Acura is recalling certain 1998-2003 CL, TL, RL, and MDX models for defective Takata driver’s-side airbag inflators. Regulators have escalated a federal “Do Not Drive” warning for the oldest unrepaired vehicles. Acura notified NHTSA January 17, 2020.
The “Do Not Drive” warning covers about 8,200 2001-2003 Honda and Acura vehicles that remain unrepaired. Their Takata Alpha inflators can rupture and send metal fragments toward the driver when the airbag deploys.
The recall remains open. Owners of an affected do-not-drive vehicle should stop driving it immediately. They should confirm their VIN at an Acura dealer and schedule the free inflator replacement before driving the vehicle again.
- Action type: Safety recall, escalated to a federal “Do Not Drive” warning
- Announcement and initiation dates: NADI notified NHTSA January 17, 2020; Alpha “Do Not Drive” warning issued February 3, 2023
- Company and responsible agency: American Honda Motor Co. (Acura) and NHTSA
- Recall or campaign number: NHTSA campaign 20V027 (Acura); dealer bulletins 20-042/20-043
- Affected models, lots, UPCs, serial numbers, or VINs: 1998-2003 CL, TL, RL and MDX models; 2002-2003 Acura 3.2 TL and 2003 3.2CL (“Do Not Drive” list)
- Number of affected units: About 8,200 Honda/Acura 2001-2003 vehicles unrepaired as of Feb. 2023; NADI population not published
- Sold at and sale period: Not stated in the notice
- Hazard: Airbag inflator may rupture during deployment, sending metal fragments toward the driver
- Reported incidents, injuries, illnesses, and deaths: No Acura-specific injury or death count is stated in the notices read
- Remedy: Free inflator replacement, with free towing, mobile repair, or a loaner/rental vehicle if needed
Table Of Contents
- Latest Acura Recall Updates
- May 29, 2026: Honda and Acura Announce Seat-Weight-Sensor Recall
- September 14, 2025: Acura Recalls 2025 RDX for Power-Steering Software
- March 30, 2025: NHTSA Expands Auto Idle Stop Investigation
- February 3, 2023: Honda and Acura Issue Do Not Drive Warning
- October 1, 2020: NADI Repair Parts Become Available
- January 17, 2020: Acura Notifies NHTSA of NADI Airbag Recall
- Which Acura Vehicles Are Affected?
- Why Was Acura Recalled?
- Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
- What Should Consumers Do?
- Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions
- Legal Options
- Filing Deadlines
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How Do Dealers Confirm an Acura Airbag Inflator Was Replaced?
- Why Are Some Acura Airbag Inflators Still Unrepaired After so Many Years?
- What Is the Acura Seat-Weight-Sensor Recall?
- Is There an Acura Recall Lawsuit for the Auto Idle Stop Investigation?
- What Evidence Should I Keep for an Acura Airbag Recall Injury Claim?
- How Is the 2025 Acura RDX Power-Steering Recall Different from the Airbag Recall?
- References
Latest Acura Recall Updates
May 29, 2026: Honda and Acura Announce Seat-Weight-Sensor Recall
American Honda and Acura reported a safety recall to NHTSA on May 29, 2026, covering about 98,892 vehicles, including Acura MDX, RDX, and TLX models [1].
A capacitor in the seat-weight sensor can crack from humidity and short-circuit, letting the passenger airbag deploy even when a small occupant is present. Honda and Acura dealers will replace the sensor for free once owners are notified by mail.
September 14, 2025: Acura Recalls 2025 RDX for Power-Steering Software
American Honda recalled about 17,334 model year 2025 Acura RDX vehicles on September 14, 2025. Improperly calibrated electronic power-steering software can trigger a failsafe under certain driving conditions [2].
The failsafe disables power-steering assist, which can increase crash risk during sharp turns. Acura began mailing owner notices October 20, 2025, and dealers update the software for free. The company received no reports of injury.
March 30, 2025: NHTSA Expands Auto Idle Stop Investigation
NHTSA expanded its investigation of Auto Idle Stop no-restart failures on March 30, 2025 [3]. The expansion covers an estimated 2,209,466 Honda and Acura vehicles, including the 2015-2020 Acura TLX and 2016-2020 Acura MDX.
The vehicles are listed in service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 [4]. More than 1,348 complaints describe the engine failing to restart at a stop, including reports of crashes, fires, and injuries. Honda has not announced a permanent fix.
February 3, 2023: Honda and Acura Issue Do Not Drive Warning
Honda, Acura, and NHTSA issued a “Do Not Drive” warning on February 3, 2023 [5]. It covers about 8,200 owners of unrepaired 2001-2003 Honda and Acura vehicles, including 2002-2003 Acura 3.2 TL and 2003 3.2CL models.
These vehicles still carry Takata Alpha inflators that NHTSA says have roughly a 50% chance of rupturing [6]. The free repair, along with free towing or a loaner, remains available through Acura dealers.
October 1, 2020: NADI Repair Parts Become Available
Replacement parts for the 1998-2003 NADI airbag-inflator recall became available October 1, 2020. Acura began mailing client notifications the same day for CL, RL, TL, and MDX models covered by campaign 20V027.
Dealer bulletins 20-042 and 20-043 detail the inspection and replacement procedure for the driver’s airbag inflator [7]. This October 2020 parts release does not include the separate Alpha “Do Not Drive” vehicles covered by the 2023 warning.
January 17, 2020: Acura Notifies NHTSA of NADI Airbag Recall
Acura notified NHTSA of a Stop Sale and Safety Recall on January 17, 2020. It covered the CL, TL, RL, and MDX models named above, equipped with Takata Non-Azide driver’s frontal airbag inflators, known as NADI.
Honda’s parallel notification, campaign 20V026, said an issue in Takata’s manufacturing process caused the inflators to malfunction or, rarely, rupture during deployment. This was not a propellant failure [8].
Which Acura Vehicles Are Affected?
Acura’s Takata airbag-inflator recalls cover two separate vehicle groups, identified by VIN through an Acura dealer or at recalls.acura.com:
- 1998-1999 and 2001 Acura CL, 2001-2002 Acura CL, 1998-2000 Acura RL, and 2000-2003 Acura RL, recalled under NHTSA campaign 20V027 for Takata NADI driver airbag inflators
- 1999-2000 Acura TL, 2000-2001 Acura TL, 2001 Acura MDX, and 2001-2002 Acura MDX, also recalled under campaign 20V027
- 2002-2003 Acura 3.2 TL models, plus 2003 Acura 3.2CL vehicles, with unrepaired Takata Alpha driver airbag inflators, now under a federal vehicle safety “Do Not Drive” warning
Not every vehicle within these model-year ranges carries an affected inflator, so owners should confirm their specific VIN before assuming their car needs repair.
Why Was Acura Recalled?
Acura recalled these vehicles because their Takata driver’s-side airbag inflators can rupture during deployment. A rupture releases sharp metal fragments toward the driver.
NHTSA says the newer Non-Azide Driver’s Inflators, or NADI, malfunctioned under recall campaign 20V026 because of a defect in how Takata built them. The problem was not a propellant defect.
The older Takata Alpha inflators in the “Do Not Drive” vehicles, among the oldest under recall, instead degrade after roughly two decades of age. NHTSA estimates they carry close to a 50% chance of rupturing in even a minor crash.
A ruptured inflator is a mechanical defect separate from any resulting injury, which NHTSA tracks through separate consumer complaint and incident data.
Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
No Acura-specific count of injuries or deaths tied to the Takata NADI or Alpha inflator recalls has been published. NHTSA’s dealer bulletins and press materials describe the rupture risk only in general terms.
The broader Auto Idle Stop investigation is different. NHTSA has logged more than 1,348 complaints about Honda and Acura vehicles failing to restart, some involving a crash, fire, or injury. The agency has not released total counts.
Reports of a crash, fire, or injury do not by themselves prove that a specific inflator or the idle-stop system caused the event. Each report reflects what a driver or dealer submitted to the manufacturer or NHTSA.
What Should Consumers Do?
Acura and NHTSA recommend the following steps for owners of an affected vehicle:
- Stop driving a 2001-2003 “Do Not Drive” vehicle immediately if it still has an unrepaired Takata Alpha airbag inflator.
- Check your 17-character VIN at recalls.acura.com or through NHTSA’s VIN lookup tool to see whether an open airbag-inflator recall applies to your vehicle.
- Schedule a free inflator replacement at an authorized Acura dealer as soon as an appointment is available.
- Ask about free towing or mobile repair, and a free loaner or rental vehicle, if your car cannot be driven safely to the dealer.
- Call American Honda Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138, or NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236, with questions about eligibility or the repair.
- Keep the recall paperwork and repair receipt as proof the inflator was replaced.
Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions
Acura has also been involved in separate vehicle actions unrelated to the airbag inflators. NHTSA is investigating why some older Acura TLX and MDX engines fail to restart after an Auto Idle Stop.
The probe covers roughly 2.2 million Honda and Acura vehicles and was expanded March 30, 2025. Acura also recalled about 17,334 2025 RDX vehicles for power-steering software and, with Honda, about 98,892 vehicles for a seat-weight-sensor defect.
Legal Options
The Takata airbag inflators recalled under campaigns 20V026/20V027 and the Alpha “Do Not Drive” warning fall under MDL-2599, In re: Takata Airbag Products Liability Litigation [9].
The case is in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. This litigation is still active in the JPML‘s recent pending-docket report, but a recall does not automatically establish liability or eligibility for compensation.
Filing Deadlines
Deadlines for filing an injury or product-liability claim tied to this recall come from state law, not from this recall notice.
Those deadlines depend on where the owner lives and on when the injury and its diagnosis happened. Some states start the clock at diagnosis rather than at the date of the original recall.
Missing a state’s filing window can end a claim even when the underlying facts are strong. Anyone considering a claim tied to this recall should check with a lawyer promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do Dealers Confirm an Acura Airbag Inflator Was Replaced?
Dealers confirm an Acura airbag inflator was replaced by logging the repair with Honda’s V-SMART tool, which documents the installation for every recalled vehicle. Owners should still keep their own paperwork and repair receipt as a backup record.
Why Are Some Acura Airbag Inflators Still Unrepaired After so Many Years?
Some Acura airbag inflators remain unrepaired after so many years because their owners never brought the vehicle in for the free Takata Alpha replacement. Honda had replaced or accounted for more than 99% of Alpha inflators by the time NHTSA issued its 2023 “Do Not Drive” warning.
What Is the Acura Seat-Weight-Sensor Recall?
The Acura seat-weight-sensor recall, announced May 29, 2026, covers about 98,892 Honda and Acura vehicles whose seat sensor can crack and short-circuit. Dealer notification began May 22, 2026, and Honda started mailing owner letters July 6, 2026.
Is There an Acura Recall Lawsuit for the Auto Idle Stop Investigation?
There is no Acura recall lawsuit tied to the Auto Idle Stop investigation. NHTSA opened it as a preliminary evaluation in June 2022 and expanded it in 2025. It remains a federal safety inquiry, not litigation or part of MDL-2599.
What Evidence Should I Keep for an Acura Airbag Recall Injury Claim?
You should keep your Acura’s NHTSA campaign 20V027 recall notice, VIN, dealer repair records noting whether a NADI or Alpha inflator was replaced, photographs of the airbag, and any medical records tied to the injury if you plan to file a claim.
How Is the 2025 Acura RDX Power-Steering Recall Different from the Airbag Recall?
The 2025 Acura RDX power-steering recall is a separate software issue, unrelated to the decades-old Takata inflators. American Honda received the first related complaint in October 2024. The recall covers about 17,334 current RDX vehicles.
References
- https://hondanews.com/en-US/releases/honda-acura-multi-model-seat-weight-sensor-safety-recall
- https://www.autoevolution.com/news/honda-recalls-2025-acura-rdx-for-potential-loss-of-power-steering-assist-257345.html
- https://www.thedrive.com/news/feds-investigating-2-2m-hondas-and-acuras-for-maddening-start-stop-failures
- https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2025/honda-idle-stop-problems-expanded-investigation.shtml
- https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a42759442/honda-acura-stop-drive-takata-airbag/
- https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/consumer-alert-honda-upgrades-takata-alpha-recall-do-not-drive-warning-targeting
- https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2020/RCMN-20V027-5805.pdf
- https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2020/RCMN-20V026-0479.pdf
- https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending_MDL_Dockets_By_District-January-5-2026.pdf