2008 Honda Accord being probed by NHTSA for airbag failures due to electronic glitch – 384,000 cars affected

Honda airbag

In news that could possibly rattle owners of 2008 Honda Accord models, TheDetroitNews has reported that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is apparently opening a formal investigation into 384,000 units of the 2008 model year Accord in the US over reports that airbags are not deploying in a crash due to an electronic glitch.

According to the publication, the NHTSA says that the airbag control module may prevent the airbags from deploying in a crash ‘due to a malfunction that causes the airbag status / readiness indicator lamp to illuminate and the airbag system being disabled until repaired’. This really is quite a disturbing development, with at least 19 complaints being linked to this anomaly, with one crash and one injury, apparently.

Speaking to the publication, the formal response from the NHTSA is as follows: “Consumers report the SRS control module had to be replaced to correct the condition. Several reports indicated that the SRS module was unable to communicate thus preventing diagnostic trouble codes from being retrieved.”

SRS-Airbag

Furthermore, the NHTSA went on to say that “an inability of the SRS unit to communicate raises concern about the readiness of the entire supplemental restraints system…as a result, for vehicles with a failed SRS module, some or all of the airbags may be unavailable in a crash warranting deployment.”

Some of the complaints lodged with the NHTSA cover a range disturbing scenarios, but most disappointing of all was the Honda dealers’ attitude towards the problem as most repairs were not carried out in a timely fashion, with no free loaners available for customers affected. Hefty repairs bills ranging from US$500 (RM2,110) to US$700 (RM2,952) were also reported.

A Honda spokesman told the publication that the automaker “will cooperate with the NHTSA through the investigation process, and will continue our own internal review of the available information.” In the meantime, if you do own a 2008 Honda Accord here in Malaysia, and if you do see the airbag indicator light coming on, do get it checked out. As they say, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

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Anil Prabha

Anil Prabha has always been a petrol head. He also has a strange knack for remembering car models and their respective registration plates. Naturally aspirated engines are always better than turbocharged or supercharged ones, in his opinion. Ultimately, he believes that there is nothing better in life than just going for a drive.

 

Comments

  • conti on Aug 24, 2015 at 3:49 pm

    not that reliable after all…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 2
    • Toyota’s cost cutting virus has infected Honda. How sadding

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 12
      • johndumbass on Aug 24, 2015 at 10:10 pm

        Proton’s poor quality ‘sickness’ has infected Honda due to forbidden relationship(partnership). How sad

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 5
        • Unfortunately for you, P1 use brand name airbags, unlike ur killer takatas. So take that p1 haters! Haha!

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 4
          • lolerd on Aug 24, 2015 at 11:34 pm

            Blind hatred will make p1 bashers unleash their own stupidity

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 4
          • Kenapa Proton tak guna airbag local brand? Pandang rendah terhadap barang buatan Malaysia?

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • kington on Aug 24, 2015 at 4:55 pm

    Dude, find me a mass car manufacturer that doesn’t do cost cutting.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • lexusbiscuit on Aug 24, 2015 at 11:36 pm

      Lexus, because it feels more premium and luxury than Rolls Royce and Bentley. Its handling can beat F1 racing car for breakfast lunch dinner

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
      • viosturbo on Aug 25, 2015 at 12:44 am

        Vios, it can do century sprint in 3 secs flat

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
        • lolerd on Aug 25, 2015 at 5:50 pm

          Blind hatred will make T bashers unleash their own stupidity

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
      • dugongx on Aug 25, 2015 at 12:50 am

        That’s right, Lexus can beat a F-16 jet fighter for top speed. What is puny F1 car? Rolls royce and Bentley ? Lexus makes them look and feel like cheap peroduas or tata.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 4
  • BNaik on Aug 24, 2015 at 5:11 pm

    only impact Honda Accord? Saw my friz City ’08 car have this issue, the airbag indicator light keep turning ON.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • honda tak apa. If proton yang recall, kaw2 kena bash. hahahah

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • mazola on Aug 24, 2015 at 11:40 pm

      Because macais here said supporting p1 means support crony and bee-end, lol.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • Obsever on Aug 25, 2015 at 12:06 am

      hahaha just wait few more months…as we all know, PROTON are using this accord for New Perdana…I’m sure if they have to do recall due to this issue, PROTON will be bashed kaw kaw….. instead of Honda…

      Such is the mentality of Malaysians….

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
 

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