NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
22 reportsClear category filter95,000 miles · Jul 22, 2016
Power TrainService BrakesSuspension
I HAD A TOTAL HUB FAILURE. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 9MPH IN A PARKING LOT MAKING A SLIGHT TURN WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. I HAD TO HAVE THE MECHANIC REPLACE THE KNUCKLE, HUB, BEARING, CALIPER AND BRACKET ALONG WITH ABS SENSOR. IF I WOULD'VE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY IT WOULD'VE BEEN REALLY BAD. THE CAR HAS 95K MILES AND MAINTENA…
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I HAD A TOTAL HUB FAILURE. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 9MPH IN A PARKING LOT MAKING A SLIGHT TURN WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. I HAD TO HAVE THE MECHANIC REPLACE THE KNUCKLE, HUB, BEARING, CALIPER AND BRACKET ALONG WITH ABS SENSOR. IF I WOULD'VE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY IT WOULD'VE BEEN REALLY BAD. THE CAR HAS 95K MILES AND MAINTENANCES REGULARLY.
NHTSA ODI #10887634
47,000 miles · May 13, 2016
Power Train
CVT - ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION - MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN THE SAME RECENTLY AND I BELIEVE IT'S THE CV TRANSMISSION. WHEN I DRIVE AT HIGH SPEEDS (SUCH AS 50MPH OR MORE, THE CAR SEEMS TO BE STUCK IN A LOWER GEAR). THE CAR RUNS ROUGH AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A LOWER GEAR WHEN IT DRIVES. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP (AVENTURA HONDA…
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CVT - ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION - MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN THE SAME RECENTLY AND I BELIEVE IT'S THE CV TRANSMISSION. WHEN I DRIVE AT HIGH SPEEDS (SUCH AS 50MPH OR MORE, THE CAR SEEMS TO BE STUCK IN A LOWER GEAR). THE CAR RUNS ROUGH AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A LOWER GEAR WHEN IT DRIVES. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP (AVENTURA HONDA IN FLORIDA) AND THEY SAW NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEY DID A TRANSMISSION FLUSH JUST TO BE SAFE AND I STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I SAW THAT HONDA HAD A RECALL ON THE CVT TRANSMISSION FOR THE 2014 AND 2015 HONDA CIVIC MODELS. I CAN ONLY BEGIN TO WONDER IF THE 2013 MODEL ALSO HAS DEFECTS. I HAVE ABOUT 47,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE 2013 HONDA CIVIC MODEL FOR POSSIBLE DEFECTS IN THE CVT. I SPENT $149 FOR A FLUSH THAT DID NOTING TO ALLEVIATE THE NOISY AND ROUGH TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR $65 WHILE I WAITED FOR THE SERVICE TO BE DONE.
NHTSA ODI #10864804
900 miles · Aug 22, 2015
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control
WTHILE DRIVING AND SLOWING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT A FLASHING YELLOW LIGHT INTERSECTION AND BEING AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, I DRIVE TWO FOOTED, FOR QUICKER RESPONSE TIME. UPON STEPPING ON ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE HESITATES FOR 3-4 SECONDS BEFORE PICKING UP SPEED. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, I AM TOLD IT IS A 2 FOOTED DRIVER ISSUE …
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WTHILE DRIVING AND SLOWING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT A FLASHING YELLOW LIGHT INTERSECTION AND BEING AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, I DRIVE TWO FOOTED, FOR QUICKER RESPONSE TIME. UPON STEPPING ON ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE HESITATES FOR 3-4 SECONDS BEFORE PICKING UP SPEED. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, I AM TOLD IT IS A 2 FOOTED DRIVER ISSUE AND NOTHING THEY CAN BE DONE. I HAVE LEFT IT 24 HOURS AND BEEN TOLD, 'NO PROBLEM FOUND'. I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE MY HABITS TO ALLOW FOR IT. IT IS INTERMITTENT, AND IF IT IS A 2 FOOTED ISSUE, WHY INTERMITTENT? I HAVE NOT HAVE NOT CHANGED TO 1 FOOT DRIVING? SHOULD BE ALWAYS. I AM HIGHLY CONSIDERING GETTING A DIFFERENT BRAND VEHICLE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS ONE.
NHTSA ODI #10758502
23,054 miles · Jul 9, 2015
Power Train
WE WERE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY I HEARD THIS HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM THE TIRES. IT WILL SOUND VERY LOUD WHEN IT IS MOVING AND STOP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING BUT ENGINE STILL RUNNING. I FELT THE VEHICLE IS LOSING SPEED. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM AUTOSPORT HONDA DEALER IN BRIDGEWATER NJ. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT…
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WE WERE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY I HEARD THIS HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM THE TIRES. IT WILL SOUND VERY LOUD WHEN IT IS MOVING AND STOP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING BUT ENGINE STILL RUNNING. I FELT THE VEHICLE IS LOSING SPEED. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM AUTOSPORT HONDA DEALER IN BRIDGEWATER NJ. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AFTER A YEAR THE STARTER UNIT OF THE ENGINE IS NOT WORKING. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS UNDER WARRANTY. THE DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW IS DEFECTIVE IT MOVE LIKE ZIGZAG WHEN IT MOVES UP AND DOWN. I BELIEVED THIS IS ALSO COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #10732850
300 miles · Mar 20, 2015
Equipment Adaptive/mobilityFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
BEING MALE AND CAPABLE OF DRIVING STANDARD SHIFT, I DRIVE 2 FOOTED. THIS VEHICLE IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH DRIVE BY WIRE FEATURE. LEFT ON BRAKE,RIGHT ON ACCELERATOR. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR A SLOW TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE AS EXPECTED, IT SEEMS TO DELAY COMPETING THE TURN, AND EVEN DOES IT W…
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BEING MALE AND CAPABLE OF DRIVING STANDARD SHIFT, I DRIVE 2 FOOTED. THIS VEHICLE IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH DRIVE BY WIRE FEATURE. LEFT ON BRAKE,RIGHT ON ACCELERATOR. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR A SLOW TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE AS EXPECTED, IT SEEMS TO DELAY COMPETING THE TURN, AND EVEN DOES IT WHEN TRYING TO PASS A VEHICLE ON THE FWY. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT OCCURRENCE. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THEY CAN NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE IT WITH THEM FOR ONE WEEK AND HAVE THE MECHANIC DRIVE IT FOR ONE WEEK TO AND FROM WORK. BUT I DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR A RENTAL DURING THE TIME. I WILL DO SO IF THERE IS NO TROUBLE FOUND BY THE REGION SERVICE MANAGER. BUT OTHERWISE I WOULD LIKE THE DEALERSHIP TO PICK UP THE RENTAL. I NOW HAVE HAD IT FOR ABOUT 16 MONTHS AND HAVE HAD TO ADJUST MY DRIVING HABITS TO COMPENSATE FOR THE DELAY IN ORDER TO AVOID A CRASH. OTHER WISE I HAVE HAD GOOD SERVICE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I NOW HAVE APPROXIMATELY 10, 300 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THANK YOU. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10695535
4,000 miles · Feb 23, 2015
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION 2013 HONDA CIVIC HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN IN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. IT OCCURS MUCH MORE OFTEN IN 3RD GEAR AND HAPPENED TWICE JUST TODAY; IT HAS NEVER DONE THIS IN 1ST, 4TH, OR 5TH GEARS. I DON'T USE CRUISE CONTROL SO, UNLESS THE CRUISE CONTROL IS KICKING IN ON ITS OWN SOMEHOW, THAT IS…
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ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION 2013 HONDA CIVIC HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN IN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. IT OCCURS MUCH MORE OFTEN IN 3RD GEAR AND HAPPENED TWICE JUST TODAY; IT HAS NEVER DONE THIS IN 1ST, 4TH, OR 5TH GEARS. I DON'T USE CRUISE CONTROL SO, UNLESS THE CRUISE CONTROL IS KICKING IN ON ITS OWN SOMEHOW, THAT IS NOT THE CAUSE. WHEN THE CAR STARTS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN, I AM UNABLE TO EASILY MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT FROM 2ND OR 3RD INTO NEUTRAL AND HAVE TO EITHER APPLY ALOT OF PRESSURE TO MOVE IT INTO NEUTRAL OR USE THE CLUTCH. BREAKING WILL SOMETIMES STOP THE ACCELERATION BUT NOT ALWAYS AND SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN I USE THE BRAKE, WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR WILL CONTINUE ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. THIS HAS OCCURRED MOST OFTEN AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 25 AND 35. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10689930
10,780 miles · Nov 28, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
DRIVING HOME UP 50 DEGREE HILL. APPROXIMATE SPEED 35 MPH. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR BECAUSE I LIKE TO COAST THE LAST 1/4 OF THE HILL FOR SAFETY, SLOWING DOWN FOR ANY POTENTIAL IDIOTS WHO MIGHT SAIL AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE FLAT CROSS STREET, CUTTING OFF THE PART OF THE STREET THAT, BY LAW, SHOULD BE LEFT CLEAR FOR THE …
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DRIVING HOME UP 50 DEGREE HILL. APPROXIMATE SPEED 35 MPH. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR BECAUSE I LIKE TO COAST THE LAST 1/4 OF THE HILL FOR SAFETY, SLOWING DOWN FOR ANY POTENTIAL IDIOTS WHO MIGHT SAIL AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE FLAT CROSS STREET, CUTTING OFF THE PART OF THE STREET THAT, BY LAW, SHOULD BE LEFT CLEAR FOR THE CAR COMING UPHILL. IN A SPLIT SECOND, MY CAR ACCELERATES SUDDENLY, AS THOUGH I HAD STOMPED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN. NOW WHAT DO I DO? MY 2012 HONDA CIVIC HAD PREMATURE BRAKE FAILURE THAT IS NOW THE SUBJECT OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. DO I GET RID OF THIS "NEW" HONDA THAT TURNED ONE MID-OCTOBER??? I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, GIVEN THE OTHER STORIES ABOUT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN NEW HONDAS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10661215
100 miles · Nov 27, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
VEHICLE HESITATES OCCASIONALLY ON START UP. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE AND REQUIRES PUSHING HARD ON THE ACCELERATOR, WHICH RESULTS IN A VERY FAST TAKEOFF. IF YOU LEAVE AN EVEN PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL, THE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY MOVE OFF, BUT THIS UNPREDICTABILITY CAN BE QUITE DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE TRYING TO PULL OUT INTO A STRE…
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VEHICLE HESITATES OCCASIONALLY ON START UP. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE AND REQUIRES PUSHING HARD ON THE ACCELERATOR, WHICH RESULTS IN A VERY FAST TAKEOFF. IF YOU LEAVE AN EVEN PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL, THE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY MOVE OFF, BUT THIS UNPREDICTABILITY CAN BE QUITE DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE TRYING TO PULL OUT INTO A STREAM OF MOVING TRAFFIC. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10661145
6,450 miles · Mar 24, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
ON 22ND MARCH 2014, I WAS DRIVING MY ONE YEAR OLD CIVIC ON INTERSTATE 55 FROM JACKSON TOWARDS BATON ROUGE. AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MILES WITH AN AVERAGE SPEED OF 65 TO 70 MILES PER HOUR, I SUDDENLY FACED PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. THE ACCELERATION WENT CRAZY SPIKING THE TACHOMETER BETWEEN 4000 AND 6000 RPM AND THE CAR WAS SLOWI…
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ON 22ND MARCH 2014, I WAS DRIVING MY ONE YEAR OLD CIVIC ON INTERSTATE 55 FROM JACKSON TOWARDS BATON ROUGE. AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MILES WITH AN AVERAGE SPEED OF 65 TO 70 MILES PER HOUR, I SUDDENLY FACED PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION. THE ACCELERATION WENT CRAZY SPIKING THE TACHOMETER BETWEEN 4000 AND 6000 RPM AND THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN THOUGH I GAVE THE ACCELERATION. WHEN I GAVE THE ACCELERATION, IT WAS MAKING ROARING SOUND AND RPM ON TACHOMETER IS SPIKING BETWEEN 4000 AND 6000 RPM. CAR WAS COMING TO STALL SLOWLY FROM 65 MPH, BEFORE IT COULD COME DOWN TO STANDSTILL I TURNED ON EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND PULLED THE VEHICLE ON TO THE SHOULDER. FORTUNATELY TWO VEHICLES BEHIND ME PAST MY CAR MERGING TO LEFT LANE SEEING MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON. AFTER PULLING THE CAR ON TO THE SHOULDER, I HAVE PUT THE CAR ON TO PARKING GEAR FOR FEW MINUTES AND THEN AGAIN SHIFTED BACK TO DRIVE. FROM THEREON I DID NOT FACE ANY ACCELERATION PROBLEM AGAIN FOR THE REST OF MY 2.5 HOURS JOURNEY. FOR SAFETY, I JUST STAYED ON RIGHT LANE AND DROVE WITH CONSTANT SPEED OF ABOUT 65 MPH THROUGH OUT MY JOURNEY. IT WAS REALLY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATOR NOT WORKING AND GOING BERSERK AND CAR SLOWING DOWN ON INTERSTATE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT COULD BE THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND IF THERE ARE ANY SOLUTIONS FOR THIS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW, I AM REALLY WORRIED NOW TO DRIVE MY CAR ON HIGHWAYS AND TO GO ON LONG DRIVES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10574606
5,500 miles · Mar 12, 2014
EnginePower TrainService Brakes
NO POWER. NO ACCELERATION. I AM FORTUNATE THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS CAUTIOUS ENOUGH TO SLOW DOWN. I HAD NO POWER, NO GET-UP, NO NOTHING AND I WAS FLOORING IT TO GET OUT OF A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS MADE ODD NOISES SINCE THE BEGINNING. BRAKES MAKE AN ODD NOISE. THERE IS A CRACKLING, TINKLING, VERY ODD NOISE THAT COMES …
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NO POWER. NO ACCELERATION. I AM FORTUNATE THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS CAUTIOUS ENOUGH TO SLOW DOWN. I HAD NO POWER, NO GET-UP, NO NOTHING AND I WAS FLOORING IT TO GET OUT OF A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS MADE ODD NOISES SINCE THE BEGINNING. BRAKES MAKE AN ODD NOISE. THERE IS A CRACKLING, TINKLING, VERY ODD NOISE THAT COMES FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR SINCE THE BEGINNING OF OWNERSHIP AND I GUESS THAT'S HOW THE CAR IS MADE (?). I DO NOT KNOW IF A CAR IS SUPPOSED TO ACT LIKE THIS, DUE TO HAVE OWNING MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS THE MAJORITY OF MY DRIVING CAREER. NO UMPH ON THIS BRAND-NEW CAR HAS LED ME TO SEND IN THIS COMPLAINT IN CASE OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILARITIES. ODD NOISE WITH BRAKES, ODD, VERY ODD NOISE THAT TINKERS UNDER THE CAR AND NO ACCELERATION. I USE THE GASOLINE OUTLINED/ PREFERRED BY THE HONDA CIVIC OWNER'S MANUAL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10568776
NHTSA investigations
2EA21002 · 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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