The problem
Certain sedans and coupes fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." certain rear seat belt buckles were improperly manufactured.
The risk
The rear seat belts will work properly and provide protection in a crash, but the owner May experience difficulty unfastening the belt after the crash.
The fix
In a previous recall (01v-380), only right and left buckles were inspected. The rear center buckle should also be inspected and corrected if necessary. This recall is being conducted only for the center buckle. Dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace the seat belt assemblies that were imrpoperly manufactured. Only buckles that are marked (on the back side of the buckle) with an assembly number beginning with 00185, 00186, or 00187, will be replaced. Owners should contact their dealer for this replacement. Owner notification began March 5, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 02V-051 (02V051000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| Component | Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly |
| Report date | February 8, 2002 |
| Owners notified | March 5, 2002 |
| Vehicles affected | 16,459 |
| Initiated by | OVSC |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the seat belts
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 02V-051 repair free?
Yes. Honda dealers will fix the problem at no cost: In a previous recall (01v-380), only right and left buckles were inspected. The rear center buckle should also be inspected and corrected if necessary. This recall is being conducted only for the center buckle.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 16,459 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.