2003 Honda CR-V Airbag Problems

Which parts fail

• Frontal
  19
• Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
  3
• Frontal › Sensor/control module
  1
• Side/window
  1

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

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1122%
• 25k–50k
  510%
• 50k–75k
  36%
• 75k–100k
  510%
• 100k–150k
  1529%
• 150k+
  1224%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Honda CR-V owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

I got over to the edge of the road to avoid hitting a animal, and hit a small rock (with front passenger tire) and then subsequently had a spontaneous deployment and rupture of my passenger airbag, then my driver airbag deployed. A fire then came from the passenger airbag, with lots of dust in the air. I could not understand why a very small bump triggered the airbags and was shocked by the first, I was able to put out the fire but experienced minor burns on my middle finger and thumb on my right hand, I could hear out of left ear and had ringing the right and the next day the hearing is better on the left but still very muffled on the right. I then did some internet searching and saw the airbag recall for my VIN, and the summary of potential failure matched what I experienced. The explosion and the rupturing of the air bags was so load I thought my car had blown up. …

June 17, 2022 my daughter was hit on the driver side rear corner panel by a vehicle that ran a red light. The impact had enough force to spin her 2003 Honda CRV 180 degrees yet none of the airbags deployed. The rear driver side wheel was bent inward and had to be towed.

The contact received notification of a recall for a 2003 Honda CR-V she never owned. The contact received several post cards notifications for Takata air bag recalls and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The contact stated that the recall notification was addressed to an unknown individual who never lived at her address. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.

SRS LIGHT CAME ON 2 MONTHS AGO. FEAR FOR MY SAFETY. RECALL PLEASE. ELECTRICAL. BACK RT WINDOW AND RT FRONT DOOR LOCK CANNOT BE OPERATED FROM FRONT DRIVER DOOR. LIGHTING. BACK INTERIOR LIGHT DOES NOT TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY. Paint is peeling from all over the car, especially on the front of it. Looks ghastly.

My affected vehicle was traveling at 30 MPH when broadsided by a vehicle traveling at 40-45 MPH on the driver's side; my vehicle was also shoved out of the driving lane, proceeded to collide head on with a street sign with the front right and a utility pole with my front left. Neither the front or side airbags deployed. The vehicle was totaled and jaws of life was utilized to extricate me. I suffered a left-sided head injury (large contusion, concussion), shoulder injury (rotator cuff, fractured scapula) and back and neck strains. These injuries were caused by contact with the frame of the vehicle on the left side. Injuries could have been possibly avoided if side air bag deployed and cushioned the impact/protected driver from contact with vehicle frame. Contact with American Honda at the national office regarding this matter was met with total disinterest. …

Takata recall I was in an accident in May of 2014. I was hit on the driver's side door/front fender on a city street going approximately 30 miles/hour in a straight direction. The airbags were deployed. I sustained a deep gash on my right forearm and what appeared to be chemical burns on the skin surrounding the gash, both palms and both thumbs that took several weeks to heal. The "burns" worsened over a period of several hours following the crash. I assumed they were chemical burns after doing a quick internet search. I did not go to a doctor but instead treated the area with an antibiotic cream and later, aloe vera. I healed within a few weeks, but I still have a scar on my right forearm from the gash (recent, 2/16/17 photo attached). The injury was caused by the airbag deployment. At the time of the crash both my hands were on the steering wheel at a "10 and 2" position.

While driving the highway from bend oregon to albany oregon I was in a 2 car crash. I recall the explosion of the airbag and then coming to against the rock wall at detroit dam. I had hit the car in front of me sending it spinning and crashing up against the guard rail in the opposite direction. The Honda crv went to the right and rolled 3 times coming to a stop on the side. There was medics, police and ambulances that came. The fire department was able to get me out with the jaws of life and I was transported to the salem oregon hospital. The driver of the first car sustained a broken shoulder and torn muscles. I had a severe concussion and seatbelt burns. Muscles had been torn from my back and shoulders. I was in therapy for many months and still suffer from the pain and memory loss.

Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Honda CR-v. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into a second vehicle. The front end of the vehicle was severely damaged, but the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The driver sustained injuries to the chest, ribs, and arms, which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified. The failure mileage was 155,000.

Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Honda CR-v. While driving 30 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained head and shoulder injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000. Updated 11/19/15

After responding to two airbag recalls and repaired my car was involved in a collision resulting in this vehicle been totaled I was stopped on a side street waiting to turn left into parking lot when I was hit by car hit drivers door and left corner pillar resulting in the car being totaled and injuries resulting in surgery August 2016. Airbags never deployed

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Airbag complaints in other CR-V years