NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation: Inadvertent Deployment of Side Air Bags in 2021-2022 Honda Odyssey (PE25-018)
Opened October 28, 2025 · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
NHTSA opened a preliminary evaluation (PE25-018) on October 28, 2025 into inadvertent deployment of side air bags in 2021-2022 Honda Odyssey. The investigation is closed on June 25, 2026 and led to recall 26V227000.
PE25-018 at a glance
| NHTSA action number | PE25-018 |
|---|---|
| Type | Preliminary Evaluation |
| Opened | October 28, 2025 |
| Status | Closed June 25, 2026 |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Honda Odyssey |
| Component | Air Bags |
| Manufacturer | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| Resulting recall | 26V227000 |
What is NHTSA investigating in the Honda Odyssey?
From NHTSA’s investigation summary:
On October 28, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE25018 to investigate complaints of inadvertent deployment of the side curtain and/or side thorax air bags.
These complaints concern model year (MY) 2018-2022 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured by American Honda Motor Co. (Honda).
Honda issued recall 26V227 on April 9, 2026, to address concerns of inadvertent side air bag deployment.
In the recall filing, the company stated that "[a]s of April 2, 2026, Honda has had 130 warranty claims, 25 reports of an injury, and no reports of death related to this issue from January 24, 2017 – April 2, 2026." Honda states that the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) contains incorrect deployment parameters for the side thorax and side curtain air bags, which may cause inadvertent deployment when the vehicle encounters strong road impacts, such as driving over potholes, speed bumps, or road debris.
Honda stated that the SRS control logic for the second and third rows of seating contained an insufficient deployment threshold margin, allowing signal inputs to be misinterpreted as side impacts and causing inadvertent deployment of the side thorax and side curtain air bags.
Recall 26V227 states that dealers will reprogram or replace the SRS ECU with improved air bag deployment parameters.
Consumers received notice of this recall in late May 2026.
In view of the recall being conducted by Honda, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation (PE).
The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.
To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
What is a preliminary evaluation?
Preliminary Evaluation is the first stage of a federal defect investigation. NHTSA reviews complaints, crash reports and manufacturer data to decide whether a safety defect may exist. It can close with no action, be upgraded to an engineering analysis, or end with a recall.
Did this investigation lead to a recall?
Yes. NHTSA lists recall 26V227000 as the result of this investigation: 2021-2022 Honda Odyssey Air Bag Control Module Software Recall (26V227).
Which vehicles are part of this investigation?
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Honda | Odyssey |
What are Honda Odyssey owners reporting to NHTSA?
NHTSA’s public database lists 277 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this investigation (all components). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
What should owners do?
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for any open recall on your vehicle.
- If you have the problem NHTSA is investigating, take the vehicle to a dealer now and get a repair order, even if the dealer cannot find anything.
- Keep a log of every time the problem happens: date, mileage and what happened. Photos and videos help.
- File your own complaint at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. Owner complaints are what start and expand investigations.
- If the problem keeps coming back, talk to a lemon law attorney.
Recalls on the same vehicles
- 2021, 2023 Acura TLX Passenger Air Bag Recall (26V332)
- 2021-2022 Honda Odyssey Air Bag Control Module Software Recall (26V227)
- 2021-2026 Honda Odyssey Latch and Anchor Recall (25V877)
- 2023-2024 Honda Odyssey Steering Recall (24V114)
- 2021-2022 Honda Pilot Passenger Air Bag Recall (24V064)
- 2021-2023 Honda Accord Fuel Pump Recall (23V858)
- 2021-2023 Honda Odyssey Backup Camera Display Recall (23V431)
- 2021 Honda Pilot Visibility Exterior Recall (23V174)
- 2022 Honda Odyssey Tire Sidewall Recall (21V768)
- 2022 Honda Odyssey Seat Recall (21V432)
Can a recall or defect investigation make my car a lemon in California?
Not by itself. What matters is whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps your vehicle at the dealer, and a federal investigation or recall is strong evidence that the problem is real.
Under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, a manufacturer that cannot fix a warranty defect that substantially impairs a vehicle’s use, value or safety within a reasonable number of attempts may have to repurchase or replace it (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)). Within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, the law presumes a reasonable number of attempts after two repairs of a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four repairs of the same defect, or more than 30 days out of service (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)).
An owner who prevails can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Frequently asked questions
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA investigation, recall and complaint data, accessed October 7, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.22
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq., Founder and Managing Attorney of America’s Lemon Lawyer (Wynn Law Group, APC). Licensed by the State Bar of California, No. 362320. His practice focuses on California lemon law under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
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Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page reports public NHTSA data and is general information, not legal advice. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.