CriticalCommonElectrical

Honda CR-V: RD and RE CR-V Takata airbag inflator rupture recalls (2002-2011, check VIN)

RD and RE CR-V Takata airbag inflator rupture recalls (2002-2011, check VIN) is a common electrical fault on the Honda CR-V on the 2002–2011 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $0 to $1,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 61 documented faults on the Honda CR-V.

Vehicle: Honda CR-V
Years: 2002–2011
System: Electrical

This page covers the Honda CR-V as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Honda CR-V faults61 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

The RD (2002-2006) and RE (2007-2011) generation CR-V were recalled several times because the Takata driver and front passenger airbag inflators can rupture when the airbag deploys and throw metal fragments into the cabin. Australian-delivered cars were covered by a series of recalls (including campaigns 6CE and 6XH) and the same generations were recalled in the US. The repair is a free replacement inflator at a Honda dealer. A car whose recall work was never done is a serious safety risk.

What you would notice

No symptom until a crash; airbag warning light usually stays normal
Recall notice letters from Honda
No recall sticker or service record for the airbag campaign

How to check it

Where to look. Steering wheel airbag and dashboard passenger airbag

Ask the seller for proof that the recall work was done (Honda service invoice or recall sticker) and check the VIN with a Honda dealer or the official recall lookup before buying. If a workshop inspection is possible: ask the dealer to confirm in their system that the campaign is closed for this VIN.

What it costs to put right

$0 to $1,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Have all Takata airbag recalls been completed on this car, and can I see the invoice?”
“Has the car ever been imported from another market where recall records may not follow it?”

Now check the Honda CR-V you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Honda CR-V buyer questions

Is rd and re cr-v takata airbag inflator rupture recalls (2002-2011, check vin) serious on a Honda CR-V?

We rate it critical and common on the Honda CR-V. The RD (2002-2006) and RE (2007-2011) generation CR-V were recalled several times because the Takata driver and front passenger airbag inflators can rupture when the airbag deploys and throw metal fragments into the cabin. Australian-delivered cars were covered by a series of recalls (including campaigns 6CE and 6XH) and the same generations were recalled in the US. The repair is a free replacement inflator at a Honda dealer. A car whose recall work was never done is a serious safety risk.

How much does it cost to fix on a Honda CR-V?

$0 to $1,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Honda CR-V years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2002–2011 Honda CR-V. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.