NHTSA Complaint #11641846 — 2018 HONDA ODYSSEY

The airbag system malfunctioned, causing the airbags to deploy unexpectedly while driving. The vehicle is currently at the Honda dealer for repairs and the airbags, as well as related components, are available for inspection upon request. The unexpected deployment of the airbags posed a significant safety risk. It startled me, which impaired my control of the vehicle suddenly as I was driving on the highway. Afterwards, I noticed fumes in the vehicle and I began feeling nauseous and light headed. I managed to pull over on the highway and stepped out of the vehicle. This could have led to a loss of control of vehicle, increasing the risk of collision or injury to not only myself but others on the road as well. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center yet. However, my insurance appraiser inspected the vehicle immediately after the incident and confirmed that the airbags deployed without any signs of a collision or impact. The cause of the deployment remains unknown, and the appraiser recommended that Honda investigate the issue further to identify any potential malfunction in the airbag system. The issue has been inspected by my insurance appraiser, who concluded that while the airbags deployed, there were no visible signs of a collision or any impact that would typically trigger airbag deployment. The inspection of the vehicle’s exterior panels, undercarriage, and suspension showed no signs of damage. The cause of the airbag deployment is unknown, and the appraiser recommended that Honda investigate further to determine if a malfunction within the vehicle’s airbag system is responsible. I believe Honda is at fault, as this issue appears to be related to a malfunction that they need to address. There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms prior to the airbag deployment. However, after the airbags deployed, warning lights appeared on the dashboard, indicating a potential issue.