If attached incorrectly, the tire repair inflator can build pressure inside the sealant bottle until it bursts.
Save
See All 12 Photos 12
Flat tires are awful. That almost goes without saying. However, what once was a struggle with a spare tire on the roadside has now, in many SUVs and sedans, become a straightforward challenge involving a tire repair kit and an inflator. This is meant to make a bad situation less difficult, not introduce another risk when traffic is rushing past at highway speeds. Unfortunately, over 1 million Honda vehicles have inflator-kit issues that have prompted a recall.
0:00 / 0:00
If you own a 2023–2026 CR-V Hybrid, a 2025–2026 Honda CR-V Fuel Cell EV, or a 2023–2026 Accord Hybrid, your tire inflator kit is under recall. Honda states that the nozzle connecting to the valve stem can be fitted incorrectly during roadside repairs, which can lead to pressure accumulating inside the tire sealant bottle.
See All 12 Photos 12
This is likely an easy error to make when you're on the roadside with a flat, and the risk goes beyond creating a mess with tire sealant. If air cannot flow properly into the tire, pressure will instead build up inside the bottle. Eventually, the sealant cap can come loose, releasing a sudden burst of air and sealant.
Honda says the inflator system has relief valves and a fluid leak prevention valve, but these are not enough to relieve that pressure. Compounding the issue, the leak valve is one-way, which allows pressure to stay trapped inside the bottle. In eight cases, as noted in the recall report, the bottle bursting was strong enough to cause injuries, though Honda did not reveal their seriousness.
The fix is straightforward. Dealers will replace both the tire repair kit sealant nozzle and the bottle, according to a Honda representative who spoke with MotorTrend. Even if the bottle has not been used, both the sealant nozzle and bottle are swapped out with updated parts at the same time. Because this is a recall, affected owners will receive the repair at no cost.
Stay Ahead of the Curve.
Get the newest car reviews, hottest auto news, and expert analysis of the latest trends delivered straight to your inbox!
Sign Me Up
Having experience in many areas of the automotive industry, Justin Banner has done more than just write about cars. For over 15 years, he has worked as an automotive service technician—including a stint as a Virginia State Inspector—service advisor, parts salesperson, and aftermarket parts technical advisor (a fancy way of saying he assisted you on the phone when you had trouble fitting your brakes over your aftermarket wheels and the like).
Before his time as a full-time editor, Justin worked as a freelance writer and photographer for various publications and as an automotive content creator on YouTube. He has also covered multiple forms of motorsports, from Formula Drift, drag racing, and time attack, to NASCAR, short course off-roading, and open desert racing. He is best known for breaking down complex technical concepts so a layperson can more easily understand why technologies, repairs, and parts should matter to them. At MotorTrend, Justin is part of the news team covering breaking news and topics, while also serving as a judge for MotorTrend of the Year events and other major comparison tests.
Read More