Some Honda Accords and Civics, model years 2000 to 2001, do not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies." On some of these models, the rear seat belt buckles were not manufactured properly and will not function properly during a crash, including not being able to unbuckle the belts following a collision. Buckles that are marked on the back side with an assembly number beginning with 00185, 00186 or 00187 have this problem.

Technicians should inspect and replace these seat belt assemblies. Honda has reported that owner notification was expected to begin in January, but customers who have not received this notice should call (800) 999-1009. See "Seat Belt System Replacement Guidelines," ABRN February 2002, Tech Tips for remedy information.