during vehicle impact. One owner reports driver steering wheel airbag did not deploy while passenger airbags and driver foot airbag activated. Another reports neither front airbags deployed on low-speed impact into house.
When: One incident at approximately 23,000 miles; one incident at undisclosed mileage causing neck and head injury
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags do not deploy on impact; Partial airbag deployment (some bags activate, steering wheel bag does not); Vehicle continues to accelerate after brake applied prior to impact
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle with non-deployment at 23,000 miles towed to independent body shop, not diagnosed or repaired; vehicle with partial deployment caused neck and head injuries to driver
Unintended airbag deployment
Airbags deploy spontaneously without collision or impact. One owner reports driver and passenger airbags exploded around 7 AM while driving, causing vehicle to strike street pole, dislodge right front wheel, and cause burns to driver's right arm.
When: One incident on 7-14-23 at 7 AM during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags deploy without collision or impact; Vehicle strikes fixed object (street pole) after airbag deployment; Burn marks on occupant from airbag deployment; Vehicle becomes undriveable after deployment
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to ABX Collision in San Diego; owner states damage likely irreparable
Passenger airbag cutoff indicator malfunction
Passenger airbag weight sensor or cutoff indicator shorts out or fails, potentially preventing passenger side airbag deployment. Some owners report this may be caused by overheated cutoff indicator with loose solder joints.
When: Not specified; owner reports vehicle less than four years old
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag warning indicator illuminates; Potential for airbag non-deployment due to shorted indicator; Indicator may be overheated with loose solder connections
Repairs/costs cited: Potential remedies mentioned by forum users: faulty cutoff indicator replacement, faulty seatbelt buckle assembly replacement
Airbag system sensitivity malfunction (occupant detection)
Airbag system fails to consistently activate for small-stature adult passengers (5'4", 110 lb and 5'8", 115 lb) despite meeting manufacturer's stated minimum weight threshold of 65 lbs. Issue occurs both while vehicle in motion and parked.
When: Intermittent; vehicle meets design specifications according to owner's manual
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag does not activate for adults under 150 lbs sitting normally in seat; Failure occurs inconsistently; Owner's manual states airbags should function at weights over 65 lbs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership and American Honda state system is functioning as engineered despite contradicting owner's manual specification
False warning lights and secondary system faults (SRS-related)
Multiple dashboard warnings appear together, including SRS warning, brake system warning, anti-lock brake warning, and TPMS warning, with no actual system malfunctions detected. Warnings disappear after a few minutes of driving. Owner reports issue began after seatbelt recall service.
When: Daily for two years; began after seatbelt recall service
Symptoms owners cite: Brake system problem warning; Anti-lock brake problem warning; TPMS warning; SRS/airbag system warning; Seatbelt tensioner warning; All warnings disappear after a few minutes of driving with no actual faults; Passenger airbag light intermittently on and off with no occupant in seat
Repairs/costs cited: Owner suspects issue is residual from seatbelt recall service
SRS warning triggered or worsened by seatbelt recall
SRS/airbag warning light began appearing intermittently after seatbelt recall service was performed. Owner suspects defective part was installed during recall or that recall work created electrical problem.
When: After seatbelt recall completion
Symptoms owners cite: SRS warning light comes on after seatbelt recall performed; Passenger airbag indicator turns off when it should be on; Passenger airbag light intermittently turning on and off
Repairs/costs cited: Owner expects dealer to address at no charge since problem began after recall work
Synthesized from 41 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2018 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 2018 Honda Accord?
It's a meaningful issue. 41 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?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 23,000 and 95,000 miles, with the median around 78,900. A quarter of owners report trouble before 23,000; a quarter make it past 95,000. 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/2018/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.