Honda has issued a recall of almost half a million of their vehicles. The affected models include some of the company’s top-selling SUVs and light vehicles. The recall is due to seat belts not latching well.

A report filed with the NHTSA revealed that 448,613 vehicles could have a problem with seatbelts. These are the seatbelts on the driver and front passenger seats. Honda estimates only one percent of the recalled vehicles have defective seat belts.

What Models to Watch Out for

The issue affects some of Honda’s top-selling vehicles. The Accord and the CR-V are part of the recall. The affected models are Accords manufactured between 2018 and 2019. Owners of Accord Hybrid models from 2018 to 2019 should check their cars. So should owners of CR-Vs from 2017 and 2020.

The Acura RDX 2019 and 2020 models and the 2019 Insight are also listed in the recall. Odyssey models from 2018 and 2020 are also included.

Honda’s report stated the seat belt buckle channels didn’t conform to specifications. This can lead to interference between the release button and the buckle channel. The surface coating of the channel could deteriorate from use. The release button could also shrink against the buckle channel during low temperatures. This increases friction and leads to problems with the buckle latching. A buckle that doesn’t latch will increase the risk of injury during an accident.

Steps Car Owners Should Take

Car owners should take their vehicles to the nearest dealer to have them checked. If there are issues, the dealer will replace the buttons on the seat belt buckle release. Or they will replace the buckle assemblies. This service is free of charge.

Honda is set to send notification letters by April 17, 2023. Owners can also call the company’s customer service hotline at (888) 234-2138.