Honda Airbag Furture Surge in the Baltimore area, against the background of recall and lack of pieces

An increasing number of airbag thefts in Baltimore and Howard County in Maryland is related to a critical replacement airbags, with Honda Vehicles being the main target due to high demand, recall problems and black market resale value.

According to data on the law enforcement, Baltimore City has registered 372 airbag thefts from the beginning of 2023 – 136 in 2024 and 58 already in 2025. In Howard Vecin County, the numbers are even higher, with 566 total cases out of 2023, including 296 in 2024 and 64 until this year. The police say that the South -East District of Baltimore has registered a noticeable increase in incidents.

The tendency to theft is partially determined by the supply constraints on the replacement parts of the airbag, coming from the spread – especially Takata We remind the increase of the demand related to the collision. Honda models, such as CR-V, are among the most commonly targeted.

“The airbag market is very large due to collisions, combined with Takata Airbag reminder”, ” Ben PerriconeTerritory manager for the approved car repair program at AAA Mid-Atlantic/Club Alliancesaid WAR-2 News in Baltimore. “The airbags on the black market can bring anywhere from 50 to $ 200.”

Former WAR-2 news reporter Abby Isaacs He experienced this for the first time the airbag was stolen from Honda CR-V in the Highlandtown neighborhood of Baltimore. “There were two other Honda CR-VS who were hit on my block,” she said. “One of them stole the airbag, and the other was just broken.”

A manager of the repair workshop warned Isaacs that the replacements of Honda could take weeks, if not more, to get due to the ongoing backords.

The resale of stolen airbags raises serious safety issues, especially for consumers who are not respected who can receive recovered or non-functional components during repairs. “Do you buy a second -hand airbag that is part of that recall?” Perricone asked. “Do you replace the stolen airbag with a unit that can have a potential problem?”

Perricone emphasized the importance of checking the airbag legitimacy through documented invoices. “If it is a good component, a quality component, a legal component, there will be a paper route. So ask to see the invoices.”

Consumers are also warned against buying online airbags. Isaacs initially considered the supply of a used unit, but was advised against it. “They were that, no, it is extremely dangerous,” she said.

In a large case, the police in Howard recovered 31 stolen airbags-mainly from Hondas-during a traffic stop involving a stolen vehicle. Authorities say that Hondas popularity makes a main target for thieves and chopped stores.

Preventive measures, such as steering wheel locks, although not unprepared, can help discourage theft. Perricone added that parking in well -lit areas and activation alarms can reduce the risk even more.

In the answer to the questions about the deficiency of the parts, the Honda Corporate Bureau told WMAR-2 News: “Because each delayed replacement part may face different supply challenges, we recommend that you work directly with AUCRA and Honda local dealers … Each clients’ investigation will be addressed from case to case.”