RECALL: Nearly 67,000 Japanese cars recalled in Canada

Thousands of Honda and Acura vehicles could be in a recall for possible issues with seat sensors.

The recall impacts various Honda models including the Accord, Civic, Fit, Pilot and others from 2020 to 2022.

Acura MDX, RDX and TLX models from 2020 to 2022 are included in the recall.

In some of the vehicles, the capacitor in the printed circuit board of the front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and lead to an internal short circuit from the exposure to environmental humidity, according to the recall notice.

This could cause a serious safety issue as if there is a crash, the airbags may deploy when they should be suppressed for a passenger who is too small (infant in a child seat, child, or smaller person). The airbags could injure the passenger.

Vehicle owners may be alerted to the issue when a warning light comes on and the passenger airbag indicator remains off.

The reason this circuit board is malfunctioning in some vehicles is due to a problem from a supplier, according to the recall notice.

Due to a natural disaster at the manufacturing plant of a supplier, the base material in the printed circuit board of the seat weight sensor was changed.

This alternative base material could allow additional strain to the printed circuit board that can lead to a capacitor cracking and an internal short circuit.

Registered owners of all affected vehicles will be contacted by mail and asked to monitor the seat sensor warning light. The owners will need to take their vehicle to an authorized Honda or Acura dealer if the warning light turns on.

The dealer will check the vehicle.

There are 66,846 vehicles potentially impacted by the recall in Canada. It’s estimated one per cent will have the defect.

People who own a Honda or Acura can check if their vehicle is included in the recall here: www.Acura.ca/recalls, www.Honda.ca/recalls or call  1-888-946-6329.

For more information, see the recall notice here.