[andrew28]

2019 Honda Insight
Production Dates : MAR 27, 2018 - MAR 19, 2019
NHTSA Recall No. : 23V-158

Problem Description:
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2020 CR-V, 2018-2019 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019 Insight, and 2019-2020 Acura RDX vehicles. A manufacturing issue with the front seat belts may cause the seat belt buckle channel to interfere with the release button, preventing the seat belt buckle from latching.

Supplier Identification :
Component Manufacturer
Name : Autoliv Safety Technology, Inc.
Address : 1320 Pacific Drive
Auburn Hills Michigan 48326
Country : United States

The seat belt buckle channel for the driver and front passenger seat belts were manufactured out of specification, causing interference between the buckle channel and the release button. With continuous use, the buckle channel surface coating may deteriorate over time, and the release button may shrink against the channel at low temperatures, increasing friction. This can result in issues with the seat belt buckle latching. The seat belt buckle channel was manufactured out of specification, causing interference between the buckle channel and the release button.

Consequence:
An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy:
Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 17, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are NDA, QDB, BDC, MDD, LD9. TDF, FDG, ODH, YDI, ZDE.

Spoiler: Original Post

Was notified by Carfax about the recall for my Insight. No official confirmation from NHTSA or Honda yet. Carfax usually send out the notifications early based on previous recalls.

 

[hasarad]

It applies to the 2022 model (unless this issue is too "fresh" to be widely posted yet):

Safety Recall: 2022 Honda Insight Second Row Center Seat Belt Replacement – Honda (oemdtc.com)

2022 Honda Insight Recalls & Safety Notices | Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com)

 

[Carfreak09]

Wow, that’s an involved repair…I can imagine it causing some rattles

 

[rhoneyman]

I'm guessing the best source of information is NHTSA using your VIN.

Home | NHTSA

Get resources and info about staying safe on America’s roads. And, find out if there’s a recall on your car or how to report a vehicle safety problem.

www.nhtsa.gov

I checked. My 2021 has no pending recalls.

 

[andrew28]

I'm guessing the best source of information is NHTSA using your VIN.

Home | NHTSA

Get resources and info about staying safe on America’s roads. And, find out if there’s a recall on your car or how to report a vehicle safety problem.

www.nhtsa.gov

I checked. My 2021 has no pending recalls.

Carfax recall notifications come in like 5 days early on average. I would wait until later this week to check again (Wednesday 3/15). The NHTSA recall# is currently pending in Carfax. I think this is a seperate issue from the 2022 Insight since that was done way back in November 2021.

 

[andrew28]

Multi-model Front Seat Belt Buckle Recall

*This document features select information from the “Part 573 Safety Recall Report” submitted by Honda to NHTSA. The full document may be viewed on the NHTSA website.

hondanews.com

Honda confirmed the recall with a press release today. It's for the 2019 model year Insight only. Thankfully it's not exploding seat belts like Hyundai/Kia... 😅

Spoiler: Recall Info

2019 Honda Insight
Production Dates : MAR 27, 2018 - MAR 19, 2019
NHTSA Recall No. : 23V-158

Problem Description:
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2020 CR-V, 2018-2019 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019 Insight, and 2019-2020 Acura RDX vehicles. A manufacturing issue with the front seat belts may cause the seat belt buckle channel to interfere with the release button, preventing the seat belt buckle from latching.

Supplier Identification :
Component Manufacturer
Name : Autoliv Safety Technology, Inc.
Address : 1320 Pacific Drive
Auburn Hills Michigan 48326
Country : United States

The seat belt buckle channel for the driver and front passenger seat belts were manufactured out of specification, causing interference between the buckle channel and the release button. With continuous use, the buckle channel surface coating may deteriorate over time, and the release button may shrink against the channel at low temperatures, increasing friction. This can result in issues with the seat belt buckle latching. The seat belt buckle channel was manufactured out of specification, causing interference between the buckle channel and the release button.

Consequence:
An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy:
Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 17, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are NDA, QDB, BDC, MDD, LD9. TDF, FDG, ODH, YDI, ZDE.

 

[hasarad]

Yup - 2019 only:
450,000 Honda Vehicles Recalled For Potential Seatbelt Malfunction | Carscoops

 

[J. Bond]

Just saw the info about the seat belt recall today -- March 16, 2023 -- in the Washington Post. We own a 2019 Insight. Oddly, while Honda's website shows the 2019 Insight is affected in general, when we put in our VIN, it shows no pending recalls. Recall Information for Safety & Defects | Honda Owners Site

Same with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website. Recalls | NHTSA

Two questions.

1. Does anyone know if this is affecting only some 2019 Insight models, but not all of them?

2. Our seat belts buckle fine -- well, the passenger one can balk a bit on occasion, but that is likely operator error. I realize it's serious and should be fixed (if our Insight is part of the recall), but if our seat belts typically latch well, does that mean it's not in the category of STOP DRIVING THE CAR?!

__

OK, just talked with Honda National. They say the recalls are VIN-specific and factory-specific, i.e., where the car was made. Given, though, that all the U.S. Insights were built in Indiana (is that right?), then... Well, I suppose they could have switched seat belt suppliers mid-stream or there was a bad run of latches at some point.

__

In any case, just wondering what you all had read, heard, or thought about any or all of this.

I wonder if this is all so new that the VIN look-ups haven't caught up yet! In other words, in days or a couple of weeks, our VIN will show a recall!

 

[andrew28]

1. Does anyone know if this is affecting only some 2019 Insight models, but not all of them?

Production Dates : MAR 27, 2018 - MAR 19, 2019 <--- Only if your Insight was made between these dates.

 

[Insight_Bob]

makes one wonder what was done differently during those dates as opposed to before and after?

 

[Carfreak09]

Production Dates : MAR 27, 2018 - MAR 19, 2019 <--- Only if your Insight was made between these dates.

Interesting. Mine was made in March 2019. I managed to avoid the fuel pump recall so fingers crossed mine was made late enough in the month to avoid this one as well.

 

[DrGlide]

I imagine this may play out like the fuel pump recall did.Often recalls expand to include additional VIN's and model years .I won't be surprised to see this recall expand as well. I would rather have a vehicle included in the recall than one that is an outlier.

 

[andrew28]

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCRIT-23V158-0518.pdf

^Full repair instructions for the recall

makes one wonder what was done differently during those dates as opposed to before and after?

The seat belt buckle channel was manufactured out of specification, causing interference between the buckle channel and the release button. The supplier fixed this by increasing the width of the buckle release button. So later production date Insights would've this in spec button. At least until Honda decides they were wrong and need to expand the recall.

 

[Insightfu1]

Another important question is why did it take Honda so long to recall? 5 years ?!

 

[J. Bond]

Appreciate people's follow-ups! Our VIN still hasn't shown up. So far, so good. But, as noted, it could still be early yet and be caught later on.

It sounds as if the problem is a failure to latch; not that it gives way under stress. Or, am I wrong about that?

We have a good dealer who, in the past, has even special-ordered recall replacement parts. If we discover any troubles with latching, we'll ask for an inspection and, if needed, a replacement even if our VIN hasn't appeared.

Let's hope that it remains a well-confined, time-limited issue.

Agreed that 5 years is a long time for a recall. Not to excuse Honda but, perhaps, it's because it's a rare problem, and one that shows up only after several years of wear. In that regard, we're lucky, too, as we rarely drive our Insight.

By the way, we're still enjoying our 2019 Insight as much as the day we bought it. Comfortable, efficient, great MPG, and well designed. As I noted elsewhere, although I initially wished it had blind spot monitoring & warning, I'd hate to give up the Lane Watch camera. It's too bad that they didn't keep LW and add BSM to it!

 

[andrew28]

All Honda seat belts are under warranty for 15 years/150k miles. So you don't need to worry even if you don't qualify for the recall. You can have them inspected at a Honda dealership if you think they're not working correctly.