2021 Honda Pilot Airbag Problems

Mileage when the problem started

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2021 Honda Pilot owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owned a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH and while attempting to stop depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact confirmed that the accelerator pedal was not depressed accidentally. No air bags deployed. The contact crashed into unknown private property in a parking lot. No injuries were sustained. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the diagnosis was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, offered no assistance, and referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 47,395.

On October 18, 2023, at about 11 am, I was approaching to enter our driveway with my foot on the brake system when all of the sudden the car sped up at a very high speed that I was unable to control. The speed was so forceful that the car crashed unto the house resulting in a lot of damage to our house, all this happened in less than one second. I had a next door neighbor in the car with me and thankfully neither of us was hurt, I like to mention at this point that neither air bag deployed to issue protection to us. Of course the safety of both of us was put at risk. We called the insurance with no luck to send an adjuster to inspect the car and/or damage done to the house, so we had to do everything on our own. The car has not been inspected by a representative of the manufacturer nor the police. …

I am submitting this letter as an official complaint regarding a potential safety defect involving the airbag system in my 2021 Honda Pilot. I was involved in a motor vehicle accident on February 3, 2026 in Atlanta, GA. The collision was a direct frontal impact with another vehicle at approximately 35 mph. The vehicle sustained damage with repair estimates over $8,000. Despite the nature of the crash, the airbags did not deploy. However, post-accident diagnostic information reported by the auto body repair shop indicates that the vehicle's computer system recorded the airbags as having deployed. This discrepancy raises serious safety concerns, as the system appears to have registered a deployment event that did not physically occur. This could indicate a malfunction in the airbag control module, sensors, wiring, or software. …

Airbag Failure Report - 2021 Honda Pilot (Incident Date: April 10, 2026) I am reporting a critical failure of the supplemental restraint system (SRS) in my 2021 Honda Pilot. On April 10, 2026, while traveling at approximately 40-45 mph, our vehicle was struck on the driver's side by a white commercial van. The severe impact caused over $9,000 in structural damage-including the driver-side door, fender, wheel, mirror, and radiator support brackets-yet the side/curtain airbags failed to deploy. As a result of this failure to protect occupants during a significant collision, the driver sustained permanent, non-repairable neck trauma (aggravating a prior surgical site), and the passenger sustained newly diagnosed bulging cervical discs. I request that this failure be documented and investigated as a potential safety defect.

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, while attempting to start the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the SRS air bag system failure message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that the SRS control unit and weight sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 41,000.

The car's steering wheel got locked out and air bags came out suddenly while car is still moving on the road and driver blocked and not able to do anything and hit the parked car on the street due to car's system malfunction. Since incident happened in the housing community area with speed 20-25 miles and not majorly hit anyone but reported to and inspected by city police inspected. This was the first time this situation happed and however, had other incidents with the car auto feature malfunction, when stop on the red signal and suddenly the card shutdown with lot of beeps. This mentioned to the service center where normally go for servicing activities like oil change etc.

The accelerator on my vehicle malfunctioned and got stuck. While making turn with no acceleration, the acceleration of the vehicle got stuck and the brakes did not respond causing the vehicle to hit a sidewalk and breaking the passenger side suspension and control arm and axel of the vehicle. Airbags deployed. Controlled the vehicle until it stopped completely. When vehicle was completely stopped the passenger side still sounded like that gas pedal was fully pressed when the other tires were not moving.

As many before me, I urge NHTSA to hold Honda accountable for failure to rectify the "2020-2022 Acura/Honda Multi-model Seat Weight Sensor Recall" announced on February 6, 2024. I received the initial notice in March 2024, followed by a post card stating that the parts were in stock in April 2025. Upon calling Honda the following day, I was told that the parts were again out of stock and that I would be notified when the recall repair was ready. Nearly 17 months later, I am still waiting for Honda to have the part in stock to fix an issue that has the potential to (quoting Honda) "increase the risk of injury" and is so serious that the manufacturer itself has issued a STOP SALE to prevent any further sales of the affected vehicles. To limit exposure to this risk, I refuse to allow anyone to ride in the passenger seat of the vehicle. …

My SRS System's light came on. When I went to the dealership to have it checked, they stated it was an Airbag Seat Sensor that was bad in the passenger side seat. I talked to the warranty people and they stated it was not covered under the warranty and it would cost me over $2000 to repair. I reached out to Honda and I have received nothing back from them. I don't have that kind of money. I purchased this vehicle one year ago and also added an extended warranty to it so I would have peace of mind that I would not have large out of pocket expenses. Why would Honda not stand behind this serious of a safety issue. I am afraid to take anyone with me in case we are in an accident. I also have small children with me, as I am a foster parent. Is this going to affect all of the airbags in the vehicle?

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and inquired if there was air bag warning light illuminated. The dealer confirmed that the warning light was not illuminated and informed that parts would not be available until December 2025. The contact called another dealer, Honda of Annapolis (1736 West St, Annapolis, MD 21401); who confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and opened a case. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Related recalls

Airbag complaints in other Pilot years