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2012 Honda CR-V

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Honda CR-V do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 400.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

279 reports with mileage · 124 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.

  • Engine. Review the 89 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

27 crash reports4 fire reports19 injury reports

What owners actually said

403 reports
29,512 miles · Feb 2, 2015
Electrical System

BATTERY FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10680445

49,000 miles · Jan 20, 2015
Electrical System

SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR BATTERY. HEATER/DEFROSTER BLOWER MOTOR (SUBASSEMBLY MOTOR). DEAD BATTERY. SOFTWARE WAS SUPPOSED TO READ BATTERY VOLTAGE AND WASN'T WORKING CORRECTLY SO HONDA REQUIRED SOFTWARE UPDATE. HAD THAT DONE AT DEALER ON 01/01/15. AT THAT TIME ASKED ABOUT THE HEATER/DEFROSTER NOISE AND THE FACT THAT IT DIDN'T AL…

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SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR BATTERY. HEATER/DEFROSTER BLOWER MOTOR (SUBASSEMBLY MOTOR). DEAD BATTERY. SOFTWARE WAS SUPPOSED TO READ BATTERY VOLTAGE AND WASN'T WORKING CORRECTLY SO HONDA REQUIRED SOFTWARE UPDATE. HAD THAT DONE AT DEALER ON 01/01/15. AT THAT TIME ASKED ABOUT THE HEATER/DEFROSTER NOISE AND THE FACT THAT IT DIDN'T ALWAYS WORK. WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THE SUBASSEMBLY MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPAIR ESTIMATE IS $1200.00. ON WEDNESDAY 01/07/15 WENT OUT TO START CAR AND BATTERY WAS DEAD. HAD TO REPLACE WITH NEW BATTERY. CAR WAS PURCHASED APRIL 2012, LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD. OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE. SOFTWARE UPDATE DIDN'T WORK IN SENSING VOLTAGE SINCE I CAME OUT TO A DEAD BATTERY 1 WEEK AFTER "UPDATE". SUBASSEMBLY MOTOR PART NOT SOMETHING THAT IS A MILEAGE WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE. CAN BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF DEFROSTER NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY SUBSEQUENTLY LEADING TO POOR VISIBILITY THROUGH WINDSHIELD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10676810

60,000 miles · Jan 20, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON THE FAR RIGHT LANE OF THE NY STATE THRUWAY THE EVENING OF JAN 8, 2015, I LOST CONTROL OF MY HONDA CRV ON BLACK ICE THAT WAS CAUSED BY A WATER MAIN BREAK WITH A TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE OF ABOUT 20 DEGREES F. THE CAR SKIDDED INTO THE MIDDLE LANE WHERE IT WAS LIT IN THE REAR BY A TRACTOR TRAILER RESULTING IN…

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WHILE DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON THE FAR RIGHT LANE OF THE NY STATE THRUWAY THE EVENING OF JAN 8, 2015, I LOST CONTROL OF MY HONDA CRV ON BLACK ICE THAT WAS CAUSED BY A WATER MAIN BREAK WITH A TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE OF ABOUT 20 DEGREES F. THE CAR SKIDDED INTO THE MIDDLE LANE WHERE IT WAS LIT IN THE REAR BY A TRACTOR TRAILER RESULTING IN THE CAR DOING A COMPLETE 360 INTO THE FAR LEFT LANE WHERE THE FRONT END HIT A PICK UP TRUCK. THE DAMAGE TO REAR AND FRONT THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREME. MY COMPLIANT IS THAT THE ONLY AIR BAGS THAT DEPLOYED WERE THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND CURTAIN BAGS. NONE OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I KNOW THAT HONDA HAS HAD ISSUES WITH AIR BAG RECALLS, BUT I HAD VERIFIED DIRECTLY WITH HONDA THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE SUBJECT TO A RECALL. I THINK THIS INCIDENT WARRANTS SOME TYPE OF INVESTIGATION INTO WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10676763

35,000 miles · Jan 8, 2015
Visibility

THE HEATER/DEFROSTER FAILED TO OPERATE AS IT HAD IN THE PAST ON DECEMBER 6, 2013. PREVIOUS TO THAT DATE THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO COOL PROPERLY STARTING IN AUGUST, 2013. HAZY WHITE MATERIAL COATED THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD REQUIRING CONSTANT WIPING SO WE CEASED USING THE AIR. OVER A SEVERAL WEEK PERIOD IN FALL 2013 THE LE…

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THE HEATER/DEFROSTER FAILED TO OPERATE AS IT HAD IN THE PAST ON DECEMBER 6, 2013. PREVIOUS TO THAT DATE THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO COOL PROPERLY STARTING IN AUGUST, 2013. HAZY WHITE MATERIAL COATED THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD REQUIRING CONSTANT WIPING SO WE CEASED USING THE AIR. OVER A SEVERAL WEEK PERIOD IN FALL 2013 THE LEFT SIDE HEATER/DEFROSTER FAILED TO HEAT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR AND THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER FAILED REQUIRING US TO STOP THE CAR AND WIPE THE OUTSIDE OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CABIN HEATER BLEW SOME HOT AIR AND SOME HOT AIR REACHED THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER AT SCHAUMBURG HONDA LISTENED TO MY COMPLAINT AND AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES RETURNED TO TELL ME ALL OPERATIONS WERE NORMAL AND I NEEDED TO USE THE RECIRCULATION TO EQUALIZE CABIN TEMPERATURE. I IMMEDIATELY TRADED THE CAR SINCE THE WINDSHIELD WAS UNABLE TO DEFROST AND CABIN TO HEAT. SEARCH GOOGLE UNDER " HEATER ON CR-V DOESN'T WORK" TO SEE MULTIPLE STORIES OF SAME AN VIDEOS OF ATTEMPTS LIKE MINE TO WORK HEATER/DEFROSTER COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10671017

27,000 miles · Jan 6, 2015
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

THE HEATER IN THIS CAR BLOWS COLD AIR AND IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO WARM UP DURING LONG COMMUTES EVEN WHEN THE FAN AND HEAT ADJUSTMENTS ARE ON HIGH. IT HAS NOT IMPROVED DURING THE PAST THREE MONTHS OF COLD WEATHER AND IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD TO PURCHASE AN AWD VEHICLE WHEN THE HEAT DOESN'T EVEN WORK.

NHTSA ODI #10670570

150 miles · Dec 9, 2014
Equipment

SIRS WE HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP 6 DOCUMENTED TIMES TO REPAIR OR REPLACE A DISTRACTIVE DRIVING ISSUE THAT INVOLVES THE IN DASH NAVIGATION SYSTEM, BLUETOOTH AND GPS PAIRING. AFTER 2 YEARS OF VISITS TO VALENCIA HONDA, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FIXED. I HIRED THE LAW FIRM OF PARKER STANSBURY TO …

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SIRS WE HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP 6 DOCUMENTED TIMES TO REPAIR OR REPLACE A DISTRACTIVE DRIVING ISSUE THAT INVOLVES THE IN DASH NAVIGATION SYSTEM, BLUETOOTH AND GPS PAIRING. AFTER 2 YEARS OF VISITS TO VALENCIA HONDA, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FIXED. I HIRED THE LAW FIRM OF PARKER STANSBURY TO INITIATE A " LEMON LAW" PROTECTION BY CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE 1793.22. AMERICAN HONDA HAS RESPONDED AND DENIED MY REQUEST FOR REPURCHASE OR REPLACE THE DEFECTED UNIT OR THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. SINCE THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES DISTRACTIVE DRIVING ISSUES, IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT AMERICAN HONDA IS NOT ONLY PUTTING OUR SAFETY AT RISK BUT THE SAFETY OF ALL OTHER 2012 HONDA CR-V OWNERS AT RISK THAT MAY HAVE THE SAME DEFECTIVE NAVIGATION SOFTWARE. THE ARROGANCE OF AMERICAN HONDA SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED. I WILL BE REQUESTING AN ARBITRATION HEARING WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE OUR CONCERNS ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND TO RESOLVE THIS SAFETY CONCERN. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10663153

25,000 miles · Dec 3, 2014
Electrical System

ENGINE CRANKED BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO SERVICE STATION. ANALYZED AND FIXED BY SHORTING BATTERY CABLES. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT NO REPAIR WAS POSSIBLE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. CALLED A "GLITCH" IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THI…

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ENGINE CRANKED BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO SERVICE STATION. ANALYZED AND FIXED BY SHORTING BATTERY CABLES. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT NO REPAIR WAS POSSIBLE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. CALLED A "GLITCH" IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THIS ENGINE FAILURE HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC, A REAR END COLLISION COULD HAVE HAPPENED. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT OTHER SYSTEMS ON THE CAR LIKE AIRBAGS ETC. WERE INOPERATIVE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10661967

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2014
Electrical System

WITH THE COOLER WEATHER UPON US, WE BEGAN USING THE HEAT RECENTLY. AS A COUPLE OTHERS HAVE ALSO NOTED, THE DRIVER SIDE "HEAT" IS BLOWING COOL/COLD AIR. THE ENGINE IS WARMING UP AND THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAT IS WORKING AS EXPECTED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10661802

30,000 miles · Nov 19, 2014
Engine

DURING COLD WEATHER (WINTER) WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED FIRST TIME IN THE MORNING THERE IS A ONE TIME GRINDING NOISE? DEALER INDICATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL VALVE, DEALER REPLACED VTC, NOISE DIDN'T GO AWAY. DEALER NOW INDICATES THAT HONDA IS WORKING ON PERMANENT SOLUTION BUT IT HAS BEEN CLOSE TO A YEAR…

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DURING COLD WEATHER (WINTER) WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED FIRST TIME IN THE MORNING THERE IS A ONE TIME GRINDING NOISE? DEALER INDICATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL VALVE, DEALER REPLACED VTC, NOISE DIDN'T GO AWAY. DEALER NOW INDICATES THAT HONDA IS WORKING ON PERMANENT SOLUTION BUT IT HAS BEEN CLOSE TO A YEAR AND NO PERMANENT SOLUTION SO FAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10659453

50,000 miles · Nov 19, 2014
Visibility

ON THE DRIVER SIDE, COLD AIR BLOWS CLOSE TO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. UNABLE TO MAKE IT WARM. VERY UNCOMFORTABLE IN THE WINTER. I SEE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10659330

Official recalls

3

13V143000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Apr 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.

12V501000 · Equipment:other:labels

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.

12V338000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

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

3

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.

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.

Go deeper into Honda CR-V problems