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2013 Honda Civic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Honda Civic do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 183.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

193 reports with mileage · 126 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 114 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

29 crash reports1 fire reports24 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

39 reports
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24,000 miles · Jul 22, 2016
Electrical System

TPMS INDICATOR LIGHT ON. TIRES INFLATED AT THE PROPER PRESSURE. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE SIGNAL CONTINUALLY COMING ON EVEN AFTER NEW TIRES INSTALLED. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SENSOR OR INDICATOR SIGNAL. NHTSA SHOULD NOT ALLOW IT.

NHTSA ODI #10887666

29,457 miles · Mar 20, 2016
Electrical System

ALL 9TH GENERATION CIVICS ARE EQUIPED WITH STOCK UNDER POWERED HORNS. SAFTEY ISSUE, SINCE OTHER CARS WON'T HEAR IT TO AVOID A COLLISION. SOME DEALERS OFFER A HORN UPGRADE, BUT THE LABOR WOULD BE COSTLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BUMPER COVER HAS TO BE REMOVED AND RE INSTALLED.

NHTSA ODI #10850640

12,345 miles · Apr 10, 2015
Electrical System

STARTED VEHICLE AND NO RADIO STATION APPEAR ON LED COULD NOT CHANGE CHANNELS OR VOLUME. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES CHANNEL APPEARED AND I COULD CHANGE STATION AND VOLUME NOW. THIS HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. ALSO THE VOLUME CONTROL KNOB FLICKERS MOST OF THE TIME

NHTSA ODI #10705046

5,000 miles · Oct 25, 2014
Electrical System

WENT OUT TO START CAR, WARNING LIGHT FOR AIRBAGS WENT ON. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD WIRING HARNESS WAS EATEN THROUGH BY RODENTS. THEN WAS TOLD THERE IS SOY IN THE HARNESS AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL? COST $1400 TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649936

5 miles · May 19, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VOLUME OF THE HORN WAS ABNORMALLY LOW. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FACTORY HORN WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT TRY PURCHASING AN AFTERMARKET HORN FROM AN AUTO PARTS RETAILER. THE MANUFACTU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VOLUME OF THE HORN WAS ABNORMALLY LOW. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FACTORY HORN WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT TRY PURCHASING AN AFTERMARKET HORN FROM AN AUTO PARTS RETAILER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5.

NHTSA ODI #10592438

35 miles · Apr 1, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE MALFUNCTION RECURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED IN EXTREMELY HOT OR FRIGID WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE MALFUNCTION RECURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED IN EXTREMELY HOT OR FRIGID WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY TO PERFORM A REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10576348

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2014
Electrical System

THIS IS MY SECOND 2013 CIVIC WITHIN A YEAR. MY FIRST ONE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE IMID SCREEN AND RADIO. BASICALLY, THIS BECOMES AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT AFFECTS THE REST OF THE VEHICLE. I ALSO LEARNED THAT THE HARD RESET THAT WAS DONE TO THE VEHICLE COULD'VE DID MORE HARM THAN GOOD. THE IMID WOULD FREEZE, LAG, BLACKOUT, THE BACKUP…

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THIS IS MY SECOND 2013 CIVIC WITHIN A YEAR. MY FIRST ONE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE IMID SCREEN AND RADIO. BASICALLY, THIS BECOMES AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT AFFECTS THE REST OF THE VEHICLE. I ALSO LEARNED THAT THE HARD RESET THAT WAS DONE TO THE VEHICLE COULD'VE DID MORE HARM THAN GOOD. THE IMID WOULD FREEZE, LAG, BLACKOUT, THE BACKUP CAMERA WOULD STOP WORKING OCCASIONALLY, MY PHONE WOULDN'T PAIR OCCASIONALLY, I COULDN'T USE ANY OF THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS OR THE BUTTONS ON THE RADIO SOMETIMES EITHER. EVENTUALLY, MY ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY DOOR LOCKS WOULD EITHER LOCK REALLY HARD, NOT LOCK AS PROGRAMMED BY THE IMID, OR LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES. I THOUGHT THE DEALER WAS GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE SITUATION AND THEY TREATED THE CAR AS A TRADE AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER 8 TIMES FOR TESTS, THE HARD RESET, AND THREE FIXES THE CORPORATION AND DEALER COMPLETELY AVOIDED ME TOWARDS THE END. I WENT AHEAD AND GOT ANOTHER 2013 CIVIC AND 2 DAYS LATER, I HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE REAR-WINDOW DEFROSTER. AFTER I HAD THE CAR ABOUT A MONTH, I WAS USING THE HANDSFREE LINK, WHEN I NOTICED MY CALL INFO WAS NOT AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN WHEN YOU HAVE THE GAS MILEAGE AND RANGE ON THE SCREEN. THE FOLLOWING MONTH, I HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE BLOWER IN THE CAR FADING IN AND OUT AS I WAS PARKING. THEN ANOTHER 2 MONTHS GO BY, THE ISSUES WITH THE RADIO BACKLIGHTING FLICKERING AND THE IMID START TO OCCUR AGAIN WITH THIS CAR. SO FAR, I'VE HAD TO WAIT FOR MY CAR TO START BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T START RIGHT AWAY. OCCASIONALLY, I HAVE TO START IT TWICE, SOMETIMES I CAN USE THE RADIO OR THE HANDSFREE LINK JUST LIKE WITH THE LAST VEHICLE. I HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE TRUNK, DOOR LOCKS, AND THE SECURITY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT SYSTEM IN THIS CAR AS WELL. I HAVE A WEIRD NOISE WHILE DRIVING COMING FROM THE FRONT AND MY DOORS AREN'T LINED UP ON THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10572889

12,790 miles · Feb 4, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 72 MILES AN HOUR MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST POWER. THE DASH WENT COMPLETELY BLACK AND MY ENGINE SHUT OFF. MY STEERING WAS EXTREMELY STIFF WITH LIMITED RANGE OF MOVEMENT, I FEEL THE POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT INTO THE OPEN LANE NEXT TO ME AND BRAKE TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER OF …

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 72 MILES AN HOUR MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST POWER. THE DASH WENT COMPLETELY BLACK AND MY ENGINE SHUT OFF. MY STEERING WAS EXTREMELY STIFF WITH LIMITED RANGE OF MOVEMENT, I FEEL THE POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT INTO THE OPEN LANE NEXT TO ME AND BRAKE TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART MY CAR AND IT STARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO MY DESTINATION WITH NO FURTHER TROUBLE. I TOOK IT TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP A FEW HOURS LATER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY REASON FOR THE CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE FREEWAY. THEY CHECKED THE CARS COMPUTER AND FOUND NO CODES STORED. THEY TEST DROVE WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM I HAD. THEY CHECKED THE BATTERY AND BATTERY CABLES HE NOTED THEY CHECKED "OK". THE TECH NOTED HE PLACED THE "BOARD ON SNAPSHOT TO STALL". NOTING IN CASE THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN THEY WILL HAVE DATA TO AID IN DIAGNOSIS. THEY PERFORMED A SOFTWARE UPDATE HOPING IT HELPS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IM NOT VERY COMFORTABLE DRIVING MY CAR NOW! VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE!! I WOULD HOPE HONDA CAN FIND A RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE'S LOVED ONE IS INJURED OR INJURES ANOTHER IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE DANGER OF THE SITUATION! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562981

300 miles · Oct 31, 2013
Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

MY 2013 HONDA CIVIC EXL THE ACCELERATOR FAILED TO RESPOND TO ACCELERATION .THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY DECELERATED WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER . THE CAR WAS CHECKED OUT THEY COULDN T FIND THE FAULT. THE FAILURE STARTED @ 300 MILES. AND BEEN DOING THIS 12 TIMES THE MILEAGE IS…

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MY 2013 HONDA CIVIC EXL THE ACCELERATOR FAILED TO RESPOND TO ACCELERATION .THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY DECELERATED WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER . THE CAR WAS CHECKED OUT THEY COULDN T FIND THE FAULT. THE FAILURE STARTED @ 300 MILES. AND BEEN DOING THIS 12 TIMES THE MILEAGE IS NOW 7,500 MILES, I WANTED THE DEALER AND HONDA KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM . THE LAST TIME I WAS TURNING LEFT AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ALMOST WAS HIT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550364

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.

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