NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
319 reports125 miles · May 8, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND A SLIGHT VIBRATION OCCURRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONLY WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OR COMING TO A STOP. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND A SLIGHT VIBRATION OCCURRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONLY WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OR COMING TO A STOP. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125. UPDATED 7/9/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP A LOUD SLOSHING , BUMPING SOUND COULD BE HEARD EMITTING FROM THE GAS TANK. THIS OCCURRED GOING FORWARD AND IN REVERSE, AND OCCURS WHEN THE TANK IS HALF FULL TO FULL. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE SOUND IS NORMAL. UPDATED 07/14/2014 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10587283
3,100 miles · Apr 26, 2014
SteeringVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
ON APRIL 23, 2014 AT ABOUT 4:40 P. M. MY SON WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHICH IS 5 MILES UNDER THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT FOR THAT AREA WHERE HE LIVES. THE ROAD LEADING TO THE BACK ENTRANCE OF HIS HOUSING COMPLEX IS A SINGLE ONE-WAY LANE WITH A WIDE BICYCLE LANE. THIS ROADWAY CURVES SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT LEADING INTO THE ENTRANCE OF HIS HOUS…
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ON APRIL 23, 2014 AT ABOUT 4:40 P. M. MY SON WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHICH IS 5 MILES UNDER THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT FOR THAT AREA WHERE HE LIVES. THE ROAD LEADING TO THE BACK ENTRANCE OF HIS HOUSING COMPLEX IS A SINGLE ONE-WAY LANE WITH A WIDE BICYCLE LANE. THIS ROADWAY CURVES SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT LEADING INTO THE ENTRANCE OF HIS HOUSING COMPLEX. ON APPROACHING THE END OF THE ROAD MY SON TOOK HIS FOOT OF THE GAS TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE, TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT (AS THE ROAD CURVES NATURALLY TO THE LEFT) THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND STEERED TO THE RIGHT. MY SON TRIED VERY HARD TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO CORRECT THE STEERING BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE STEERED UNCONTROLLABLY TO THE RIGHT, JUMPING THE CONCRETE CURB AND STUCK A CONCRETE STREET LIGHT POLE, FLIPPED OVER AND LANDED A FEW FEET AWAY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WITH FIVE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. (ONE ON THE STEERING WHEEL, AND FOUR OVER THE DOORS). HE WAS EXAMINED BY PARAMEDIC'S ON THE SCENE AND LATER OBSERVED SEVERE BRUISING ON HIS ABDOMEN AND NECK WHICH REQUIRED FURTHER MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND DECLARED A TOTAL LOST BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10585098
500 miles · Apr 2, 2014
StructureVisibility
WINDSHIELD FOGS UP RAPIDLY IN WINTER WITHIN FIRST FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING. FASTER THAN AIR CONDITIONING CAN DRY CAR INTERIOR. AS A RESULT, VISIBILITY IS REDUCED TO ZERO AND I ALWAYS HAVE TO PULL OVER TO WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR IT TO DRY. THIS HAPPENS ON COLD DAYS BELOW 30 F, BUT IT HAS NOT HAPPENED TO ME IN ANY OTHER CAR I DRIVE OR H…
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WINDSHIELD FOGS UP RAPIDLY IN WINTER WITHIN FIRST FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING. FASTER THAN AIR CONDITIONING CAN DRY CAR INTERIOR. AS A RESULT, VISIBILITY IS REDUCED TO ZERO AND I ALWAYS HAVE TO PULL OVER TO WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR IT TO DRY. THIS HAPPENS ON COLD DAYS BELOW 30 F, BUT IT HAS NOT HAPPENED TO ME IN ANY OTHER CAR I DRIVE OR HAVE DRIVEN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10576672
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
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
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2014
Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CIVIC EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL CONTI PRO CONTACT TIRES, SIZE 205/55 R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AND SHREDDED INTO PIECES. TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGES AND DOT NUMB…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CIVIC EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL CONTI PRO CONTACT TIRES, SIZE 205/55 R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AND SHREDDED INTO PIECES. TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGES AND DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10573792
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
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
3,000 miles · Feb 22, 2014
Visibility/wiper
NO INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED, YET. THIS IS A WARNING TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS. HONDA HAS MOVED THE POSITION OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SIDE-VIEW MIRROR FROM WHAT IT WAS ON MY PREVIOUS 2000 YEAR MODEL. THE CURRENT POSITION MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE TRAFFIC APPROACHING THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR, EVEN WHEN THE MIRROR IS ADJUSTED AS FAR …
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NO INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED, YET. THIS IS A WARNING TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS. HONDA HAS MOVED THE POSITION OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SIDE-VIEW MIRROR FROM WHAT IT WAS ON MY PREVIOUS 2000 YEAR MODEL. THE CURRENT POSITION MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE TRAFFIC APPROACHING THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR, EVEN WHEN THE MIRROR IS ADJUSTED AS FAR TO THE SIDE AS POSSIBLE. I THINK IT IS BECAUSE THE MIRROR HAS MOVED TOO CLOSE TO THE DRIVER, RATHER THAN CLOSER TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I'M GUESSING THEY DID THIS SINCE THEY MADE THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW TWO PIECES INSTEAD OF ONE (THEY ADDED A SMALL TRIANGLE SHAPED WINDOW AT THE FRONT OF THE WINDOW). THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10565442
6,092 miles · Feb 12, 2014
Engine
DEALER SERVICE CENTER IDENTIFIED AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER COVER. DEALER INDICATED, "NOT ENOUGH HONDABOND REMOVED TIMING TENSIONER COVER PLATE, CLEANED AREA, RESEALED COVER WITH HONDABOND, AND REINSTALLED. RECHECKED AFTER OIL CHANGE AND FOUND NO LEAKS AT THIS TIME". *TR
NHTSA ODI #10563970
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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