TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTOPARK HONDA (3630 OLD RALEIGH RD, CARY, NC 27511) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTOPARK HONDA (3630 OLD RALEIGH RD, CARY, NC 27511) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V574000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO A BENT CRANKSHAFT AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE ENGINE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #11088973
50 miles · Apr 11, 2017
Electrical SystemEngine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS AND AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, COLD AIR EMITTED THROUGH THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE A/C BEING ACTIVATED. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS AND AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, COLD AIR EMITTED THROUGH THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE A/C BEING ACTIVATED. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50. UPDATED 08/15/17*LJ *CN
NHTSA ODI #10971789
8,500 miles · Aug 2, 2016
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemSteeringCrashFire
MY DAUGHTER (17 YEARS OLD) WAS DRIVING AT 35 MILES IN LEONA VALLEY CA ON LAST FRIDAY 2015 HER HONDA CIVIC (7,000 MILES ON ODOMETER). HER CAR LOW-PRESSURE AIR LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN CAR STARTED TO SWERVE VIOLENTLY LEFT TO RIGHT. WITHIN FEW MINUTES THE CAR BRAKES STOPPED FUNCTIONING (ACCORDING TO HER, IT FELT SHE WAS PUSHING ON …
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MY DAUGHTER (17 YEARS OLD) WAS DRIVING AT 35 MILES IN LEONA VALLEY CA ON LAST FRIDAY 2015 HER HONDA CIVIC (7,000 MILES ON ODOMETER). HER CAR LOW-PRESSURE AIR LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN CAR STARTED TO SWERVE VIOLENTLY LEFT TO RIGHT. WITHIN FEW MINUTES THE CAR BRAKES STOPPED FUNCTIONING (ACCORDING TO HER, IT FELT SHE WAS PUSHING ON AIR WHEN SHE PRESSED THE BRAKE PADDLE) AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CAR ENDED UP ON ITS SIDE AND CAUGHT FIRE. IT STARTED A BRUSH FIRE (25 ACRES) HERE IN CA. WHEN MY DAUGHTER AND HER TWO FRIENDS TRIED TO GET OUT THE DOOR, THE OTHER DOOR WON'T OPEN. THEY HAD TO JUMP OUT OF THE SUN ROOF. THE QUESTION I HAVE IS WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE AND WHY DID THE CAR'S BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED? WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO FIND OUT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN ORDER TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF ROOT CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT?
NHTSA ODI #10892410
14,000 miles · May 18, 2016
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other
I REPORTED DURING THE LAST OIL CHANGE THAT THE CAR WAS STALLING SPECIFICALLY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE BETWEEN 10 MPH & 30 MPH. THE CAR STALLS, AND HAS EVEN COMPLETELY STOPPED FOR A FULL 60 SECONDS WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE LANES IN TRAFFIC EVEN THOUGH THE GAS PEDAL WAS COMPLETED DEPRESSED. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDEN…
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I REPORTED DURING THE LAST OIL CHANGE THAT THE CAR WAS STALLING SPECIFICALLY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE BETWEEN 10 MPH & 30 MPH. THE CAR STALLS, AND HAS EVEN COMPLETELY STOPPED FOR A FULL 60 SECONDS WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE LANES IN TRAFFIC EVEN THOUGH THE GAS PEDAL WAS COMPLETED DEPRESSED. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THE TECH SAID IT WAS DUE TO THE ECON BUTTON AND THE ENGINE TRYING TO CONSERVE ENERGY. I WAS TOLD TO NOT USE THE ECON BUTTON (ALTHOUGH THIS IS SUPPOSE TO SAVE ME MONEY ON GAS AND FUEL EFFICIENCY AND PART OF THE ALLURE OF THE VEHICLE.) DESPITE THAT I HAVE HAD THE ECON BUTTON OFF AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO STALL AND NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. AGAIN THIS IS USUALLY BETWEEN 10 MPG TO 30 MPH. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OR PART OF THE PISTOL PIN SNAP RING PROBLEM OR EVEN POSSIBLY A FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE GETTING WORSE AND OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. MY HUSBAND HAS THE SAME TYPE AND YEAR VEHICLE AND HIS DOES NOT BEHAVE THE SAME WAY. HIS ACCELERATION APPEARS TO BE FINE AND DOES NOT STALL AS MINE DOES. ALSO THE TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE HAS COME ON TWICE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ONCE WAS 8-15-15 DURING A 4 HOUR ROAD TRIP WHICH OCCURRED AFTER WE ARRIVED. THE 2ND TIME WAS IMMEDIATELY AFTER I RETURNED HOME FROM MY LAST OIL CHANGE IN 4-2016. THIS IS THE (3RD) REPORTED PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. PROBLEM (1) WAS THE STAINED HEADLINER (6/2015)WHICH WAS REPLACED AND HAS NOT HAD ANY FURTHER ISSUES (2) WAS THE CENTER CONSOLE PIN COMING LOOSE AND POPPING UP (4-2016) WHICH HAS CURRENTLY REMAINED INTACT AND NOW THE ACCELERATION IS GETTING WORSE. (CONTINUOUSLY).
NHTSA ODI #10865714
Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2016
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other
STICKING DRIVE BY WIRE THROTTLE BODY SYSTEM , WHEN SHIFTING CLUTCH IS NOT RELEASING RIGHT OR TO THE VEHICLE SPECS ON THE VEHICLE AND ENGINE VIBRATION WHEN IDLING. WHEN STARTING TO DRIVE , VEHICLE ENGINE VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING ON NORMAL ROAD AN HIGHWAY TOO.
NHTSA ODI #10849564
250 miles · Nov 19, 2015
EnginePower TrainService Brakes
PURCHASED CAR WITH 136 MILES ON IT. NOTICED THE BRAKES MADE A POPPING SOUND WHEN PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, ALSO A NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT INTO DIFFERENT GEARS. TOOK IT IN SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS TOLD NOTHING IS WRONG. MAYBE YOU ARE PRESSING TO HARD ON THE BRAKES.THIRD MONTH IN I WENT BACK AGAIN FOR THE GEAR SHIFT NOISE AND…
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PURCHASED CAR WITH 136 MILES ON IT. NOTICED THE BRAKES MADE A POPPING SOUND WHEN PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, ALSO A NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT INTO DIFFERENT GEARS. TOOK IT IN SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS TOLD NOTHING IS WRONG. MAYBE YOU ARE PRESSING TO HARD ON THE BRAKES.THIRD MONTH IN I WENT BACK AGAIN FOR THE GEAR SHIFT NOISE AND WAS TOLD THATS JUST HOW THESE CIVICS SOUND.
NHTSA ODI #10794875
1,000 miles · Nov 2, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE IDLING AT A RED LIGHT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY SEVEN TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE IDLING AT A RED LIGHT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY SEVEN TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
NHTSA ODI #10787580
500 miles · Oct 28, 2015
EnginePower Train
NOTICED A SHUDDER WITH VEHICLE DURING 1ST WEEK OF PURCHASE. THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE WEIRD SINCE BEING A NEW CAR. ASSUMED THAT IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT WITH REGARDS TO BREAK IN OF VEHICLE. 2ND WEEK OF OWNERSHIP ON MY WAY TO WORK, NOTICED THE SHUDDER MULTIPLE TIMES DURING STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THIS SHUDDER LATER TRANSITIONED IN…
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NOTICED A SHUDDER WITH VEHICLE DURING 1ST WEEK OF PURCHASE. THOUGHT IT WAS A LITTLE WEIRD SINCE BEING A NEW CAR. ASSUMED THAT IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT WITH REGARDS TO BREAK IN OF VEHICLE. 2ND WEEK OF OWNERSHIP ON MY WAY TO WORK, NOTICED THE SHUDDER MULTIPLE TIMES DURING STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THIS SHUDDER LATER TRANSITIONED INTO A KNOCK OR PINGING OF SOME SORT WHILE JERKING AND ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN WITHOUT ANY DRIVER INPUT. VERY SCARY AT THIS POINT...GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND PARKED THEN TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. UPON START UP, VEHICLE STILL IDLING VIOLENTLY. HAD TO GET TO WORK SO JUST BRAKED MOST OF THE WAY AND DROVE WITH ADDED CAUTION. AFTER WORK, CAR BEHAVED NORMALLY ON MY WAY HOME WITH ECON AND AIR CON BOTH OFF. SHUDDER IS STILL PRESENT TO THIS DAY DURING LIGHT TO MODERATE ACCELERATION AT 30 - 40 MPH. I AM FEARFUL OF USING THE ECON AND AIR CON TOGETHER AS THIS WORSENS THE PROBLEM. HONDA AND THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS.
NHTSA ODI #10786587
150 miles · Sep 27, 2015
Engine
VEHICLE VIBRATES WITH NOISE WHEN IN REVERSE MODE. DEALER AND HONDA CLAIM IT IS NORMAL. IT SEEMS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS ALREADY WIDELY KNOWN TO MANY HONDA OWNERS. THE VIBRATION HAPPENS MORE WITH ECON MODE IS SWITCHED ON. THIS CREATES THE FEELING THAT THIS CAR ENGINE IS NOT MOUNTED WELL AND IT COULD LEAD TO MAJOR ACCIDENT DURING DRI…
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VEHICLE VIBRATES WITH NOISE WHEN IN REVERSE MODE. DEALER AND HONDA CLAIM IT IS NORMAL. IT SEEMS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS ALREADY WIDELY KNOWN TO MANY HONDA OWNERS. THE VIBRATION HAPPENS MORE WITH ECON MODE IS SWITCHED ON. THIS CREATES THE FEELING THAT THIS CAR ENGINE IS NOT MOUNTED WELL AND IT COULD LEAD TO MAJOR ACCIDENT DURING DRIVING. THERE WERE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO ALREADY CHANGED THEIR ENGINE MOUNTS ONLY WHEN CAR HAS LOW MILEGE.
NHTSA ODI #10777969
896 miles · Jul 17, 2015
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HONDA CIVIC. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE LOWER MOTOR MOUNTS AND SIDE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPOSITIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HONDA CIVIC. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE LOWER MOTOR MOUNTS AND SIDE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPOSITIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 896.
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).
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.