NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
35 reportsClear category filter72,000 miles · Jul 16, 2020
Steering
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I WAS STRUGGLED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY. IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT . IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED IT WAS THE POWER STEERING OR ECP AND IT WILL COST ALMOST $1500 …
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I WAS STRUGGLED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY. IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT . IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED IT WAS THE POWER STEERING OR ECP AND IT WILL COST ALMOST $1500 DOLLARS TO FIX. MY CAR WAS NEVER IN ANY MAJOR ACCIDENTS FOR ANYTHING OF THIS NATURE TO OCCUR AND IS ALWAYS SERVICED AT THE DEALER. I ASK THE DEALER WHY WOULD THIS HAPPEN AND ALL HE SAID WAS 'THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF IS IF IT WAS IN AN ACCIDENT '.
NHTSA ODI #11339669
108,850 miles · Feb 29, 2020
Steering
WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE STEERING BECAME VERY TIGHT MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. AN INDICATOR LIGHT APPEARED BRIEFLY ON THE DASH AND THEN WENT OUT AGAIN AND THE STEERING BECAME NORMAL. THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROX 25 MILES PER HOUR IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND…
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WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE STEERING BECAME VERY TIGHT MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. AN INDICATOR LIGHT APPEARED BRIEFLY ON THE DASH AND THEN WENT OUT AGAIN AND THE STEERING BECAME NORMAL. THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROX 25 MILES PER HOUR IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON BRIEFLY AGAIN. MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE HAVE BEEN FOUND ONLINE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED BECAUSE THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AS YOU HAVE NO ABILITY TO STEER THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT SEEMS AS IF HONDA HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH THEIR FIT MODEL AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED. THIS MUST BE DEALT WITH AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST IN AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA ODI #11312253
97,868 miles · Nov 18, 2019
Steering
I DROVE MY CAR AS USUAL ON NOV, 15, 2019, WENT HOME, AND PARKED IN THE DRIVE WAY OF MY HOUSE. BUT ON NOV, 16, 2019 AROUND NOON, I STARTED MY CAR, AND THE EPS INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON FROM MY DASH BOARD, THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY TIGHT, VERY HEAVY, CAN BARELY TURN. I CAN EASILY CAUSE INCIDENT FROM IT.
NHTSA ODI #11280957
158,000 miles · Dec 17, 2018
Steering
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS. I HAD TO TURN CAR OFF AND RESTART FOR IT TO WORK AGAIN. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL WHEN IT LOCKED
NHTSA ODI #11162134
75,000 miles · Nov 12, 2018
SteeringSuspension
THE 2012 HONDA CRV HAS STARTED TO VIBRATE IN THE FRONT END. I HAVE HAD THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND TIRES CHECKED. NOTHING IS REPORTED FOUND AS AN ISSUE. IT STARTS TO VIBRATE AT RANDOM SPEEDS AND WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS IT STOPS. ONLY THEN CAN YOU RE-ENGAGE THE GAS PEDAL. I AM CONCERNED WITH MY SAFETY BECAUSE OF THIS.
NHTSA ODI #11150994
98,400 miles · Feb 5, 2018
Steering
WHILE DRIVE 40MPH, AN ABRUPT DECISION TO TURN INTO A BUSINESS DRIVEWAY WAS MADE. IN THE ACT OF REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE GAS TO THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE RPM IS REDUCED WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. I EXPERIENCED A FAULT LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR THE STEERING EPS (ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING) SYSTEM AND THE STEERING …
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WHILE DRIVE 40MPH, AN ABRUPT DECISION TO TURN INTO A BUSINESS DRIVEWAY WAS MADE. IN THE ACT OF REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE GAS TO THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE RPM IS REDUCED WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. I EXPERIENCED A FAULT LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR THE STEERING EPS (ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING) SYSTEM AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MOMENTARILY LOCKED IN POSITION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN. IF ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY, I WOULD HAVE COLLIDED WITH THEM. WHILE TRYING TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM IN THE SAFETY OF A PARKING LOT, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE STEERING WILL TO LOCK UP REPEATEDLY WHILE NOT MOVING, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND A/C ON. EACH ATTEMPT TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW RPM WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE RESULTED IN A FLASH OF EPS STEERING FAULT WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP PREVENTING ME FROM STEERING. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS INSTEAD OF JUST BECOMING HARD TO STEER. I HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH CLEANING OF THE BATTERY TERMINALS.... THE EPS POWER STEERING REQUIRES A LOT OF ELECTRIC POWER. THE FUSE BOX HAS A 70AMP FUSE FEEDING POWER TO THE EPS. AT LOW RPM, THE ALTERNATOR WILL NOT SUPPLY ENOUGH POWER TO OPERATE EPS, SO THE POWER MUST COME FROM THE BATTERY. MY BATTERY WAS INSTALLED BY A HONDA DEALERSHIP BUT THEY DID NOT APPLY BATTERY CORROSION PROTECTOR TO THE TERMINALS IN NOVEMBER 2016. THE CORROSION THAT DEVELOPED CREATED A RESISTIVE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION PREVENTING THE HIGH CURRENT DRAW NEEDED FOR THE EPS FROM THE BATTERY. THIS CONDITION WILL ALSO HAPPEN IF THE ALTERNATOR IS NOT OPERATING AT FULL CAPACITY (ONE OF THE DIODES HAS FAILED) OR IF THE BATTERY DEVELOPS A FAILED CELL. HONDA SHOULD CORRECT THE ISSUE BY ALLOWING THE OPERATOR TO STILL USE THE STEERING WHEEL INSTEAD OF HAVING THE EPS SYSTEM LOCK THE WHEEL. THE FOLLOWING NHTSA COMPLAINTS MAY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE. 10981511,11005158, 11065903,10979918,10910951
NHTSA ODI #11066978
85,400 miles · Jan 30, 2018
Steering
WHEN DRIVING AT ABOUT 60MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING SEIZES, AND I AM UNABLE TO STEER LEFT OR RIGHT. ITS LIKE IF THE STEERING LOCKS UP. THE STEERING ICON APPEARS IN THE DASH UNTIL I STOP THE CAR AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN I TURN IT BACK ON, THE CAR IS NORMAL. I COULD'VE CRASHED ON THE FREEWAY!! THIS HAS HAPPENED 4…
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WHEN DRIVING AT ABOUT 60MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING SEIZES, AND I AM UNABLE TO STEER LEFT OR RIGHT. ITS LIKE IF THE STEERING LOCKS UP. THE STEERING ICON APPEARS IN THE DASH UNTIL I STOP THE CAR AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN I TURN IT BACK ON, THE CAR IS NORMAL. I COULD'VE CRASHED ON THE FREEWAY!! THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES ALREADY.
NHTSA ODI #11065903
102,000 miles · Jul 13, 2017
Steering
ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING---THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN AND THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I PULLED OUT OF MY SUBDIVISION ONTO THE MAIN STREET. THIS HAPPENED WHILE TURNING A CORNER AND WHILE TURNING AROUND IN A PARKING LOT.---IT TOTALLY TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. TOO…
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ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING---THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN AND THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I PULLED OUT OF MY SUBDIVISION ONTO THE MAIN STREET. THIS HAPPENED WHILE TURNING A CORNER AND WHILE TURNING AROUND IN A PARKING LOT.---IT TOTALLY TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. TOOK IT TO THE HONDA SERVICE THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT! THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE I WAS ON HIGHWAY 158-TURNING ONTO THE MAIN ROAD--I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A WRECK OR KILLED---WHEN I FINALLY MADE IT TO A SAFE PLACE THE CAR TURNED OFF AGAIN FOR 10-15 MINUTES. THE HONDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT SENT A TOW TRUCK--HOPEFULLY THEY CAN REPAIR IT.---THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION TO HAVE HAPPEN--THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO CORRECT THE TURN! IT HAPPENS WHILE TURNING--AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON! THIS HAPPENED ON 7/10/17 AND 7/13/17
NHTSA ODI #11005158
Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering
THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT PERIODICALLY WHILE TURNING TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT IT ALSO WILL GO OUT WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY, SPEED OF CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS IS ANYWHERE 5-65 MPH. ALL FLUIDS ARE FULL IN THE CAR. DEALER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE ROADS HAVE BEEN NORMAL ( RAIN, DRY, HOT, COLD) . I HAVE GONE ON-LINE TO SEE IF OTHERS…
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THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT PERIODICALLY WHILE TURNING TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT IT ALSO WILL GO OUT WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY, SPEED OF CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS IS ANYWHERE 5-65 MPH. ALL FLUIDS ARE FULL IN THE CAR. DEALER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE ROADS HAVE BEEN NORMAL ( RAIN, DRY, HOT, COLD) . I HAVE GONE ON-LINE TO SEE IF OTHERS HAVE THE SAME THING HAPPENING AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPRESSING THE SAME CONCERNS WITH MO ONE TO HELP THEM. SOME HAD SAID THERE COULD BE A BUBBLE IN A HOSE CAUSING IT OR AN ISSUE WITH VSA ( ?) THIS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE
NHTSA ODI #10981511
92,000 miles · Apr 22, 2017
Steering
POWER STEERING FAILED TWICE WITHIN 1 MILE (~3 MINUTES APART) OF STARTING CAR AND DRIVING 25MPH DOWN RESIDENTIAL STREET. IN BOTH INSTANCES CAR WAS GOING STRAIGHT AHEAD. INDICATOR LIGHT RESET AFTER FIRST FAILURE AND RESTART THEN ~3 MINUTES LATER INDICATOR LIT AND POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. VSA MODULATOR…
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POWER STEERING FAILED TWICE WITHIN 1 MILE (~3 MINUTES APART) OF STARTING CAR AND DRIVING 25MPH DOWN RESIDENTIAL STREET. IN BOTH INSTANCES CAR WAS GOING STRAIGHT AHEAD. INDICATOR LIGHT RESET AFTER FIRST FAILURE AND RESTART THEN ~3 MINUTES LATER INDICATOR LIT AND POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. VSA MODULATOR HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BY THE DEALER (~4000 MILES AGO) TO REMEDY THIS RECURRENT ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10979918
Official recalls
3Apr 15, 2013
Honda is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 CR-V, Odyssey, and model year 2013 Acura RDX vehicles. During sub-freezing temperatures, the brake-shift interlock blocking mechanism may become slow and allow the gear selector to be moved from the Park position without pressing the brake pedal. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the gear selector is moved from the park position without pressing the brake pedal it can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated brake shift interlock blocking mechanism free of charge. The recall began on May 13, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's campaign recall numbers are S96, S97, and S98.
Oct 16, 2012
Honda is recalling certain model year 2012 CR-V, equipped with the LX trim level and manufactured from August 30, 2012, to August 31, 2012. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification." The incorrect values for Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, Gross Axle Weight Rating front and rear, tire size, and rim size were specified on the safety certification label.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading. Improper loading could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will apply the corrective label free of charge. The safety recall began on November 14, 2012. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Jul 19, 2012
Honda is recalling certain model year 2012 Honda CR-V and model year 2013 Acura ILX vehicles. If the manual or power door lock is activated while an interior front door handle is being operated by an occupant, the cable connecting the interior door handle to the door latch mechanism may become loose and move out of position. There is a possibility that the cable can move far enough out of position to prevent the door from properly latching.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the door is not fully latched, the door may open while driving or in a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury to the vehicle occupants.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front door latch assemblies in the affected vehicles, free of charge. Additionally, the interior front door handles in certain Honda CR-Vs will also be replaced, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on, or about, August 16, 2012. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
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
3EA21002 · 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.
EQ12002 · Autoliv Air Bag Propellant Mixture
Opened Feb 14, 2012 · Closed May 8, 2012
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
The summary for this investigation, labeled EQ12-002 Autoliv Closing Resume, can be found attached separately to this resume.This EQ is closed.