Service Bulletin
December 11, 2014

14-044
BTB 00406 (1412)

Safety Recall: Front Passenger’s Airbag Inflator May Produce
Excessive Pressure After Long-Term Exposure To High Absolute
Humidity
Supersedes 14-030, Recall: Front Passenger’s Airbag Inflator May Produce Excessive Pressure After Long-Term
Exposure To High Absolute Humidity
Supersedes 14-023, Safety Recall: Front Passenger’s Airbag Inflator Can Be Over-Pressurized
AFFECTED VEHICLES
Year
Model
2003–05
MDX
2005
RL

Trim
ALL
ALL

VIN Range
Check the iN VIN status for eligibility
Check the iN VIN status for eligibility

BACKGROUND
Certain Acura vehicles operated in areas known for high absolute humidity may contain a front passenger’s airbag that,
over time, may be affected by exposure to the humidity, which could produce excessive internal pressure upon
deployment. If an affected airbag deploys, the increased internal pressure may cause the inflator casing to rupture.
Metal fragments could be propelled upward toward the windshield, or downward toward the front passenger’s foot well,
possibly causing an injury to vehicle occupants.
Affected vehicles were sold and/or registered in the following geographic locations: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii,
Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands.
NOTE: If the VIN status inquiry indicates that the vehicle is subject to any open safety recalls, including the
driver's airbag inflator, make sure to also complete those recall repairs before returning the vehicle to the
client. If you are unable to complete any open recall, advise the client of the recall status and when the recall
could be completed.
CLIENT NOTIFICATION
Owners of affected vehicles will be sent a notification of this campaign.
Do an iN VIN status inquiry to make sure the vehicle is shown as eligible.
Some vehicles affected by this campaign may be in your used vehicle inventory. These vehicles must be repaired
before they are sold.
Should your dealership sell an unrepaired vehicle that subsequently causes injury or damage because of the recalled
item, the dealership will be solely responsible to the damaged party, and will be required to defend and indemnify
American Honda for any resulting claims. To see if a vehicle in inventory is affected by this recall, do a VIN status
inquiry before selling it.
CORRECTIVE ACTION
Replace the passenger’s airbag inflator, then return the original, undeployed inflator as directed.

CLIENT INFORMATION: The information in this bulletin is intended for use only by skilled technicians who have the proper tools, equipment, and
training to correctly and safely maintain your vehicle. These procedures should not be attempted by “do-it-yourselfers,” and you should not assume
this bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle has the condition described. To determine whether this information applies, contact an
authorized Acura automobile dealer.

© 2014 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. – All Rights Reserved

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PARTS INFORMATION
Part Name

Part Number

Quantity

2003–05 MDX Front Passenger’s Airbag Inflator Kit

04785-S3V-306

1

2005 RL Front Passenger’s Airbag Inflator Kit

04785-SJA-306

1

NOTE:
• The inflator kit box must be used to return the recalled inflator to its supplier, ideally within 48 hours of the repair. Be
careful not to damage the inflator kit box.
• If the recalled, undeployed inflator is not returned, the warranty claim for that vehicle will be charged back to your
dealership.
• Follow the shipping instructions supplied with the inflator kit. If you have any questions about shipping, call Warranty
Parts Inspection (WPI) at 937-642-2737.
• If you are a dealer in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, or the U.S. Virgin Islands call
the WPI administrative office at 937-642-2737 for special instructions; do not use the documentation included in the
airbag inflator kit.
WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION
NOTE:
• Process claims as quickly as possible so that resources can be properly allocated.
• To avoid non-payment of warranty claims, the serial number on the box of the new airbag inflator must be entered
in the Diagnostic Trouble Codes field on each warranty claim. For more information, refer to step 1 of REPAIR
PROCEDURE.
• To avoid a warranty claim being charged back to your dealership, you must return the original, undeployed inflator
to its supplier. Follow the shipping instructions supplied with the inflator kit. If you have any questions about
shipping, call Warranty Parts Inspection (WPI) at 937-642-2737.
Year/Model

Operation
Number

Description

Flat
Rate
Time

Defect
Code

Symptom
Code

Template
ID

Failed Part
Number

2003–05 MDX

7541B0

0.7 hr

5KN00

JM500

14-044N

06780-S3V-A10ZA

2005 RL

7541B0

Replace the
front
passenger’s
airbag inflator.

0.8 hr

5KN00

JM600

14-044P

06780-SJA-A80

Skill Level:

Repair Technician

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REPAIR PROCEDURE
NOTE:
• If the VIN status inquiry indicates that the vehicle is subject to any open safety recalls, including the
driver's airbag inflator, make sure to also complete those recall repairs before returning the vehicle to the
client. If you are unable to complete any open recall, advise the client of the recall status and when the
recall could be completed.
• Be careful not to damage any parts when replacing the inflator, and follow the procedure exactly.
• If, before removing the airbag, you suspect that it may be the incorrect airbag for the vehicle or a counterfeit, do not
remove the airbag. Contact your DPSM for assistance.
1. Write down the serial number located on the right side of the new inflator box. For the warranty claim to be paid,
your warranty clerk must enter this serial number in the Diagnostic Trouble Codes field on the warranty claim.

2. Remove the front passenger’s airbag.
3. Place the airbag face-down on a clean shop towel as shown.
NOTE:
• The orientation of the airbag is critical because if the inflator is installed incorrectly, the harness will be too short
when you reinstall the airbag.
• The brackets between the various models are similar but may differ from the example shown.

Page 3 of 10

4. Visually inspect the airbag and the inflator for any unusual writing or markings.
•
•

If there is nothing unusual about the airbag or the inflator, go to step 5.
If there are any unusual markings, like an incorrect label or a model year written in marker, the airbag and
inflator may not be the correct airbag and/or inflator for the vehicle or it may be a counterfeit part. For more
information about counterfeit airbags, you can refer to safercar.gov, enter keywords MANAGING
COUNTERFEIT, and select Recommended Dealer Guidance for Managing Counterfeit Air Bags from the
list. If you suspect that the airbag or inflator is counterfeit, do not continue this procedure. Contact your
DPSM for assistance.

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5. Remove the harness from both ends of the inflator bracket.

6. Short the red wires.
NOTE: You must cut and short the wires as indicated to prevent accidental deployment.
• Cut the red wires as shown.

•

Cut about 2 inches of the corrugated tube, then pull out the two red wires.

•

Strip away about 1 inch of the wire insulation, then twist the wires together.

•

Tape the twisted ends with electrical tape.

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7. Cut off the connector and short the yellow wires.
You must cut and short the wires as indicated to prevent accidental deployment.
• Cut all four wires to remove the connector.

•

Cut about 2 inches of the corrugated tube, then pull out the yellow wires.

•

Strip away about an inch of the wire insulation, then twist the wires together.

•

Tape the twisted ends with electrical tape.

8. Remove the four inflator nuts.

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9. Remove the inflator bracket.
NOTE: You can only remove one of the brackets, as the other is welded to the airbag housing.

10. Remove the inflator by pushing it out.

11. Install the new inflator.
•

One connector looks like a “D” whereas the other connector is a circle. Make sure you insert the “D” shaped
terminal into the airbag first.
NOTE: There is a yellow band marking on the circle side.

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•

Slide the inflator in until the “D” aligns with the tab on the inflator bracket. There should be no space or gap between
the inflator and bracket.

•

Reinstall the inflator bracket. There should be no space or gap between the bracket and inflator.

•

Install the new 5 mm locknuts and torque them in sequence to 3.9 N•m (34 lb-in).

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12. Remove the stickers covering the terminals on both sides of the new inflator.

13. Install the new inflator harness.
•

Make sure the airbag and harness are aligned as shown.
NOTE: Make sure you have the orientation correct as shown below. If you connect the harness incorrectly, the
harness cannot be removed, and you will not be able to reinstall the airbag because the harness will be too
short.

•

Connect the two connectors. Align the “T” shape in the inflator harness connector with the T-shaped inflator
connector, then press the connector into place.

•

After you hear each connector click, wiggle it to make sure it is secure.
NOTE: If the connector is not properly aligned, it will come out.

Page 9 of 10

14. Connect the harness to the inflator brackets.
•
•

Insert the side without the shrink-wrap tubing first. Insert the harness at the third “valley” in the corrugated tube.
Insert the side of the harness with the shrink-wrap tubing into the inflator bracket. Make sure the harness is
securely inserted and that it does not sag.

15. Reinstall the passenger’s airbag into the vehicle and torque the new locknuts to 9.8 N•m (7.2 lb-ft).
16. Put the original inflator into the box the new one came in. Make sure there is no other hardware in the box because
if the package rattles, it will not be accepted by the courier.
17. Follow the shipping instructions supplied with the inflator kit to return the undeployed inflator. If you have any
questions about shipping, call Warranty Parts Inspection (WPI) at 937-642-2737.
18. Give the warranty clerk the inflator serial number that you wrote down in step 1. For the warranty claim to be paid,
your warranty clerk must enter the serial number in the Diagnostic Trouble Codes field on the warranty claim.
END

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