Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Honda Accord owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2005 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH and attempting to pass a vehicle on the right lane of the road, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and pulled to the left side of the road and towards the median. The contact did not recall whether a warning light was illuminated. The vehicle crashed into the pole of a traffic sign, and the traffic sign broke the windshield. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belts pretensioners failed to engage, causing the contact to hit her head against the windshield. The shattered pieces of the windshield were propelled to the contact. The contact stated that she was unconscious for an hour. The contact was transported to the hospital by emergency unit. The contact sustained severe headaches and was advised to follow up with a neurologist. …
The contact owns a 2005 Honda Accord. The contact stated while entering a parking lot the vehicle accelerated on its own. The contact stated he noticed several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact desperately pressed on the brake pedal, but the vehicle continued to accelerate. The front driver-side air bag deployed without any warning obstructive the contact's view and causing him to crash into a building and causing the other air bags in the vehicle to deploy. The contact's daughter stuffed minor injuries but did not seek medical attention. The front end of the vehicle was damaged. The vehicle was not towed, but the contact was able to drive the vehicle home. A police report was not filed. The dealer was contacted but the dealer stated that there were no open recalls under the VIN. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 315,986.
The contact owns a 2005 Honda Accord. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V182000 (AIRBAGS) The contact stated two days later on June 4, 2021, while driving 60 mph, when the driver-side airbag deployed independently. The contact stated unknown warning light was illuminated at the time. The contact stated she turned to the left and crashed into the guardrail until the vehicle came to a stop. The contact did not sustain any injuries or seek medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed needing a diagnosed testing to be performed on the vehicle. The vehicle had not been diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 186,000.
My daughter was in a car accident 5/18/21 and totaled her car , airbags opened on sides and in seat but her steering wheel never opened . I have pictures of the car and even police officer , paramedic and tow guy said it seems strange that they did not open . She is very lucky to be ok but I am concerned that the steering wheel did not open . Maintenance was kept up on car along with inspections .
Air bag indicator light is always on. Went to the Honda dealer (Auto NAtion Honda, Tucson) and was informed that there is a recall but the part was not available. So come back after the part. Came back today, and there was a new person, and was informed it wont be covered under the warranty, and needs to replace the driver's side seat belt wire harness and had to pay $235. There is a Safety Recall: Driver's Seat Position Sensor Harness Replacement service bulletin 07-002 for this wire harness but was informed does not cover my vehicle. I think this is the same issue, but why does not cover my vehicle? This is clearly Honda's fault.
The contact owns a 2005 Honda Accord. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V320000 (Air Bags); however, the dealer refused to complete the recall and had not provided a reason for declining the recall repair. The contact stated that the dealer and manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Takata recll" I was involved in a accident on aug,7 I was heading south on a two way street and someone passed me on the right side of my car and not mking it the rear of his truck hit the right front wheel well of my car and set of my airbag wich imidiently I felt a hard impact on the right side of my facei could no lo ger feel my body just a loud peircing noice and then I passed out when I woke up I felt massive pain in my chest just pain pain pain,, I could not figure out what happened, the ambulance arrived and assest me and took me my arms were bleedi g with tiny peices of something in them mthe emergenct room toom blood and x rays and released ny my chest was stil hurti g bad, for 30 days it still hurt I went to emergency room again and tgey said my femur bone had been broken znd was healing from accident
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while the driver was driving at approximately 30 MPH, the driver rear ended another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained neck and shoulder injuries that did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the drivers residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic to determine the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was recently repaired under NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V320000 and 14V700000 (air bags) at Honda world downey dealer, located on 10645 studebaker rd, downey, ca 90241, [phone]. The manufacturer was not contacted and made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 108,259.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Honda Accord. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the contact's vehicle was cut off by another vehicle. As a result, the contact rear ended the other vehicle. The front passenger air bag failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact stated that all four passengers in the vehicle sustained injuries that required medical attention. The driver and front seat passenger sustained whiplash and injuries to the neck, back, and leg due to the seat belt restraints not operating properly. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 297,371.
Tla* the contact owned a 2005 hondo Accord. The contact stated that the vehicle crashed head on into a tree while driving at an unknown speed. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that an unknown warning indicator illuminated prior to the crash. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed a total loss. A police report was filed. The contact suffered minor scratches, which did not require medical attention. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired per nets campaign number: (air bags) at hondo of fort worth (3400 w loop 820 s, fort worth, tx 76116). The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the recent failure. The failure mileage was 69,623.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018.
Show 7 more recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 Accord vehicles manufactured October 1, 2003, to August 17, 2007. The affected vehicles may have been assembled with an incorrect passenger frontal air bag module that does not comply with the advanced air bag requirements.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the air bag module as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 2, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic vehicles manufactured March 21, 2000, to January 20, 2005, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX vehicles manufactured June 14, 2000, to August 19, 2004, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid vehicles manufactured February 24, 2002, to January 18, 2005, 2003-2007…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags
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…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Air bags
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…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
On certain vehicles, the seat position sensor (sps) detects the driver's seating position and adjusts the air bag inflation pressure accordingly. The wiring harness for the sps was attached to the seat frame in the wrong location and May have been over tightened.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat position sensor wiring subharness. The recall will begin on or about February 8, 2007. Owners May contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Air bags › Frontal
On certain sedans, a tear in the fabric of the driver's front air bag occurred after apparent contact with the inside surface of the air bag cover during deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective fabric flap between the air bag module cover and the inner module. The recall began on November 30, 2004. Owners should contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
NHTSA investigations
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Airbag complaints in other Accord years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2005 Honda Accord?
NHTSA has 209 complaints about the air bags of the 2005 Honda Accord, 32% of the model year's 656 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (17 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Honda Accord airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-501 (inflator module, Jun 27, 2019); NHTSA recall 19V-499 (inflator module, Jun 27, 2019); NHTSA recall 19V-182 (inflator module, Mar 6, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2005 Honda Accord airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 83,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 50 crashes, 1 fire and 60 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.