2002 Honda CR-V Airbag Problems

Which parts fail

• Frontal
  10
• Frontal › Sensor/control module
  6
• Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
  4
• Side/window
  2

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  610%
• 25k–50k
  814%
• 50k–75k
  915%
• 75k–100k
  58%
• 100k–150k
  1119%
• 150k+
  2034%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Honda CR-V owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owned a 2002 Honda CR-V. The contact had received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V501000 (Air Bags) and had the passenger air bag serviced under the recall at the dealer. On July 4, 2022, the contact heard a loud boom which she assumed was a firework; however, her neighbor informed her that her vehicle had caught fire. The fire department was called and the fire was extinguished. A fire report was filed; no injuries were reported and no property was damaged. A fire technician was sent to her home to investigate the fire; his investigation led him to believe that the passenger air bag had caught fire which caused the failure. The technician suggested the contact call an engineer to officially determine the cause of the fire. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. …

The contact owns a 2002 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that SRS air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front passenger's side air bag needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. Additionally, the contact stated that the front passenger's side seat belt and the rear middle seat belt buckles were not latching securely as designed. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 01V351000 (Seat Belts) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

My 2002 Honda CRV's ENTIRE Passenger Side Airbag Assembly was REPLACED on 11-20-2019, per Honda. This was done as (per Honda) the Inflator bolt was broken and the applicable part to remedy the recall would not be available for approximately 3 months. An open recall (NHTSA Recall # 19V-501) from 06-27-2019 still is showing on my vehicle - If the ENTIRE Passenger Side Airbag Assembly was replaced on 11-20-2019, there should be no open NHTSA recall on my vehicle issued prior to 11-20-2019.

The contact's husband owned a 2002, 2009 and 2012 Honda CR-V. The contact received unknown recall notifications and post cards, and she would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.

I had been driving for approximately 30 minutes. As I drove along I-575 - a 4-lane highway - I noticed a kind of power surge from my engine. My speedometer registered 80 MPH! I applied the brakes but was unable to slow the car more than 20-30 MPH, and then it started to creep back up. I exited at that point, knowing I needed help. I was still going much too fast. I looked for a service station and not only was there none, within seconds I was faced with a red light with 4 lanes of cross traffic (george busby parkway) - I couldn't stop the car! So I took it off the road in a controlled crash, going over the curb, 6 or so feet of grass, a huge hedge, and crashed into a very tall, mature crape myrtle. Thank god the car finally stopped. I was fortunate the crape myrtle consisted of multiple trunks rather than being an oak or similar. …

Tl* the contact owned a 2002 Honda CR-v. While driving 35 MPH, another vehicle ran the stop sign and was t-boned by the contact's vehicle. The contact stated that the seat belt pretensioner failed and the air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact's wife sustained a broken knee cap and upper torso injuries. The rear passenger sustained back injuries and the driver sustained back and torso injuries. Medical attention was required. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired for a recall in 2010. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The recall specifics were not provided. The failure mileage was approximately 188,000. Updated 05/17/17 updated 08/07/2017

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Honda CR-v. The contact stated that the vehicle was rear ended while at a red light. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained shoulder, neck, and low back injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was later taken to paul paint and body shop in high ridge, mo, where the vehicle was being repaired for the crash damage. In addition, the contact stated that the steering wheel position lock failed to adjust and remain secure. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V370000 and 15V320000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Honda CR-v. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed head on into another vehicle. The failure occurred as the vehicle crested the top of a hill and the contact reached up to pull down the sun visor. Immediately afterwards, the driver and passenger side air bags deployed and fragments from the air bags bruised the contact's hand. The contact and two people from the other vehicle sustained injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. Both vehicles were destroyed and towed away by both parties' insurance companies. The failure mileage was 253,000. ...updated08/20/15 updated 11/27/2015

Tl* the contact owned a 2002 Honda CR-v. While driving 10 MPH, the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact depressed the brake pedal; however, the brakes failed to slow the vehicle. The contact crashed into a guardrail. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to the contact's residence. The contact sustained scratches and bruises to the upper arm and body that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V370000 (air bags) and 15V320000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 69,000.

Tl* the contact owned a 2002 Honda CR-v. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle in front of the contact's vehicle suddenly stopped, causing the contact to rear end the preceding vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the chest, ribs, sternum and back that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 14V351000 (air bags). The failure mileage was 128,355... Updated 02/19/15 updated 02/20/15

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Airbag complaints in other CR-V years