The defect
CERTAIN SEDANS AND COUPES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." CERTAIN REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED.
The risk
THE REAR SEAT BELTS WILL WORK PROPERLY AND PROVIDE PROTECTION IN A CRASH, BUT THE OWNER MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY UNFASTENING THE BELT AFTER THE CRASH.
The remedy
IN A PREVIOUS RECALL (01V-380), ONLY RIGHT AND LEFT BUCKLES WERE INSPECTED. THE REAR CENTER BUCKLE SHOULD ALSO BE INSPECTED AND CORRECTED IF NECESSARY. THIS RECALL IS BEING CONDUCTED ONLY FOR THE CENTER BUCKLE. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE IMRPOPERLY MANUFACTURED. ONLY BUCKLES THAT ARE MARKED (ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE BUCKLE) WITH AN ASSEMBLY NUMBER BEGINNING WITH 00185, 00186, OR 00187, WILL BE REPLACED. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT THEIR DEALER FOR THIS REPLACEMENT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 5, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by OVSC
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Honda Accord | 2000, 2001 |
| Honda Civic | 2000, 2001 |
Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Accord | 2000 | 1,183 | 8 |
| Honda Accord | 2001 | 922 | 7 |
| Honda Civic | 2000 | 287 | 6 |
| Honda Civic | 2001 | 1,079 | 14 |
Other seat belts recalls in 2002
23 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the seat belts; AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. filed 122 campaigns in all.
| 02V160008 21 Nov 2002 | XPLORER MTR HM/FRANK DIV. |
| 02V290000 5 Nov 2002 | HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
| 02V160009 31 Oct 2002 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 02V160006 29 Oct 2002 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. |
| 02V160005 22 Oct 2002 | DODGEN INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 02V160007 21 Oct 2002 | NATIONAL VAN SALES, INC. |
| 02V160004 18 Oct 2002 | ELDORADO NATIONAL |
| 02V160003 16 Oct 2002 | COACH AND EQUIPMENT MFG CORP |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002