January 17, 2007
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has ordered the recall of 81,000 2004 and 2005 model year Honda Accords because of a potentially unsafe driver's side airbag seat positioning sensor.
The seat positioning sensor detects the driver seating position and adjusts airbag pressures. On some Honda Accord wiring harnesses the sensor was attached to the seat frame in the wrong location and may malfunction.
The airbag system will default to full inflation pressure regardless of seating position increasing the risk of airbag caused injury for "smaller drivers in a frontal crash," according to NHTSA.
A broken seat positioning sensor will also cause the airbag warning light to illuminate.
Dealers will replace the seat position sensor wiring sub-harness when the recall begins in February. Honda Accord owners may contact NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236 or call Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
