The brand-new 2023 Honda CR-V is already embroiled in a recall due to a potentially incomplete weld that could cause the front passenger seatback to collapse. That could allow the occupant to move around unexpectedly in an accident, increasing the risk of an injury.
Fortunately, the recall is relatively limited in scale, involving just 98 CR-Vs that were built between December 13 and 19, 2022. These vehicles have a hook spring on the outboard side of the front passenger seat frame that is supposed to be laser welded in place.
During the production of the vehicles, though, the protective lens of the laser welder became contaminated with weld spatter, Honda explains in documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That inhibited the welder’s monitoring system, hampering its ability to detect and judge the laser input necessary to adequately finish the welds.
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Honda was first informed about this potential fault by its supplier in December 2022. In January, the supplier told it about the results of its investigation, and by February the automaker had determined that the fault constituted a failure to abide by federal safety regulations.
Fortunately, Honda is not aware of any deaths, injuries, or incidents related to the issue. It has, however, decided to initiate a recall, and will start reaching out to 2023 CR-V owners on March 27. They will be asked to return their vehicle to a nearby dealer, where the front passenger seatback frame assembly will be replaced with a non-defective part. This repair will be made free of charge.
In addition, Honda says that its supplier has increased the amount of control measures for its laser welder’s protective lens and monitoring system. That, it says, should help prevent this issue reoccurring in the future.
