About 440,830 Honda Odyssey minivans were recalled on April 9, 2026 after 25 reports of injuries linked to side and side curtain airbags deploying unexpectedly when drivers hit potholes, speed bumps, or road debris. If an airbag suddenly exploded open in your Odyssey without any crash, it was not your fault.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Honda Odyssey airbag injury cases in all 50 states. If you were injured when a side airbag or side curtain airbag deployed unexpectedly in your 2018–2022 Odyssey after hitting a rough road surface, pothole, or speed bump, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Recall Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
How Do I Check If My Airbag Was Recalled?</h2
There have been multiple recalls over the years, so if you own a Honda Odyssey, contact Honda to check if your airbag was recalled. Here is what you need to know to identify the recalled airbag:
- Recalled by: American Honda Motor Co.
- Vehicles affected: 2018–2022 Honda Odyssey minivans manufactured between January 24, 2017, and June 3, 2022
- Recall date: April 9, 2026 (NHTSA Campaign No. 26V227; Honda recall No. UNW)
- Units affected: 440,830
- Defect: A software programming error in the SRS electronic control unit (ECU) causes the side and side curtain airbags to deploy unexpectedly; G-force inputs from road impacts — potholes, speed bumps, debris — can be misinterpreted as a side collision and trigger airbag deployment
- Injuries reported: 25 reported injuries; 130 warranty claims; no deaths reported
- Remedy: Free SRS ECU software reprogram or ECU replacement at an authorized Honda dealer; owner notification letters mailed on or about May 25, 2026
- Check your VIN: NHTSA recalls lookup or call Honda at (888) 234-2138
- Official source: NHTSA Recall Report 26V227
What Was Recalled and When?
On April 9, 2026, Honda filed a safety recall with NHTSA covering 440,830 Honda Odyssey minivans from the 2018–2022 model years (NHTSA Campaign No. 26V227). The recall covers vehicles manufactured between January 24, 2017, and June 3, 2022. Honda corrected the defect in production at the start of the 2023 model year, meaning Odysseys built after June 3, 2022 are not included.
Dealer notification began April 10, 2026. Owner notification letters are scheduled to be mailed on or about May 25, 2026. Owners do not need to wait for a letter — they can check their vehicle’s VIN now at NHTSA.gov or by calling Honda at (888) 234-2138 and referencing recall No. UNW.
What Is the Defect?
The NHTSA recall documents describe the defect as a software programming error in the Odyssey’s Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) electronic control unit (ECU).</p
The SRS control logic governing the second and third-row airbags contains insufficient deployment threshold margin. G-force inputs from everyday road events (a pothole, a speed bump, driving over road debris, or an object impacting the undercarriage) can be misinterpreted by the ECU as a side-impact collision.
That misreading triggers deployment of the side and side curtain airbags even though no crash has occurred.
Where Did
The SRS ECU in the affected Odysseys was supplied by DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc. When an airbag deploys without warning at highway speeds or in a vehicle carrying children in the rear seats, the consequences can be severe. There were 25 injuries and 130 warranty claims reported nationally. Honda has documented this issue since at least 2017, raising serious questions about the timeline of this recall.
How Many People Were Injured?
As of April 2, 2026, Honda reported 25 injuries and 130 warranty claims tied to unexpected airbag deployments in the affected Odyssey population. No deaths have been reported. The 25 documented injuries span incidents dating back to January 24, 2017, the start of the affected production window.
If you were injured when a side airbag or curtain airbag deployed unexpectedly in your Odyssey after hitting a rough patch of road, your experience is consistent with the injuries Honda and NHTSA have documented across this recall population.
Honda Knew About This Problem for Nearly a Decade
According to NHTSA recall documents, Honda first received notice of a related incident on November 15, 2017, nearly 9 years before this recall was announced.
Honda investigated the issue through 2021, confirmed by July of that year that under certain road conditions the second and third-row airbag thresholds could be reached. Despite those findings, Honda concluded in October 2021 that there were no safety concerns and closed the investigation.
The issue resurfaced in October 2025 when NHTSA opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE25-018) after receiving 18 complaints about inadvertent airbag deployments. Honda conducted additional market data analysis in March 2026 and formally determined on April 2, 2026 that a safety defect existed.
Consumer Reports has also noted that Honda may have been aware of the defect for more than 5 days before filing the required report with NHTSA, which could expose the company to civil penalties. The gap between when Honda first identified this issue and when it took corrective action may be significant in any litigation that follows.
Who Is Liable?
Our lawyers can evaluate whether Honda’s knowledge timeline and the circumstances of your injury support a product liability claim. The Schmidt Firm handles airbag injury cases in all 50 states on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
What Should Odyssey Owners Do?
If your 2018–2022 Honda Odyssey is included in this recall, Honda will reprogram the SRS ECU software or replace the ECU entirely at no cost to you. You can schedule this repair at any authorized Honda dealer.
To confirm whether your specific vehicle is included, enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls or call Honda’s recall line at (888) 234-2138 and reference recall No. UNW.
If you were injured by an unexpected airbag deployment in your Odyssey before this recall was announced, do not wait. Time limits apply to vehicle product liability claims, and the sooner you speak with a lawyer, the better your ability to preserve evidence and protect your legal rights.
Do I Have a Honda Odyssey Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Honda Odyssey airbag injury cases in all 50 states. If you were injured when a side airbag or side curtain airbag deployed unexpectedly in your 2018–2022 Odyssey after hitting a rough road surface, pothole, or speed bump, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Recall Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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