Texas Honda Odyssey Airbag Lawsuit 2026

Honda recalled 440,830 Honda Odyssey minivans in April 2026 after NHTSA documented 25 injuries linked to side and side curtain airbags deploying unexpectedly when drivers hit potholes, speed bumps, or road debris. Honda was first notified of this defect in 2017 and closed a safety investigation in 2021 without issuing a recall.

Need a Texas Honda Odyssey Airbag Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you were injured when a side airbag or curtain airbag deployed unexpectedly in your Honda Odyssey, contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.

How Do I Check If My Honda Odyssey Was Recalled?

Here is the information owners will need to check if their Honda Odyssey is affected by this recall:

• 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 ECU causes the side and side curtain airbags to deploy unexpectedly when G-force inputs from potholes, speed bumps, or road debris are misinterpreted as a side-impact collision
• Injuries reported: 25 reported injuries; 130 warranty claims; no deaths reported
• Remedy: Free SRS ECU software reprogram or replacement at an authorized Honda dealer; owner letters mailed on or about May 25, 2026
• Check your VIN: NHTSA.gov/recalls or call Honda at (888) 234-2138 (recall No. UNW)
• Official source: NHTSA Recall Report 26V227

What Was Recalled and When?

On April 9, 2026, American Honda Motor Co. 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 Odysseys manufactured between January 24, 2017, and June 3, 2022. Honda corrected the issue in production at the start of the 2023 model year, so Odysseys built after June 3, 2022 are not affected.

Dealer notification began April 10, 2026. Owner notification letters are scheduled to be mailed on or about May 25, 2026. Texas Odyssey owners do not need to wait for a letter. Owners can check their 17-character VIN now at NHTSA.gov/recalls or by calling Honda’s recall line at (888) 234-2138 and referencing recall No. UNW.

What Is Wrong With the Airbag System?

The defect is a software programming error inside the Odyssey’s Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) electronic control unit, which is the computer that controls when airbags deploy. The SRS control logic for the second and third-row airbags does not have a sufficient threshold to distinguish between a real side collision and an ordinary road impact.

When the Odyssey hits a pothole, rolls over a speed bump, strikes road debris, or experiences an undercarriage impact, the resulting G-force can trigger the side and side curtain airbags to deploy as though a crash has occurred.

What is the Risk?

The SRS ECU was supplied by DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc. When a side curtain airbag deploys without warning inside a minivan full of children on a Texas highway, the results can be violent and unpredictable. Side airbags deploy at high speed and generate explosive force. An unexpected deployment at 70 miles per hour on I-10 or I-35 can startle a driver into losing control and injure passengers who have no warning and no chance to brace.

How Many People Were Injured by the Honda Odyssey Airbag Defect?

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. These incidents span a period dating back to January 24, 2017.

If you were hurt when an airbag deployed in your Odyssey after hitting a bump or pothole, your experience is consistent with what Honda and NHTSA have documented in dozens of other incidents nationally, including in Texas.

Honda Knew About This Defect for Nearly a Decade

NHTSA recall documents reveal that Honda first received notice of a potential issue in November 2017. Honda investigated the problem over several years and confirmed by July 2021 that poor road surfaces, road debris, and undercarriage impacts could cause the second and third-row airbags to deploy.

Despite confirming that finding, Honda concluded in October 2021 that there were no safety concerns and closed the investigation without a recall.

The issue returned to NHTSA’s attention in October 2025, when the agency opened a Preliminary Evaluation after receiving 18 complaints about inadvertent airbag deployments.

Honda conducted additional analysis in early 2026 and formally determined a safety defect existed on April 2, 2026. Consumer Reports has reported that Honda may have been aware of the defect for more than five days before filing the required report with NHTSA, which could expose Honda to civil penalties under federal law.

The gap between Honda’s 2021 finding and the 2026 recall spans years during which Texas Odyssey owners were driving with an airbag system Honda knew could misfire. That timeline may be central to any product liability claims that follow.

Legal Help for Texas Honda Odyssey Owners

The Honda Odyssey is one of the most popular family minivans in Texas, used daily by families in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and communities across the state. Many Texas families purchased 2018–2022 Odysseys specifically because they were considered safe vehicles for children.

Texans who were injured by an unexpected airbag deployment in a recalled Honda Odyssey may have legal options, including claims for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages. The Clark Firm’s Texas airbag explosion lawyers and airbag failure lawyers have experience handling vehicle defect cases against major automakers. Time limits apply to product liability claims in Texas, so act promptly.

Need a Texas Honda Odyssey Airbag Lawsuit?

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years of experience, participation in over 600 jury trials, and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our law firm for a free case review.