The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have opened a preliminary investigation into whether certain 2003-2004 Honda Odyssey Minivans should be recalled. There have already been six consumer complaints of sudden airbag deployment and forty one complaints alleging the vehicle’s air bag warning light illuminates intermittently.

In 2011, the NHTSA investigated inadvertent air bag deployments in certain Chrysler vehicles. The investigation led to recalls for certain Dodge Viper, Jeep Liberty, and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. During the investigation, it was found the the electronic air bag module supplier supplied the same parts for certain 2003-2004 Honda Odyssey vehicles. Since there have been no accidents or property damage caused by airbag deployment of the driver frontal air bag and the occurrence rate is extremely low, a recall was never issued.

Honda has been working with the NHTSA for months trying to prove that their electronic circuits in their air bags are not faring the same as in Chrysler vehicles. If the investigation leads to a recall, approximately 320 thousand 2003-2004 Honda Odyssey could be affected.