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2016 Acura Tlx

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Acura Tlx do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 65.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

57 reports with mileage · 53 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports6 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

5 reports
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57,000 miles · Jul 28, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

I SAW A MECHANIC AND FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM ON THE 21ST OF JULY. I CHECKED ON ACURAS WEBSITE AND THERE WAS A NOTICE THAT THEY RECALLED THIS CAR LAST YEAR WITH THE SAME EXACT THING THAT MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AND MY CAR IS MALFUNCTIONING AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE MY VIN DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL ON IT EVE…

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I SAW A MECHANIC AND FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM ON THE 21ST OF JULY. I CHECKED ON ACURAS WEBSITE AND THERE WAS A NOTICE THAT THEY RECALLED THIS CAR LAST YEAR WITH THE SAME EXACT THING THAT MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AND MY CAR IS MALFUNCTIONING AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE MY VIN DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL ON IT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE EXACT PROBLEM OF THEIR RECALL. MY CAR IS MALFUNCTIONING AND I CALLED HEADQUARTERS CLIENT RELATIONS AND THEY TOLD ME THEY CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT AND THAT IF I WANT IT FIXED THEN I HAVE TO FIX IT MYSELF. I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGH WAY WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS TURNED ON IN MY CAR. MY BRAKE SYSTEM SAYS IT FAILED MY TRANSMISSION LIGHT IS ON, MY PARK BRAKE IS FLASHING, LANE ASSIST POPPING UP. I WAS DRIVING HOME FORM LAKE TAHOE ON A CURVY ROAD WITH MY SPEED BEING 40-50. MANY CARS DRIVING SUPER FAST WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR DROPPED TO 20MPH. MY ACURA WOULD NOT GO PAST 20MPH AND MY LIFE AND MY PASSENGERS WERE IN SERIOUS DANGER!

NHTSA ODI #11341902

57,000 miles · Jul 22, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSteering

I SAW A MECHANIC AND FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM. I CHECKED ON ACURAS WEBSITE AND THERE WAS A NOTICE THAT THEY RECALLED THIS CAR LAST YEAR WITH THE SAME EXACT THING THAT MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AND MY CAR IS MALFUNCTIONING AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE MY VIN DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL ON IT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE …

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I SAW A MECHANIC AND FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM. I CHECKED ON ACURAS WEBSITE AND THERE WAS A NOTICE THAT THEY RECALLED THIS CAR LAST YEAR WITH THE SAME EXACT THING THAT MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AND MY CAR IS MALFUNCTIONING AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE MY VIN DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL ON IT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE EXACT PROBLEM OF THEIR RECALL. MY CAR IS MALFUNCTIONING AND I CALLED HEADQUARTERS CLIENT RELATIONS AND THEY TOLD ME THEY CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT AND THAT IF I WANT IT FIXED THEN I HAVE TO FIX IT MYSELF. I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGH WAY WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS TURNED ON IN MY CAR MY BRAKE SYSTEM SAYS IT FAILED MY TRANSMISSION LIGHT IS ON, MY PARK BRAKE IS FLASHING, LANE ASSIST POPPING UP. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH ACURAS WHO HAVE THE SAME ISSUES AS I DO!

NHTSA ODI #11341000

83,000 miles · Nov 13, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

MY CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 75MPH. IT HAPPENED IN MAY, JULY, AND SEPTEMBER 2019. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE TACHOMETER REGISTERING THE RPMS DROPPED TO 1,000 AND STAYED THERE. AFTER PULLING OVER, SHUTTING THE CAR OFF, WAITING, AND RESTARTING THE CAR, THE VEHICLE PROCEE…

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MY CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 75MPH. IT HAPPENED IN MAY, JULY, AND SEPTEMBER 2019. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE TACHOMETER REGISTERING THE RPMS DROPPED TO 1,000 AND STAYED THERE. AFTER PULLING OVER, SHUTTING THE CAR OFF, WAITING, AND RESTARTING THE CAR, THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO OPERATE AS NORMAL. MANY OF THE WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED DURING THIS INCIDENT. FINALLY, IN SEPTEMBER, MY CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DETERMINATION WAS THAT THE CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I'M STILL AWAITING FOR THE REPAIRS TO BE COMPLETED AT THIS TIME (NOVEMBER 13, 2019).

NHTSA ODI #11279780

29,000 miles · Aug 16, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

TAKATA RECALL IT WAS AROUND 7:30 AM I WAS DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL AND I FELT LIKE I SLIGHTLY LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING SOMEHOW. NEXT THING I KNOW THE STEERING WHEEL IS CROOKED AND ALMOST EVERY WARNING LIGHTS HAVE TURNED ON AND I STARTED GETTING ALL THE WARNING SOUNDS DESCRIBING MORE WARININGS THAN I …

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TAKATA RECALL IT WAS AROUND 7:30 AM I WAS DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL AND I FELT LIKE I SLIGHTLY LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING SOMEHOW. NEXT THING I KNOW THE STEERING WHEEL IS CROOKED AND ALMOST EVERY WARNING LIGHTS HAVE TURNED ON AND I STARTED GETTING ALL THE WARNING SOUNDS DESCRIBING MORE WARININGS THAN I COULD CHECK ON THE SECOND PAGE ON THIS INCIDENT REPORT. I BARELY BOUGHT MY ACURA A FEW MONTHS AGO SO I'M VERY SHOCKED BE HAVING SUCH A SCARY INCIDENT SO FAST. I THOUGHT ACURA'S WERE DEPENDABLE RELIABLE CARS THAT WOULD KEEP ME AND MORE IMPORTANTLY MY CHILDREN SAFE. I FELT SO SCARED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN. IT WAS EVEN MORE UPSETTING TO FIND THAT THIS SAME SITUATION ON THE SAME BRAND OF ACURA'S HAS HAPPENED BEFORE TO MORE THAN 1 PERSON ON YOUTUBE! WHAT IS ACURA WAITING FOR ON A RECALL. YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULDN'T WANT ANY LAWSUITS WHEN SOMEONE GETS HURT. PLEASE HELP TURN THIS INTO A RECALL BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #11244397

37,700 miles · Nov 23, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainSteering

WHILE TRAVELING 75 MPH ON INTERSTATE MULTIPLE / ALL WARNING LIGHTS SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED ON DASH BOARD AND THE CAR PLACED ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL FROM DRIVE POSITION. UPON COMING TO REST CAR WAS PLACED INTO PARK ALONG SHOULDER AND WHEN DRIVE WAS SELECTED IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND ALLOWED TO SIT FOR SEVERAL MINU…

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WHILE TRAVELING 75 MPH ON INTERSTATE MULTIPLE / ALL WARNING LIGHTS SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED ON DASH BOARD AND THE CAR PLACED ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL FROM DRIVE POSITION. UPON COMING TO REST CAR WAS PLACED INTO PARK ALONG SHOULDER AND WHEN DRIVE WAS SELECTED IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND ALLOWED TO SIT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING AGAIN. AGAIN IT WOULD NOT ALLOW TO GO INTO DRIVE. TOW TRUCK WAS DISPATCHED AND AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES CAR WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE. VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN ABOUT 1/8 MILE ALONG SHOULDER TO VISIBLE REAR STOP ENTRANCE. WE WAITED FOR TOW TO TRUCK TO ARRIVE. CAR WAS RESTARTED AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO DRIVE OR NEUTRAL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LOAD ONTO TOW TRUCK. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS NEUTRAL AND DRIVE EVENTUALLY ENGAGED. CAR WAS TAKEN TO NEAREST DEALER JUST BEFORE CLOSE BEFORE MAJOR HOLIDAY. RECIEVED CALL FROM DEALER STATING THAT THE CAUSE OF ALL THIS WAS DEAD BATTERY. UNKNOWN TO THEM BATTERY WAS REPLACED Y MONTHS PRIOR. ALSO I HAVE DTS REPORT SHOWING MULTIPLE MALFUNCTIONS AND ERRORS. I FEEL THAT IF ALL THIS CAN HAPPEN BY HAVING A DEAD BATTERY (THAT SOMEHOW ALLOWS YOU TO RESTART YOUR CAR MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER INITIAL MALFUNCTION) THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. I CALLED DEALERSHIP BACK AND ASKED THEM TO DOUBLE CHECK DIAGNOSIS AND ALSO CHECK ALTERNATOR BEING THAT THE BATTERY IS ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD.

NHTSA ODI #11153416

Official recalls

3

23V858000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Dec 18, 2023

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

23V751000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:hard Parts Internal/mechanical

Nov 13, 2023

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early April 2024, 2019 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-May 2024, 2020 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-June 2024, and 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed January 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.

19V060000 · Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump

Jan 29, 2019

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Acura MDX, 2015-2019 Acura TLX and 2015-2017 Honda Accord vehicles, equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine. Particulates in fuel may adhere to the internal components of the fuel pump, reducing its performance.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Reduced fuel pump performance can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the fuel injection engine control unit (FI-ECU) software and, if necessary, replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began March 25, 2019. Owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's recall number for this recall is P3W. Honda's recall number for this recall is N3X.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA25004 · No Restart After Auto Start/stop Engages

Opened Mar 26, 2025 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:crank/camshaft Position Sensor; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (ecu/ecm):software; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:hard Parts Internal/mechanical

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Additional source detail variants (4)

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:crank/camshaft Position Sensor

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (ecu/ecm):software

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:hard Parts Internal/mechanical

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

EA19001 · Electrical Overstress

Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.  During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications.  The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU.  In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment.  FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle.  Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW.  These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes.  An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time.   In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU.  This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners.  Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation.  The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage.  There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation.  The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU.  If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC.  Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC.  All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled.  In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024.  With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.