Get Safe Driving -> Airbags Guide for Honda Accord 4 Door 2023

Airbags

Airbag System Components

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uuAirbagsuAirbag System Components

The front, front knee, side, and side curtain

airbags are deployed according to the

direction and severity of impact. Both side

curtain airbags are deployed in a rollover.

The airbag system includes:

e An electronic control unit that, when the

power mode is in ON, continually

monitors information about the various

impact sensors, seat and buckle sensors,

rollover sensor, airbag activators, seat

belt tensioners, and other vehicle

i Impact sensors that can detect a

moderate-to-severe front or side impact.

j An indicator on the dashboard that alerts

you that the front passenger’s front

airbag has been turned off.

a Two SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)

front airbags. The driver’s airbag is stored

in the center of the steering wheel; the

front passenger’s airbag is stored in the

dashboard. Both are marked SRS

AIRBAG.

information. During a crash event the

unit can record such information.

k An indicator on the instrument panel that

alerts you to a possible problem with your

airbag system or seat belt tensioners.

f Automatic front seat belt tensioners. In

addition, the driver’s and front

passenger’s seat belt buckles incorporate

sensors that detect whether or not the

belts are fastened.

l A rollover sensor that can detect if your

vehicle is about to roll over and signal the

control unit to deploy both side curtain

airbags.

b Two knee airbags. The driver’s knee

airbag is stored under the steering

column; the front passenger’s knee

airbag is stored under the glove box.

Both are marked SRS AIRBAG.

g Driver’s seat position sensor. This sensor

detects the driver’s seat slide position to

help determine the optimal deployment

of the driver’s airbag.

c Two side airbags, one for the driver and

one for the front passenger. The airbags

are stored in the outer edges of the seat-

backs. Both are marked SIDE AIRBAG.

h Weight sensors in the front passenger’s

seat. The sensors are used for occupant

classification to activate or deactivate the

front passenger’s airbag.

d Two side curtain airbags, one for each

side of the vehicle. The airbags are stored

in the ceiling, above the side windows.

The front and rear pillars are marked

SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG.

Continued

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uuAirbagsuAirbag System Components

1Important Facts About Your Airbags

Important Facts About Your Airbags

■

Do not attempt to deactivate your airbags. Together,

airbags and seat belts provide the best protection.

Airbags can pose serious hazards. To do their job, airbags must inflate with

tremendous force. So, while airbags help save lives, they can cause burns, bruises,

and other minor injuries, sometimes even fatal ones if occupants are not wearing

their seat belts properly and sitting correctly.

When driving, keep hands and arms out of the

deployment path of the front airbag by holding each

side of the steering wheel. Do not cross an arm over

the airbag cover.

What you should do: Always wear your seat belt properly and sit upright and as

far back from the steering wheel as possible while allowing full control of the

vehicle. A front passenger should move their seat as far back from the dashboard as

possible.

Remember, however, that no safety system can prevent all injuries or deaths that

can occur in a severe crash, even when seat belts are properly worn and the airbags

deploy.

Do not place hard or sharp objects between yourself and a front airbag.

Carrying hard or sharp objects on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp

object in your mouth, can result in injuries if your front airbag inflates.

Do not attach or place objects on the front and front knee airbag covers.

Objects on the covers marked SRS AIRBAG could interfere with the proper

operation of the airbags or be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone if the

airbags inflate.

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uuAirbagsuTypes of Airbags

Types of Airbags

Your vehicle is equipped with four types of airbags:

• Front airbags: Airbags in front of the driver’s and front passenger’s seats.

• Front knee airbags: Airbags under the steering column and under the glove

box.

• Side airbags: Airbags in the driver’s and front passenger’s seat-backs.

• Side curtain airbags: Airbags above the side windows.

Each is discussed in the following pages.

1Types of Airbags

The airbags can inflate whenever the power mode is

in ON.

After an airbag inflates in a crash, you may see a

small amount of smoke. This is from the combustion

process of the inflator material and is not harmful.

People with respiratory problems may experience

some temporary discomfort. If this occurs, get out of

the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

Front Airbags (SRS)

The front SRS airbags inflate in a moderate-to-severe frontal collision to help protect

the head and chest of the driver and/or front passenger.

1Front Airbags (SRS)

During a frontal crash severe enough to cause one or

both front airbags to deploy, the airbags can inflate

at different rates, depending on the severity of the

crash, whether or not the seat belts are latched, and/

or other factors. Frontal airbags are designed to

supplement the seat belts to help reduce the

likelihood of head and chest injuries in frontal

crashes.

SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) indicates that the airbags are designed to

supplement seat belts, not replace them. Seat belts are the occupant’s primary

restraint system.

Housing Locations

■

The front airbags are housed in the center of the steering wheel for the driver, and

in the dashboard for the front passenger. Both airbags are marked SRS AIRBAG.

Continued

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uuAirbagsuFront Airbags (SRS)

Operation

■

Front airbags are designed to inflate during moderate-to-severe frontal collisions.

When the vehicle decelerates suddenly, the sensors send information to the control

unit which signals one or both front airbags to inflate.

A frontal collision can be either head-on or angled between two vehicles, or when a

vehicle crashes into a stationary object, such as a concrete wall.

1How the Front Airbags Work

How the Front Airbags Work

■

Although the driver’s and front passenger’s airbags

normally inflate within a split second of each other, it

is possible for only one airbag to deploy. This can

happen if the severity of a collision is at the margin,

or threshold, that determines whether or not the

airbags will deploy. In such cases, the seat belt will

provide sufficient protection, and the supplemental

protection offered by the airbag would be minimal.

While your seat belt restrains your torso, the

front airbag provides supplemental protection

for your head and chest.

The front airbags deflate immediately so that

they won’t interfere with the driver’s visibility

or the ability to steer or operate other

controls.

The total time for inflation and deflation is so fast that most occupants are not

aware that the airbags deployed until they see them lying in front of them.

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uuAirbagsuFront Airbags (SRS)

■ When front airbags should not deploy

Minor frontal crashes: Front airbags were designed to supplement seat belts and

help save lives, not to prevent minor scrapes, or even broken bones that might occur

during a less than moderate-to-severe frontal crash.

Side impacts: Front airbags can provide protection when a sudden deceleration

causes a driver or front passenger to move toward the front of the vehicle. Side

airbags and side curtain airbags have been specifically designed to help reduce the

severity of injuries that can occur during a moderate-to-severe side impact which

can cause the driver or passenger to move toward the side of the vehicle.

Rear impacts: Head restraints and seat belts are your best protection during a rear

impact. Front airbags cannot provide any significant protection and are not designed

to deploy in such collisions.

Rollovers: In a rollover, your best form of protection is a seat belt or, if your vehicle

is equipped with a rollover sensor, both a seat belt and a side curtain airbag. Front

airbags, however, are not designed to deploy in a rollover as they would provide

little if any protection.

■ When front airbags deploy with little or no visible damage

Because the airbag system senses sudden deceleration, a strong impact to the

vehicle framework or suspension might cause one or more of the airbags to deploy.

Examples include running into a curb, the edge of a hole, or other low fixed object

that causes a sudden deceleration in the vehicle chassis. Since the impact is

underneath the vehicle, damage may not be readily apparent.

■ When front airbags may not deploy, even though exterior damage

appears severe

Since crushable body parts absorb crash energy during an impact, the amount of

visible damage does not always indicate proper airbag operation. In fact, some

collisions can result in severe damage but no airbag deployment because the airbags

would not have been needed or would not have provided protection even if they

had deployed.

Continued

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uuAirbagsuFront Airbags (SRS)

1Advanced Airbags

Advanced Airbags

■

If there is a problem with the driver’s seat position

sensor or the passenger’s seat weight sensors, the

SRS indicator will come on, and in the event of a

crash, the airbag will deploy (regardless of the driver’s

seating position or passenger’s occupant

classification) with a force corresponding to the

severity of the impact.

The airbags have advanced features to help reduce the likelihood of airbag related

injuries to smaller occupants.

The driver’s advanced airbag system includes a

seat position sensor.

Based on information from this sensor and the

severity of the impact, the advanced airbag

2 Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)

Indicator P. 60

system determines the optimal deployment of

the driver’s airbag.

Driver’s

Seat

Position

Sensor

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uuAirbagsuFront Airbags (SRS)

The front passenger’s advanced airbag system

has weight sensors. The sensors are used for

occupant classification to activate or

1Advanced Airbags

Passenger’s

Seat

Weight

Sensors

For the advanced front airbags to work properly,

confirm that:

• The occupant is sitting in an upright position,

wearing the seat belt properly and the seat-back is

not excessively reclined.

• The occupant is not leaning against the door or

center console.

• The occupant’s feet are placed on the floor in front

of them.

deactivate the front passenger’s airbag.

For adult size occupants, the system will

automatically activate the front passenger’s

airbag. If a small adult sits in the front

passenger seat and the system does not

recognize him/her as an adult, see

• There are no objects hanging from the front

passenger’s seat.

2 Passenger Airbag Off Indicator P. 61

• Only small, lightweight objects are in the seat-back

pocket.

• The steering wheel and passenger’s side dashboard

are not obstructed by any object.

• No liquid has been spilled on or under the seat.

• There is no child seat or other object pressing

against the rear of the seat or seat-back.

• There is no rear passenger pushing or pulling on

the back of the front passenger’s seat.

• There are no objects placed under or beside the

front passenger’s seat. Improperly positioned

objects can interfere with the advanced airbag

sensors.

We advise against allowing a child age 12 or

under to ride in the front passenger’s seat.

However, if you do allow a small child or

infant to ride in the front passenger’s seat, the

system is designed to automatically deactivate

the front passenger’s airbag. Do not let a

small child or infant ride in the front

passenger’s seat if the airbag does not

automatically deactivate.

• The head restraint is not contacting the roof.

2 Passenger Airbag Off Indicator P. 61

• The floor mat behind the front passenger’s seat is

set in the correct position evenly on the floor. An

improperly placed mat can interfere with the

advanced airbag sensors.

2 Floor Mats P. 589

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uuAirbagsuKnee Airbags

Knee Airbags

The knee SRS airbags inflate in a moderate-to-severe frontal collision to help keep

the driver and/or front passenger in the proper position and to help maximize the

benefit provided by the vehicle’s other safety features.

1Knee Airbags

Do not attach accessories on or near a knee airbag as

they can interfere with the proper operation of the

airbag, or even hurt someone if the airbag inflates.

SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) indicates that the airbags are designed to

supplement seat belts, not replace them. Seat belts are the occupant’s primary

restraint system.

The driver and front passenger should not store any

items under the seat or behind their feet. The items

can interfere with proper airbag deployment in the

event of a moderate to severe frontal collision and

may result in inadequate protection.

Housing Locations

■

The knee airbag for the driver and the one for

the front passenger are housed under the

steering column and the glove box

respectively.

Both are marked SRS AIRBAG.

Housing

Location

Housing

Location

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uuAirbagsuKnee Airbags

Operation

■

The driver’s and front passenger’s knee airbag

deploy at the same time as the driver’s and

front passenger’s airbag respectively.

When

inflated

Even if the collision is not severe enough to

deploy the front airbags, the knee airbags may

inflate alone.

Knee

Airbag

When

inflated

Knee

Airbag

Continued

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uuAirbagsuKnee Airbags

■ When the knee airbags deploy with little or no visible damage

Because the airbag system senses sudden deceleration, a strong impact to the

vehicle framework or suspension might cause one or more of the airbags to deploy.

Examples include running into a curb, the edge of a hole, or other low fixed object

that causes a sudden deceleration in the vehicle chassis. Since the impact is

underneath the vehicle, damage may not be readily apparent.

■ When the knee airbags may not deploy, even though exterior damage

appears severe

Since crushable body parts absorb crash energy during an impact, the amount of

visible damage does not always indicate proper airbag operation. In fact, some

collisions can result in severe damage but no airbag deployment because the airbags

would not have been needed or would not have provided protection even if they

had deployed.

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uuAirbagsuSide Airbags

Side Airbags

The side airbags help protect the torso and pelvis of the driver or a front passenger

during a moderate-to-severe side impact.

1Side Airbags

Make sure you and your front seat passenger always

sit upright. Leaning into the path of a side airbag can

prevent the airbag from deploying properly and

increases your risk of serious injury.

Housing Locations

■

The side airbags are housed in the outside

edge of the driver’s and passenger’s seat-

backs.

Do not attach accessories on or near the side airbags.

They can interfere with the proper operation of the

airbags, or hurt someone if an airbag inflates.

Both are marked SIDE AIRBAG.

Do not cover or replace the front seat-back covers

without consulting a dealer.

Improperly replacing or covering front seat-back

covers can prevent your side airbags from properly

deploying during a side impact.

Housing

Location

Operation

■

When the sensors detect a moderate-to-

severe side impact, the control unit signals the

side airbag on the impact side to immediately

inflate.

When

inflated

Side

Airbag

Continued

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uuAirbagsuSide Airbags

■ When a side airbag deploys with little or no visible damage

Because the airbag system senses sudden acceleration, a strong impact to the side

of the vehicle’s framework can cause a side airbag to deploy. In such cases, there

may be little or no damage, but the side impact sensors detected a severe enough

impact to deploy the airbag.

■ When a side airbag may not deploy, even though visible damage appears

severe

It is possible for a side airbag not to deploy during an impact that results in

apparently severe damage. This can occur when the point of impact was toward the

far front or rear of the vehicle, or when the vehicle’s crushable body parts absorbed

most of the crash energy. In either case, the side airbag would not have been

needed nor provided protection even if it had deployed.

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uuAirbagsuSide Curtain Airbags

Side Curtain Airbags

The side curtain airbags help protect the heads of the driver and passengers in the

outer seating positions during a moderate-to-severe side impact. The side curtain

airbags equipped in this vehicle are also designed to help reduce the likelihood of

partial and complete ejection of vehicle occupants through side windows in crashes,

particularly rollover crashes.

1Side Curtain Airbags

To get the best protection from the side curtain

airbags, occupants should wear their seat belts

properly and sit upright and well back in their seats.

Do not attach any objects to the side windows or roof

pillars as they can interfere with the proper operation

of the side curtain airbags.

Housing Locations

■

The side curtain airbags are located in the

ceiling above the side windows on both sides

of the vehicle.

If the impact is on the passenger’s side, the

passenger’s side curtain airbag deploys even if there

are no occupants on that side of the vehicle.

If the SRS control unit senses that your vehicle is

about to rollover, it immediately deploys both side

curtain airbags and activates both front seat belt

tensioners.

Side Curtain Airbag Storage

Operation

■

The side curtain airbag is designed to deploy

in a rollover or a moderate-to-severe side

impact.

Deployed Side Curtain Airbag

Continued

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uuAirbagsuAirbag System Indicators

■ When side curtain airbags deploy in a frontal collision

One or both side curtain airbags may also inflate in a moderate-to-severe angled

frontal collision.

Airbag System Indicators

If a problem occurs in the airbag system, the SRS indicator will come on and a

message appears on the driver information interface.

1Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Indicator

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Indicator

■

■ When the power mode is set to ON

3

WARNING

The indicator comes on for a few seconds,

then goes off. This tells you the system is

working properly.

Ignoring the SRS indicator can result in

serious injury or death if the airbag systems

or tensioners do not work properly.

Have your vehicle checked by a dealer as

soon as possible if the SRS indicator alerts

you to a possible problem.

If the indicator comes on at any other time, or does not come on at all, have the

system checked by a dealer as soon as possible. If you don’t, your airbags and seat

belt tensioners may not work properly when they are needed.

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uuAirbagsuAirbag System Indicators

1Passenger Airbag Off Indicator

Passenger Airbag Off Indicator

■

To ensure the passenger is detected properly, confirm

that:

• The occupant is sitting in an upright position,

wearing the seat belt properly and the seat-back is

not excessively reclined.

• The occupant is not leaning against the door or

center console.

• The occupant’s feet are placed on the floor in front

of them.

■ When the passenger airbag off

indicator comes on

U.S.

Canada

The indicator comes on to alert you that the

passenger’s airbag has been turned off. This

occurs if the seat is empty or when the weight

sensors determine that a small child or infant

is on the passenger seat.

• There are no objects hanging from the front

passenger’s seat.

• Only small, lightweight objects are in the seat-back

pocket.

Children age 12 or under should always ride properly restrained in a back seat.

• No liquid has been spilled on or under the seat.

• There is no child seat or other object pressing

against the rear of the seat or seat-back.

• There is no rear passenger pushing or pulling on

the back of the front passenger’s seat.

• There are no objects placed under or beside the

front passenger’s seat. Improperly positioned

objects can interfere with the advanced airbag

sensors.

2 Child Safety P. 64

If the indicator is on in the event of a crash, the passenger’s airbag will not deploy.

The passenger’s knee airbag will not deploy, either.

• The floor mat behind the front passenger’s seat is

set in the correct position evenly on the floor. An

improperly placed mat can interfere with the

advanced airbag sensors.

• The head restraint is not contacting the roof.

Continued

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uuAirbagsuAirbag System Indicators

1Passenger Airbag Off Indicator

The passenger airbag off indicator may come on and

go off periodically if the total weight on the seat is

near the airbag cutoff threshold. For a small adult,

depending on physique and posture, the system may

not recognize him/her as an adult and thus deactivate

the passenger’s airbag.

If this occurs, please confirm that the conditions set

forth in the above bullet points on the previous page

are met.

If the above conditions are met and the indicator is

still on, then with the transmission in (P, set the

power mode to OFF and back to ON.

Have your vehicle checked by a dealer as soon as

possible if:

• All of the above conditions are met, and the

indicator comes on with an adult seated in the

front passenger seat.

• The seat is empty and the indicator is off.

Do not allow an adult passenger to ride in the front

seat when the indicator is on.

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uuAirbagsuAirbag Care

Airbag Care

You do not need to, and should not, perform any maintenance on or replace any

airbag system components yourself. However, you should have your vehicle

inspected by a dealer in the following situations:

1Airbag Care

We recommend against the use of salvaged airbag

system components, including the airbag, tensioners,

sensors, and control unit.

■ When the airbags have deployed

If an airbag has inflated, the control unit and other related parts must be replaced.

Similarly, once an automatic seat belt tensioner has been activated, it must be

replaced.

■ When the vehicle has been in a moderate-to-severe collision

Even if the airbags did not inflate, have your dealer inspect the following: the driver’s

seat position sensor, weight sensors in the passenger’s seat, front seat belt

tensioners, and each seat belt that was worn during the crash.

■ Do not remove or modify a front seat without consulting a dealer

This would likely disable or affect the proper operation of the driver’s seat position

sensor or the weight sensors in the passenger’s seat. If it is necessary to remove or

modify a front seat to accommodate a person with disabilities, contact a Honda

dealer, or for U.S. vehicles, American Honda Automobile Customer Service at

1-800-999-1009 and for Canadian vehicles, Honda Canada Customer Relations at

1-888-9-HONDA-9.

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Safe Driving -> Airbags for Your Honda Accord 4 Door 2023

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