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2014 Honda Civic

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2014 Honda Civic do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 183.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

175 reports with mileage · 116 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 98 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. 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.

30 crash reports4 fire reports19 injury reports

What owners actually said

291 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2017
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I CONTINUE TO HAVE PAIN AND INJURIES THAT HAVE NOT HEALED.

NHTSA ODI #11010652

25,000 miles · Jul 18, 2017
Service Brakes

WHILE MOVING DOWNHILL, TWO WARNING LIGHTS XAME ON IN THE VEHICLE AND BRAKES BECAME HARD TO PRESS, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO REGULATE OUR SPEED.

NHTSA ODI #11006176

78,000 miles · May 24, 2017
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHUDDER AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN THE DESIRED SPEED. WHILE DRIVING UPHILL, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT HAD TO CHANGE GEARS TO D2 IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT FELT LIKE THE GEARS WERE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHUDDER AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN THE DESIRED SPEED. WHILE DRIVING UPHILL, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT HAD TO CHANGE GEARS TO D2 IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT FELT LIKE THE GEARS WERE SLIPPING AND THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD REVVING NOISE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP FROM HIGH SPEEDS OR ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AFTER BEING STOPPED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE OCEAN HONDA DEALER WHERE IT WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V574000 (POWER TRAIN); THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RECEIVE THE REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ODI #10991386

72,317 miles · May 22, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT NO FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE INDICATOR WAS RESET; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON FOURTEEN OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT NO FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE INDICATOR WAS RESET; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON FOURTEEN OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,317.

NHTSA ODI #10991011

37,800 miles · Apr 13, 2017
Power Train

OUR 2014 HONDA CIVIC HAS 37K MILES ON IT AND WE WERE DRIVING IT ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE THE GEARS WERE SLIPPING OR NOT SHIFTING. IT FELT LIKE WE WERE IN NEUTRAL AND COULDN'T GET ANY POWER. IT HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY AND THERE WAS NO WARNING OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY DISCOVERED IT W…

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OUR 2014 HONDA CIVIC HAS 37K MILES ON IT AND WE WERE DRIVING IT ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE THE GEARS WERE SLIPPING OR NOT SHIFTING. IT FELT LIKE WE WERE IN NEUTRAL AND COULDN'T GET ANY POWER. IT HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY AND THERE WAS NO WARNING OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY DISCOVERED IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID AND IT CAME "UNPLUGGED" AND WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH RESULTED IN LOW PRESSURE AND THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING.

NHTSA ODI #10972291

40,000 miles · Apr 5, 2017
EngineService Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN PROMPTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE "CHECK ABS" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN PROMPTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE "CHECK ABS" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10970690

26,901 miles · Mar 17, 2017
Unknown Or Other

TWO TIRES HAVE PREMATURE WEAR - I'M GETTING READY TO TURN IN MY LEASE AND TODAYS INSPECTION SHOWN THE RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE EXCESSIVE WEAR.. THIS IS A LEASE AND IT ONLY HAS 26,901 MILES ON IT. THIS IS MY 3RD LEASED VEHICLE , BUT THE 1ST HONDA LEASE. I ALWAYS TURNED IN A VEHICLE UNDER MILES AND NEVER, HAD BEEN T…

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TWO TIRES HAVE PREMATURE WEAR - I'M GETTING READY TO TURN IN MY LEASE AND TODAYS INSPECTION SHOWN THE RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE EXCESSIVE WEAR.. THIS IS A LEASE AND IT ONLY HAS 26,901 MILES ON IT. THIS IS MY 3RD LEASED VEHICLE , BUT THE 1ST HONDA LEASE. I ALWAYS TURNED IN A VEHICLE UNDER MILES AND NEVER, HAD BEEN TOLD THAT I OWE THEM FOR NEW TIRES. I UNDERSTAND THAT HONDA HAS HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PAST WITH PREMATURE TIRE WARE. PLEASE ADVISE IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE HERE WITH ROUSH HONDA IN MEDINA, OHIO OR WITH HONDA FINANCIAL SERVICES ?

NHTSA ODI #10966582

38,000 miles · Mar 12, 2017
Unknown Or OtherInjury

WHILE DRIVING, I HEARD A LOUD, GUNSHOT LIKE SOUND AND GLASS STARTED FALLING ON ME. MY SUNROOF HAD JUST APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN HIT WITH SOMETHING OUT OF NOWHERE. I SAFELY PULLED OVER AND BEGAN LOOKING FOR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT APPEAR TO HAVE HIT IT BUT ONLY FOUND THE GLASS APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN HIT FROM THE INSIDE. THE SUNROOF WAS C…

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WHILE DRIVING, I HEARD A LOUD, GUNSHOT LIKE SOUND AND GLASS STARTED FALLING ON ME. MY SUNROOF HAD JUST APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN HIT WITH SOMETHING OUT OF NOWHERE. I SAFELY PULLED OVER AND BEGAN LOOKING FOR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT APPEAR TO HAVE HIT IT BUT ONLY FOUND THE GLASS APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN HIT FROM THE INSIDE. THE SUNROOF WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED BUT LUCKILY DIDN'T FALL COMPLETELY APART.

NHTSA ODI #10960247

27,000 miles · Feb 28, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

I HAVE A LEASED 2014 HONDA CIVIC EX, MY LEASE BEGAN 11/2014. IN 9/2016 I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH ON A SIDE ROAD WITH SPEED LIMIT 45MPH WHEN MY CAR LOST POWER TO THE GAS PEDAL, I COULD FLOOR IT WITHOUT ANY RESPONSE, AND NUMEROUS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (POWER STEERING, VSA, HILL START ASSIST, TPMS, EMISSION, TRANSMISSION, ETC). I …

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I HAVE A LEASED 2014 HONDA CIVIC EX, MY LEASE BEGAN 11/2014. IN 9/2016 I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH ON A SIDE ROAD WITH SPEED LIMIT 45MPH WHEN MY CAR LOST POWER TO THE GAS PEDAL, I COULD FLOOR IT WITHOUT ANY RESPONSE, AND NUMEROUS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (POWER STEERING, VSA, HILL START ASSIST, TPMS, EMISSION, TRANSMISSION, ETC). I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SAFETY AND WAIT FOR A TOW. UPON ARRIVAL AT HONDA, THE CAR WAS 'BACK TO NORMAL' AND THE TECHS COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM SO THEY CALLED IT A FLUKE AND RETURNED IT TO ME. 2 WEEKS LATER I WAS JUST LEAVING MY HOUSE, ABOUT 5 MPH OUT OF MY SPOT AND UP TO A STOP SIGN, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SAME HONDA AND WAITED. I WAS TOLD A WEEK LATER THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM TO KEEP LOOKING. NOT HAPPENING AS IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. I IMMEDIATELY OPENED A CLAIM WITH HONDA. THEY LOOKED FOR A WEEK MORE WITH NO LUCK AND WERE ABOUT TO RETURN MY DANGEROUS AND UNDIAGNOSED CAR TO ME WHEN IT HAPPENED FOR THEM; I AM UNAWARE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. THEY KEPT IT ANOTHER TWO WEEKS WHEN THEY GUESSED IT WAS A FAULTY COMPUTER AND PUT A NEW ONE IN IT. FAST FORWARD TO 2/2017 AND IT HAS HAPPENED YET AGAIN. I WAS GOING ABOUT 7 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, PULLING UP TO A STOP SIGN, AND ABOUT TO TURN ONTO A 50 MPH, 5 LANE ROAD WHERE I FOR SURE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT HAD IT OCCURRED THERE. IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO HONDA AND I HAVE ZERO INTENTIONS TO TAKE THIS DEATH TRAP BACK, AND I HAVE EVEN LESS FAITH THAT AN ACTUAL PROBLEM WILL BE FOUND YET AGAIN. THE ATTACHED PHOTO SHOWS THE LIGHTS ON THIS MOST RECENT TIME, TAKEN WHILE IN PARK. YOU CAN SEE THE LIGHTS ON, D LIT UP WHILE IN PARK, AND THE NEEDLE AT 1 EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT MOVING.

NHTSA ODI #10957582

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2016
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V574000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CON…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V574000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUGGESTED REMEDY WAS NOT ADEQUATE ENOUGH. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10933708

Official recalls

2

15V574000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Sep 15, 2015

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Civic vehicles manufactured January 16, 2014, to November 6, 2014 and 2015 Fit vehicles manufactured March 12, 2014, to May 12, 2015. The software settings that control the transmission operation may result in damage to the transmission drive pulley shaft.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the transmission drive pulley shaft is damaged, it may break, and the vehicle may lose acceleration or the front wheels may lock up while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the transmission, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 30, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JU2 (Civic) and JU3(Fit).

14V109000 · Tires:bead

Mar 10, 2014

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014 Honda Civic LX vehicles manufactured November 26, 2013, through January 21, 2014. In the affected vehicles, during mounting of the tires, the tire bead may have gotten pinched between the assembly equipment and the steel wheel rims, resulting in damage to the tire.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The tire damage could cause the tire to lose air, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any damaged tire, free of charge. The recall began on April 15, 2014. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's number for this recall is JD8.

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