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Are Honda's equipment recalls just wrong labels and owner's guides?
This is Honda's paperwork bin. Five of the seven recalls correct printed information rather than hardware: the 2018 Civic certification label printed with random characters, the 2020 Passport and Pilot label whose weight-rating ink wipes away with solvent, the 2017, 2020 and 2022 CR-V label listing the wrong GVWR, GAWR and tire size, the 2017-2018 Civic Hatchback and Type R owner's guide missing child seat information, and the 2019 CR-V guide that misdescribes the passenger airbag indicator. Only two involve parts: the Honda Genuine Accessory tonneau cover sold for 2017-2020 Ridgelines, whose panel can flip and separate, and the 2017-2018 Clarity Fuel Cell water pump, which can corrode and fail.
Warning signs to watch for
- Random or unreadable characters in the manufacturing date area of the driver's door label
- Door label weight ratings or tire size that wipe off or don't match the vehicle
- Missing or incomplete child seat information in the owner's guide
- A tonneau cover that isn't fully secured open or closed, or that flips and buckles in the wind
- Clarity Fuel Cell stalling from water pump failure; the label and guide recalls give no driving symptom at all
Is it safe to keep driving?
None of these recalls restricts driving, and no stop-driving or park-outside order was issued. The label and owner's guide recalls leave the vehicle mechanically sound — the CR-V's passenger airbag indicator works normally, only the printed wording is wrong. Ridgeline owners can keep driving as long as the tonneau cover is fully secured in the open or closed position. The Clarity Fuel Cell water pump is the one to prioritize, since a failure can stall the car in traffic, even though Honda did not tell owners to park it.
What the free repair involves
Mostly printing. Dealers install a corrected certification label on the Civic, CR-V, Passport and Pilot, replace the Civic owner's information kit, and provide a sticker correcting the CR-V guide's airbag wording. For the Ridgeline, dealers install tethers on the accessory tonneau cover to prevent panel separation and apply warning labels. Clarity Fuel Cell water pumps are replaced. Everything is free of charge.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 1 |
| medium | 2 |
| low | 4 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-07-27 | Honda CR-V door label lists wrong weight and tire info | medium |
| 2020-09-17 | Honda Ridgeline tonneau cover panel can fly off | medium |
| 2020-02-06 | Honda Passport and Pilot weight rating label may wipe off | low |
| 2019-09-26 | Honda CR-V owner's guide misstates passenger airbag light | low |
| 2019-04-18 | Honda Clarity Fuel Cell water pump may fail, stalling car | high |
| 2018-11-16 | Honda Civic Hatchback: owner's guide missing child-seat info | low |
| 2018-06-20 | Honda Civic certification label printed with garbled characters | low |
Common questions
Does a wrong door label really matter?
It can. The CR-V label states incorrect weight ratings and tire size, and a wrongly sized tire fitted because of it may wear out early or blow out. The garbled Civic label can also keep you from confirming whether a future recall covers your car.
My Ridgeline doesn't have a tonneau cover — why did I get a letter?
Honda notified all registered owners of 2017-2020 Ridgelines, but the recall itself covers the Honda Genuine Accessory tonneau cover, part number 08Z07-T6Z-100F. The tether and warning label repair only applies if that cover is installed on your truck.
Why is a water pump filed under equipment?
That is how the 2017-2018 Clarity Fuel Cell recall was categorized. Internal components can corrode and cause the water pump to fail, which can stall the vehicle. Dealers replace the pump free of charge, and the recall began June 10, 2019.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.