NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes complaints
25 reportsClear category filter30,000 miles · Apr 2, 2021
Service BrakesCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CR-V. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. *JS
NHTSA ODI #11406120
75,000 miles · Feb 2, 2020
Service Brakes
THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR ON THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE WERE DESTROYED IN LESS THAN 2,000 MILES AND REPLACED WITH NEW PARTS TWICE FROM DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS. A THIRD SET OF ROTOR AND BRAKE PADS AND A CALIPER WAS INSTALLED AND THEY FAILED WITHIN 2 WEEKS. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 78,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER…
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THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR ON THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE WERE DESTROYED IN LESS THAN 2,000 MILES AND REPLACED WITH NEW PARTS TWICE FROM DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS. A THIRD SET OF ROTOR AND BRAKE PADS AND A CALIPER WAS INSTALLED AND THEY FAILED WITHIN 2 WEEKS. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 78,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE CALIPER, PADS, AND ROTOR AT 35,000 MILES FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #11306516
Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2019
Air BagsElectrical SystemService Brakes
THE ABS MODULE STOPPED FUNCTIONING FOR BRAKES AND AIRBAGS. THE DEALERSHIP CURRENTLY HAS THE CAR AND DOES NOT KNOW WHY IT MALFUNCTIONED. THEIR EXPLANATION IS THAT THE ABS MODULE WENT BAD AND IT IS NOT DRIVABLE BECAUSE THE BRAKES MIGHT LOCK AND POSSIBLY SET OFF THE AIRBAGS. I AM CONCERNED THIS MAY EFFECT OTHER VEHICLES AS IT IS A …
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THE ABS MODULE STOPPED FUNCTIONING FOR BRAKES AND AIRBAGS. THE DEALERSHIP CURRENTLY HAS THE CAR AND DOES NOT KNOW WHY IT MALFUNCTIONED. THEIR EXPLANATION IS THAT THE ABS MODULE WENT BAD AND IT IS NOT DRIVABLE BECAUSE THE BRAKES MIGHT LOCK AND POSSIBLY SET OFF THE AIRBAGS. I AM CONCERNED THIS MAY EFFECT OTHER VEHICLES AS IT IS A COSTLY FIX. THE BILL IS CURRENTLY $2,400 AND THEY ARE UNSURE IF THAT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM, OR IF IT WILL COST MORE MONEY TO FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11166136
42,767 miles · Nov 16, 2018
Service Brakes
I OWN A 2013 HONDA CR-V WAS VERY HAPPY WITH MY CAR UNTIL MY RECENT FLAT TIRE. DOES ANYONE KNOW THAT THE TPMS (LOW TIRE SENSOR) IS CONNECTED TO THE BRAKES? ME NEITHER. RECENTLY I HAD FLAT TIRE AND HAD THE SPARE PUT ON UNTIL I COULD GET IT REPLACED. ONLY A COUPLE OF DAYS TO THE WEEKEND TO WAIT, SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO TAKE TIME OFF OF…
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I OWN A 2013 HONDA CR-V WAS VERY HAPPY WITH MY CAR UNTIL MY RECENT FLAT TIRE. DOES ANYONE KNOW THAT THE TPMS (LOW TIRE SENSOR) IS CONNECTED TO THE BRAKES? ME NEITHER. RECENTLY I HAD FLAT TIRE AND HAD THE SPARE PUT ON UNTIL I COULD GET IT REPLACED. ONLY A COUPLE OF DAYS TO THE WEEKEND TO WAIT, SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO TAKE TIME OFF OF WORK. HAD THE TIRE FIXED AND ALL WAS GOOD; TPMS WARNING LIGHT OFF. WELL, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. ABOUT THREE DAYS LATER MY BRAKES STARTED FAILING AS I WAS DRIVING. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND JERKING OF THE CAR WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKES. I SLOWED TO ABOUT 15-20MPH AND IT STABILIZED THE CAR. I SLOWED DOWN TO A CRAWL AND HAPPENED TO BE A COUPLE OF BLOCKS FROM A DEALER WHICH IS ON MY WAY TO WORK. GOT THE CAR THERE WITHOUT INCIDENT AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. THE RESULT AFTER THEIR INSPECTION AND FIXING MY CAR WAS: FAULTY TPMS SENSOR. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE TPMS SENSOR FAILED WHICH CAUSED MY BRAKES TO GO OUT...WHAT, THE TPMS SENSOR IS CONNECTED TO MY BREAKS. SO. WHAT YOUR TELLING ME, MR. DEALER, IS THAT IF ONE OF FOUR TPMS SENSORS GOES OUT, THE BRAKES ON MY CAR WILL FAIL. WHAT THE HELL HONDA. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. NO ONLY DID MY BRAKES FAIL BECAUSE OF THE TPMS BUT THE DEALER CHARGED ME $500 TO REPLACE THIS SENSOR WHICH RUNS ON A BATTERY AND IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN AT ANY TIME X4, BECAUSE I HAVE FOUR TIRES.
NHTSA ODI #11151986
36,000 miles · Dec 16, 2017
EngineService BrakesCrash
WHILE COMING HOME INTO MY DRIVEWAY AS I CAME UP THE DRIVEWAY I WAS STOPPING BY A THE FRONT DOOR THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD JUST BEFORE I CAME TO A FULL STOP,AND HIT GARAGE DOOR, WHICH SHOOK ME UP AS MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, I HAD PUSHED THE PEDAL HARD BUT STILL THE CAR MOVED FORWARD, AFTERWARDS WE MOVED THE CAR BACK…
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WHILE COMING HOME INTO MY DRIVEWAY AS I CAME UP THE DRIVEWAY I WAS STOPPING BY A THE FRONT DOOR THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD JUST BEFORE I CAME TO A FULL STOP,AND HIT GARAGE DOOR, WHICH SHOOK ME UP AS MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, I HAD PUSHED THE PEDAL HARD BUT STILL THE CAR MOVED FORWARD, AFTERWARDS WE MOVED THE CAR BACK AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE FRONT TIRES ARE SPINNING FORWARD AND THE REAR TIRES ARE LOCKED UP SLIDING FORWARD SHOWING THAT INDEED MY FOOT WAS PRESSING HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THEM, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. AS IT IS NOW,I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND I AM AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR PARKING LOT SOMETHING WORSE COULD HAPPEN OR GET INJURED. WE TOOK PICTURES OF THE CAR, GARAGE DOOR AND ALL THE TIRE MARKS, WILL TRY TO SEND THESE TO YOU.
NHTSA ODI #11055064
36,000 miles · Dec 16, 2017
EngineService BrakesCrash
PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY AND WAS A COUPLE OF FEET AWAY FROM THE GARAGE DOOR, GOING ONLY ONE OR TWO MPH,PUT FOOT ON BRAKE TO STOP AND SUDDENLY THE CAR LURCH FORWARD,PRESS AS HARD AS I COULD ON BRAKE PEDAL,BUT CAR KEPT MOVING FORWARD TILL IT HIT GARAGE DOOR,THEN EVERYTHING STOPPED. YOU CAN SEE BY THE MARKS ON THE DRIVEWAY THAT THE FRO…
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PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY AND WAS A COUPLE OF FEET AWAY FROM THE GARAGE DOOR, GOING ONLY ONE OR TWO MPH,PUT FOOT ON BRAKE TO STOP AND SUDDENLY THE CAR LURCH FORWARD,PRESS AS HARD AS I COULD ON BRAKE PEDAL,BUT CAR KEPT MOVING FORWARD TILL IT HIT GARAGE DOOR,THEN EVERYTHING STOPPED. YOU CAN SEE BY THE MARKS ON THE DRIVEWAY THAT THE FRONT TIRES WERE SPINNING FORWARD WHILE THE REAR TIRES WERE LOCKED ( BECAUSE I HAD HARD PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL) AND SLID A FEW FEET, WE HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE CAR AND DRIVEWAY AND WILL TRY TO SEND TO YOU. I AM FEARFUL OF DRIVING THIS CAR BECAUSE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR PARKING LOT OR SIMILAR, IT COULD BE LIFE THREATENING
NHTSA ODI #11055052
47,000 miles · Dec 15, 2017
Service Brakes
PRESSING ON THE BRAKES IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS LIKE SNOW CAUSES THE ANTILOCK BRAKES TO LOCK UP AND THE CAR TO SKID. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS- EVEN AS LOW AS 15MPH.
NHTSA ODI #11054987
35,000 miles · Feb 28, 2017
EnginePower TrainService Brakes
I OWN A HONDA CR-V 2013 AWD WITH 60,000 MILES. I'M THE SECOND OWNER. I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM CARMAX IN 2016 WITH 27,000 MILES. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE ONE MORNING I HEAR THIS LOUD GRINDING NOISE LASTING A FEW SECONDS AFTER INITIAL START UP OF VEHICLE WHEN STATIONARY. THIS SOUND HAS CONTINUED ON AND OFF AT…
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I OWN A HONDA CR-V 2013 AWD WITH 60,000 MILES. I'M THE SECOND OWNER. I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM CARMAX IN 2016 WITH 27,000 MILES. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE ONE MORNING I HEAR THIS LOUD GRINDING NOISE LASTING A FEW SECONDS AFTER INITIAL START UP OF VEHICLE WHEN STATIONARY. THIS SOUND HAS CONTINUED ON AND OFF AT ALL DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY.
NHTSA ODI #10957606
Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2017
Power TrainService BrakesUnknown Or Other
WHEN I SHIFT FROM PARKING TO REVERSE I HEAR A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND.
NHTSA ODI #10957567
18,000 miles · Jan 9, 2017
Service Brakes
CAR PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 2013. BROUGHT THE CAR FOR AN INSPECTION AT A LOCAL SHOP ON 1/7/17. 18,000 MILES ON THE CAR, WHICH IS MOSTLY GARAGED. SHOWN THAT BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED! HAD IT REPAIRED AT THE LOCAL SHOP. WE ARE IN POSSESSION OF THE WORN OUT BRAKES FOR EVIDENCE. NOTIFIED …
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CAR PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 2013. BROUGHT THE CAR FOR AN INSPECTION AT A LOCAL SHOP ON 1/7/17. 18,000 MILES ON THE CAR, WHICH IS MOSTLY GARAGED. SHOWN THAT BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED! HAD IT REPAIRED AT THE LOCAL SHOP. WE ARE IN POSSESSION OF THE WORN OUT BRAKES FOR EVIDENCE. NOTIFIED DEALER (DONALD MOOREHEAD AT MOOREHEAD HONDA IN NEWBURGH NY) AND THE HONDA CORPORATE OFFICE ON 1/9/17. GOT THE RUNAROUND. CASE NUMBER WITH HONDA IS #05592593 GIVEN BY KLIA.
NHTSA ODI #10943966
Official recalls
2Dec 18, 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
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.
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
2EA21002 · Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Opened Sep 17, 2021 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
EA19001 · Electrical Overstress
Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications. The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU. In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment. FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle. Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW. These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes. An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time. In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU. This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners. Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW. The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation. The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage. There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation. The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU. If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC. Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC. All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled. In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024. With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.