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2012 Honda Civic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Civic years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Honda Civic are substantially higher than the model-year median of 183.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

321 reports with mileage · 133 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 149 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

55 crash reports5 fire reports28 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

149 reports
Clear category filter
51,200 miles · Dec 13, 2016
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND HAD A VERY LOW FRONT IMPACT CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS AT A STOP SIGN. I BARELY TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. A CAR CAME OUT OF NO WHERE AND I HIT THEM. I WAS GOING 5-7MPH, MY FRONT STEERING WHEEL AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE A…

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I WAS ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND HAD A VERY LOW FRONT IMPACT CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS AT A STOP SIGN. I BARELY TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. A CAR CAME OUT OF NO WHERE AND I HIT THEM. I WAS GOING 5-7MPH, MY FRONT STEERING WHEEL AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE AT SUCH A SLOW SPEED. THE DRIVER AIRBAG BROKE MY RIGHT LOWER ARM. IT BROKE BOTH BONES AND TORE A NERVE WHICH REQUIRED SURGERY. I NOW HAVE TWO PLATES AND MANY SCREWS IN MY ARM WITH NERVE DAMAGE. I HAVE NO FEELING IN PARTS OF MY THUMB AND FIRST TWO FINGERS AND HALF OF MY KNUCKLE AREA IS ALSO NUMB. THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2016. IT IS THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER AND I AM STILL TOO SCARED TO DRIVE. I STILL CAN'T USE MY ARM BECAUSE IT STILL HASN'T HEALED. I HAVE SUFFERED PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY BECAUSE OF THE AIR BAG BREAKING MY ARM. IF THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HURT AT ALL. COULD THERE HAVE BEEN SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY AIRBAGS? A RECALL?? I WOULD HATE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE.

NHTSA ODI #10934925

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2016
Air BagsSeat Belts

I WAS IN A STOP AND GO TRAFFIC THE VAN IN FRONT MADE A SUDDEN STOP I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKE BUT HIT THE VAN. IMPACT WAS BIG NO MAJOR DAMAGE BUT SEAT BELT WAS LOCKED AND I CAN SMELL NEAR AIR BAG I HAVE CHECK AIR BAG SYSTEM SIGN ON BUT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY

NHTSA ODI #10923715

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2016
Air Bags

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, AND IT SAYS THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT ABLE TO PERFORM THE FIX IN A TIMELY MANNER, IT SAYS TO AVOID PASSENGERS IN MY VEHICLE. I AM REQUESTING INFORMATION ON WHAT TO DO, BECAUSE IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR MY JOB TO HAVE PASSENGERS IN MY CAR. NO INCIDENT HAS TAKEN PLACE INVOLVING A MALFUNCTION, BUT I WISH TO RESOLVE…

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RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, AND IT SAYS THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT ABLE TO PERFORM THE FIX IN A TIMELY MANNER, IT SAYS TO AVOID PASSENGERS IN MY VEHICLE. I AM REQUESTING INFORMATION ON WHAT TO DO, BECAUSE IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR MY JOB TO HAVE PASSENGERS IN MY CAR. NO INCIDENT HAS TAKEN PLACE INVOLVING A MALFUNCTION, BUT I WISH TO RESOLVE OR KNOW MY OPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS MORE THOROUGHLY REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10917206

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2016
Air BagsCrashInjury

"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS DRIVING HONDA CIVIC 2012 ON A FRONTAGE ROAD WITH MY WIFE SITTING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT . UNFORTUNATELY, OTHER CAR CRASHED IN MY HONDA CIVIC 2012 AND DRIVER, PASSENGER SIDE AIR BEGS GOT DEPLOYED. SURPRISINGLY, I GOT INJURY MARKS ON MY HAND FROM THE AIR BAG. I SUSPECT MOST LIKELY THERE WAS SOME FAULT I…

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"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS DRIVING HONDA CIVIC 2012 ON A FRONTAGE ROAD WITH MY WIFE SITTING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT . UNFORTUNATELY, OTHER CAR CRASHED IN MY HONDA CIVIC 2012 AND DRIVER, PASSENGER SIDE AIR BEGS GOT DEPLOYED. SURPRISINGLY, I GOT INJURY MARKS ON MY HAND FROM THE AIR BAG. I SUSPECT MOST LIKELY THERE WAS SOME FAULT IN MY AIR BAGS WHICH RESULTED IN INJURY MARKS ON MY HAND. I DO SEE THAT 2012 HONDA CIVIC CARS ARE NOT PART OF TAKATA RECALL BUT I SUSPECT SOME OF 2012 HONDA CIVIC CARS INCLUDING MINE COULD HAVE FAULTY AIR BAGS INSTALLED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. PLEASE TAKE NEEDFUL ACTIONS.

NHTSA ODI #10882789

52,000 miles · Jun 9, 2016
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL: I BROUGHT MY 2012 HONDA CIVIC LX INTO TODAY 6/9/2016 IN REGAL HONDA IN LAKELAND, FLORIDA TO HAVE THE AIRBAG PASSENGER SEAT SENSORS REPLACED, THE PARTS REPLACED WERE: PAD, R, F, 81127, OPDS UNIT 81334 AND C-CLIP SE 90600. PLUS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I HAD THE DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED FOR $49.95. THE SYMPTOM WAS THE A…

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TAKATA RECALL: I BROUGHT MY 2012 HONDA CIVIC LX INTO TODAY 6/9/2016 IN REGAL HONDA IN LAKELAND, FLORIDA TO HAVE THE AIRBAG PASSENGER SEAT SENSORS REPLACED, THE PARTS REPLACED WERE: PAD, R, F, 81127, OPDS UNIT 81334 AND C-CLIP SE 90600. PLUS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I HAD THE DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED FOR $49.95. THE SYMPTOM WAS THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS BEING DISPLAYED.

NHTSA ODI #10873531

57,000 miles · May 23, 2016
Air BagsStructureCrash

I DON'T KNOW WHAT A TAKATA RECALL IS, BUT PER HONDA'S WEBSITE I HAVE NO RECALLS. I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON 5/21 AROUND 2PM. I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT CITY ROAD CLOSE TO GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 25MPH. THE WOMAN WHO WAS DRIVING NEXT TO ME "DIDN'T SEE ME" AS SHE TURNED INTO MY LANE. SHE SCRAPED THE WHOLE PASSENGER SIDE D…

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I DON'T KNOW WHAT A TAKATA RECALL IS, BUT PER HONDA'S WEBSITE I HAVE NO RECALLS. I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON 5/21 AROUND 2PM. I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT CITY ROAD CLOSE TO GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 25MPH. THE WOMAN WHO WAS DRIVING NEXT TO ME "DIDN'T SEE ME" AS SHE TURNED INTO MY LANE. SHE SCRAPED THE WHOLE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR THEN HER CAR LODGED INTO MY CAR NEAR WHERE THE DOOR & FRONT PART OF THE CAR MEET ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CAR HIT RIGHT NEAT THE SIDE AIRBAG, BUT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF. THAT IS WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT. WHY DID NONE OF THE AIRBAGS GO OFF?

NHTSA ODI #10870269

5 miles · May 11, 2016
Air BagsSeat Belts

SRS AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON...WARNING LIGHT ON THE SCREEN KEEPS FLASHING.

NHTSA ODI #10864315

46,000 miles · May 7, 2016
Air Bags

THIS IS REGARDING A HONDA CIVIC 2012. MY PASSENGER AIRBAG TURNS OFF ABOUT EVERY 15 MINUTES, FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES AT A TIME. I TOOK IT TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 7 HOURS AND STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI #10863768

20,314 miles · May 4, 2016
Air Bags

PART # 77970-TR0-A11 SENSOR, SIDE IMPA FAILURE AFTER 20,314 MILES. THIS FAILURE WAS NOT THE RESULT OF ANY ACCIDENT. COST TO REPLACE WAS $251.82 II FEEL HONDA MOTOR CO SHOULD REIMBURSE

NHTSA ODI #10863089

25,190 miles · Feb 4, 2016
Air Bags

TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL~ AMONG OTHER POSSIBLE SAFETY RECALLS. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 9/07/2015 AS USED FROM LINDSAY HONDA, COLUMBUS, OH.. NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY SAFETY RECALLS PERTAINING TO THIS VEHICLE. VERY CONCERNED.. THANK YOU.. [XXX] 'INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C.…

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TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL~ AMONG OTHER POSSIBLE SAFETY RECALLS. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 9/07/2015 AS USED FROM LINDSAY HONDA, COLUMBUS, OH.. NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY SAFETY RECALLS PERTAINING TO THIS VEHICLE. VERY CONCERNED.. THANK YOU.. [XXX] 'INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *BF

NHTSA ODI #10824170

Official recalls

3

12V548000 · Steering:column

Nov 21, 2012

Honda is recalling certain model year 2012 Civic passenger vehicles, manufactured from October 26, 2012, through October 30, 2012. These vehicles were assembled with the incorrect steering column assembly.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The steering column may not have proper energy absorbing characteristics, which could increase the risk of injury during a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on December 10, 2012. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.

12V256000 · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft

Jun 4, 2012

HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 HONDA CIVIC VEHICLES. DURING ASSEMBLY, THE PROCESS REQUIRED TO SEAT THE DRIVER’S SIDE DRIVESHAFT AND SET THE RETAINING CLIP WAS NOT COMPLETED. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVESHAFT MAY SEPARATE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE A LOSS OF DRIVE POWER AND MAY ROLL AWAY IF THE PARKING BRAKE HAS NOT BEEN SET WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR HAS BEEN PLACED IN THE “PARK” POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF CRASH OR PEDESTRIAN INJURY.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver's side driveshaft and install a new driveshaft as needed, free of charge. The safety recall began on June 21. 2012. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

11V288000 · Fuel System, Other:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

May 18, 2011

HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CIVIC 2-DOOR AND 4-DOOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 21, 2011, THROUGH MAY 2, 2011. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT AN O-RING, WHICH SEALS A CONNECTION IN THE FUEL FEED LINE, IS MISALIGNED. IF THE O-RING IS MISALIGNED, A SMALL FUEL LEAK MAY OCCUR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FEED LINE ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.

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

EA21002 · Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

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.

Go deeper into Honda Civic problems