The vehicle was rear-ended on I-5 in Seattle Washington. The impact drove the subject car into the car in front of it. The front passenger airbag deployed (no occupant). The front driver airbag did not deploy, resulting in the driver hitting their nose and forehead on the steering wheel. The driver sustained relatively minor nose bruising and possibly a mild concussion. (Note, airbag recall had been performed on this vehicle)
2003 Honda Accord: airbags did not deploy in a crash
58 of the 1,987 complaints about the 2003 Honda Accord describe airbags did not deploy in a crash.
- owner complaints
- 58
- of this car's complaints
- 3%
- typical mileage
- 89,000
- recalls
- 9
Is there a fix? There are 9 recalls and 69 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
Airbags did not deploy in a crash by model year
What owners say
The contact owned a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that her vehicle had previously been repaired under unknown recalls for her driver's and passenger's airbags. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered and violently pulled to the right, causing her to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a wall. The driver's side air bag did not deploy; however, the passenger air bag did deploy. The contact sustained injuries to her face and back. The contact received medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The insurance company deemed the vehicle totaled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda accord. While driving 25 MPH during time on a road with no street lights, the contact collided with another vehicle that she did not view was on the roadway. The front passenger side of the vehicle was damaged. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. During the impact, the contact hit her head during the impact but did not receive any medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's home and then towed away for inspection by the insurance company. The contact received a recall notice for the federal safety agency campaign number: 19v182000 (air bags) and called richfield bloomington honda (501 w 77th st, richfield, mn 55423, 612‑866‑8832). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired because the dealer was too busy. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 131,016.
While parking car at <2 MPH driver front wheel hit curb. Drivers side seat ripped open but airbag did not deploy. Took vehicle to dealer and they claim car was in an accident and that deployment was normal, and not covered under any warranty. Suggested I contact american honda and lodge a complaint, which I did and they claim this was not an airbag malfunction. If the seat ripped open but the airbag never deployed, how is this not a malfunction? (it is still neatly folded within the seat). Why did it go off when hitting a curb while parking at extremely low speed? This seems like an "airbag malfunction" . I am concerned that this should be looked into and that it should be repaired by honda not at my cost.
On 5/11/2019 I was in a serious auto accident to where my airbags did not deploy at all. My car was completely totaled and I'm lucky to be alive today. I'm concerned way the air bags did not deploy when there was impact on every side and trigger points of my car. I want to know did I even have airbags because I everyone that has inspected the car said they should have deployed with all the impact to the car. I would greatly appreciate if you can look into this due to my life could have been taken that night and my cars air bags never deployed and now I have to live with the pain and damages it has done to me. I was driving and got into the middle lane and then I was hit from behind from a ford f-150 from what I was told due to I lost concussion while my car spun out of control and then I woke up slammed up against trees, in a deep ditch. Since I don't remember all of what happen this is the florida highway patrol case number ( 88109030 ), so you can look more into the case. I will attach a few pictures of the vehicle that was taken when I had to get my stuff out of it.
Takata recall (possibly?). I was in a car accident on june 21, 2018, in my 2003 honda accord coupe driver side airbag did not deploy. I was driving on a city street, the road was wet, and I was going around a curve in the road (going about 40 MPH). My car lost traction and fish tailed, then ended up slamming into a telephone pole with the passenger side being impacted first. The passenger side door airbag went off, but my driver side airbag did not deploy, and because I was not wearing my seatbelt my face smacked into the steering wheell. I had to get stitches on my chin, lip, and nose. I also had to get my front left tooth extracted, and suffered a deviated septum and road rash from the impact.
My daughter was in an accident the other night and her airbag did not go off. She was driving 50 MPH on rt. 152 when someone pulled out in front of her attempting to cross the street. My daughter applied the brakes to avoid hitting the other vehicle. Upon impact the passenger airbag went off but the driver side did not!
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 honda accord. While driving approximately 45 MPH on a curved mountain road, the driver lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle skidded across two lanes of traffic and crashed into two large mountain rocks. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained injuries to the head, a broken ankle, compound fractures, and bruises that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for a determination of the air bag failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 honda accord. The contact stated that while at a stop, another vehicle driving at 40 MPH crashed into the front drivers side of the vehicle. The driver's side air bag failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the back and neck that required medical attention. The contact was unsure if a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact was aware of the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 15v370000 (air bags) and 15v320000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 143,000.
Takata recall. I got into an accident back in 2015, airbags did not deploy.
My son was involved in a single car roll over accident on 10/10/2015. He was traveling about 40 miles per hour when the road surface changed from asphalt to gravel. He lost control of the car and the vehicle did one complete rotation landing back on its tires. The seat belt did not hold causing his head to hit the inside roof of vehicle and throwing him from side to side as the vehicle rolled over. My son suffered a l1 burst fracture, damaging his spinal cord, which left him a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair . Airbag did not deploy, which due to the fact that it was a side rollover, sensors may not have been trigged. The car did however, have damage to the front, left front, left rear and right front of the vehicle. My son was 25 at the time of the accident.
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 honda accord. While driving 60 MPH, the contact's vehicle was rear ended and struck on the driver's side by two separate vehicles. The contact crashed into the guardrail due to the impact. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact was transported to the hospital for back and neck injuries. The contact also sustained sprains and whiplash to the neck and upper back. The vehicle was towed to a local lot. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was unknown.
Service bulletins that may apply
- This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators
- This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators
- This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators
- This bulletin has been cancelled because the collection is now complete
- This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators
- Email template to remind owners of the takata recall and to schedule an appointment at their earliest...
- Advertisement in hawaiian newspapers to remind owners of the takata recall and to schedule an appointment...
- Dealer message - this video from honda senior vice president bruce smith is in response to a recall...
Related recalls
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.
Recall number 19V499000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.
Recall number 19V501000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
- Risk
- An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.
Recall number 19V182000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
- Risk
- An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.
Recall number 18V268000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Honda Accord Coupe vehicles, equipped with a four-cylinder engine. If the passenger frontal air bag module has been replaced, such as after a crash necessitating frontal air bag deployment, the replacement air bag module may include a Takata air bag inflator. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to lower absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any Takata inflator used in the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 1, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's number for this recall is KF0.
Recall number 17V220000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic vehicles manufactured March 21, 2000, to January 20, 2005, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX vehicles manufactured June 14, 2000, to August 19, 2004, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid vehicles manufactured February 24, 2002, to January 18, 2005, 2003-2007 Honda Accord vehicles manufactured February 21, 2002, to August 28, 2007, 2002-2004 Honda CR-V vehicles, 2002-2003 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured June 19, 2001, to July 12, 2003, 2003 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured September 19, 2002, to June 19, 2003, 2003 Honda Element vehicles manufactured June 25, 2002, to July 31, 2003, and 2003 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured November 26, 2001, to August 21, 2003. The affected vehicles have a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the passenger seat occupant or other occupants possibly causing serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JU4, JU5, JU6, and JU7. Note: Vehicles that have already received a replacement passenger air bag inflator as part of the recall remedy for an earlier campaign such as 14V353 or 14V700 (Honda recall numbers S95, JH6, JH7, JH8, JH9, JJ0, JJ1, JJ2, JJ6, JM5 and JM6) are not included in this recall. However, this recall does supersede 13V132 and 14V349. Note: On December 18, 2015 Honda informed the federal safety agency of an expansion of this recall to include certain model year 2004 Honda CR-V vehicles in addition to additional model year 2003 CR-V vehicles.
Recall number 15V370000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1‑800‑382‑2238, select option 4. Note: Vehicles that have had their driver frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy prior to September 12, 2014 need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Vehicles that, on or after September 12, 2014, received a remedy for a prior driver frontal air bag inflator recall already received an inflator of a different design, and therefore are not included in this recall and do not require additional servicing. Note: This recall fully supersedes recalls 08V‑593, 09V‑259, 10V‑041, 11V‑260, 14V‑351 and 15V‑153. Honda's numbers for this recall are JQ9, JR0, JR1, JR2, JR3, JR4, JR5, JR6, JR7, and JR8.
Recall number 15V320000 · Recall details
Air bags
- What is wrong
- American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa are addressed by this recall. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑800‑999‑1009.
Recall number 14V700000 · Recall details
Air bags
- What is wrong
- American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in California, and equipped with Takata-brand air bag inflators. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑800‑999‑1009.
Recall number 14V353000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2003 Honda Accord no deployment
Is airbags did not deploy in a crash a common problem on the 2003 Honda Accord?
58 of 1,987 owner complaints about the 2003 Honda Accord (3%) mention airbags did not deploy in a crash. The model year with the most reports is 2001.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2003 Honda Accord?
There are 9 recalls and 69 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2003 Honda Accord
Transmission failure 379Slipping 186Jerking 134Won't shift 100Airbag light 93Check engine light 64Grinding brakes 59Wipers 52Stalling 41Hesitation 33Sudden acceleration 27Loss of power 25Harsh shifting 24Fire or smoke 21Pulling 20ABS 19Headlights 19Brake failure 18Door locks 18Premature wear 18Seat belt 18Won't start 16Whining noise 14Overheating 13Shudder 13Tire blowout 10Knocking 9Adaptive cruise 8Oil consumption 8Screen failure 7Ball joint 6Engine failure 6Power steering loss 6Battery drain 5Steering noise 5Warning lights 5
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2003 Honda Accord?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history