2021-2022 Honda Odyssey Air Bag Control Module Software Recall (26V227)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · 440,830 vehicles · Reported April 9, 2026
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling 440,830 2021-2022 Honda Odyssey vehicles. A software programming error can cause the side and side curtain air bags to deploy unexpectedly. Air bags that deploy unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 26V227 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V227000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | UNW |
| Date reported to NHTSA | April 9, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Honda Odyssey |
| Units affected | 440,830 |
| Component | Air Bags > Air Bag / Restraint Control Module > Software |
| Safety risk | Air bags that deploy unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Honda Odyssey in recall 26V227?
A software programming error can cause the side and side curtain air bags to deploy unexpectedly.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Odyssey vehicles. A software programming error can cause the side and side curtain air bags to deploy unexpectedly.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Odyssey with recall 26V227?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Air bags that deploy unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Air bags that deploy unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the software.
Which vehicles are included in recall 26V227?
Recall 26V227 covers 440,830 vehicles: 2021-2022 Honda Odyssey.
NHTSA lists 440,830 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Honda | Odyssey |
What is the fix for the Odyssey air bag control module software recall?
Yes. Dealers will reprogram the supplemental restraint system (SRS) electronic control unit (ECU) software or replace the ECU, as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will reprogram the supplemental restraint system (SRS) electronic control unit (ECU) software or replace the ECU, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is UNW. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 16, 2026. The information in your report suggests that Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) may have been aware of this issue more than five business days before filing a report with NHTSA. Please be reminded that under Federal law, this agency is to be notified of all safety defect and/or noncompliance decisions within five business days. 49 CFR 573.6 Significant civil penalties can be assessed for this violation.
When was recall 26V227 announced?
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) reported recall 26V227 to NHTSA on April 9, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as May 27, 2026.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| June 3, 2022 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| April 9, 2026 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 26V227000. |
| May 27, 2026 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 5 months ago. If your Odyssey was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Odyssey is part of recall 26V227?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V227 is open on your Odyssey, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021-2022 Odyssey vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Odyssey owners do about recall 26V227?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 26V227000 applies to your Odyssey.
- Call a Honda dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Keep a simple log of any software symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Odyssey owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 277 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 26 of them about the air bags.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 26V227 was reported (2) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 277 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 26 of them involve the air bags. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Honda Odyssey: 142 complaints in total, 16 about the air bags
- 2022 Honda Odyssey: 135 complaints in total, 10 about the air bags
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
All passenger side curtain airbags deployed after going over a pothole, despite no tire/wheel/frame damage to the car according to the Honda dealership. No collision occurred, only going over a pothole. SRS is available for review from dealership. Vehicle has been inspected by dealership and insurance representative.
2022 Honda Odyssey owner, PA, NHTSA complaint 11712211, filed January 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while their wife was driving approximately 50 -55 MPH, the front passenger side air bag and the curtain air bag, which were expanded from the front passenger seat to the rear passenger seat, suddenly deployed without impact.
2022 Honda Odyssey owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11729399, filed April 6, 2026
The right side airbags deployed without any damage or accident occurring to the vehicle.
2022 Honda Odyssey owner, AL, NHTSA complaint 11731236, filed April 14, 2026
Can recall 26V227 make my Odyssey a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this software recall means their Odyssey qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
An air bag warning light that keeps coming back after a recall repair is worth documenting. Air bag defects are safety defects, and California law can require fewer repair attempts for them.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021-2022 Honda Odyssey has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case 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.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no 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.
Has your Odyssey been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Honda Odyssey recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 26V227
Is the 26V227000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed May 27, 2026.
How do I know if my Odyssey is part of recall 26V227000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
What if my air bag light stays on after the recall repair?
Go back to the dealer. A warning light that returns means the system may not deploy correctly, and the visit is another repair attempt for a safety defect.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
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 recall record 26V227000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Honda. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.