2021 Honda Pilot · symptom sheet
Airbag warning light or recall
- 30owner reports
- $2,000median quote
- 5involved a crash
Newest report May 21, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026
30 of the 425 complaints on this car describe airbag.
Tick what matches of 30 reports
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the occupant sensor (12 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the airbags cover the 2021 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
NHTSA investigations into the airbags on the Pilot
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture. Open.
NHTSA summary
Air bag inflator rupture. Open, led to recall 14V-668.
NHTSA summary
Air bag inflator rupture. Closed mar 2, 2015, led to recall 13V-172.
NHTSA summary
None of these investigations covers the 2021 model year.
What owners paid
6 of the 30 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $980 to $2,000.
When it happens
Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.
What owners wrote
“Here it is over two years later and passenger seat switch has not been replaced I was At Gunn Honda in 2/2024 and 6/2024 requesting an update of replacement answer was no parts. Here it is 5/2025 and I have nothing can you get this resolved asap? Recall: #OHB 2020-22 Multi-Model Seat Weight Sensor Safety Recall”
Filed May 21, 2025
“Problem Dealer said recall for airbags risk/ seat sensor cannot be fixed due to unable to get parts.”
Filed Jun 7, 2024
“My EMS light came on one afternoon while driving home. I took it to the dealer and they stated it was an issue with the air bag system in the passenger side of the vehicle. It would not be covered and would cost me more than $2000 to have it repaired.”
Filed Jan 26, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 5 of 30 reports involved a crash and 3 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.
Other problems on this car
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 77 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 74 reports
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 46 reports
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 35 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 30 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 26 reports