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2015 Honda CR-V

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2015 Honda CR-V do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 400.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

491 reports with mileage · 179 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 243 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 148 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 83 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

38 crash reports4 fire reports18 injury reports

Engine complaints

243 reports
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4,000 miles · Dec 12, 2015
EnginePower Train

WE BOUGHT OUR 2015 HONDA CRV WITHIN A FEW MONTHS AND LESS THAN 4,000 MILES IT STARTED VIBRATING EXCESSIVELY LOOKING ONLINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM. WHEN WE CALLED THE DEALER THEY PLAYED DUMB TO ANY ISSUES YET THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS OUR HORRENDOUS.

NHTSA ODI #10809793

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2015
EngineUnknown Or Other

THERE IS A HIGH VIBRATION AND ENGINE NOISE, AND IS GETTING WORSE WITH TIME WHEN I STOP AT A RED LIGHT. EVEN AFTER TAKING THE CAR IN FOR HONDA TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AFTER 4 TIMES THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #10809353

10,000 miles · Dec 3, 2015
Engine

VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND VIBRATES UNDER LIGHT TO MODERATE ACCELERATION FROM 15 TO 40 MPH. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER 2015 CRV VEHICLES WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE MUST BE DRIVEN IN LOWER GEAR ('SPORT") IN ORDER FOR SYMPTOMS TO DISAPPEAR UNTIL VEHICLE REACHES 50+ MPH. DEALER SAYS FIX MUST COME FROM HONDA IN T…

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VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND VIBRATES UNDER LIGHT TO MODERATE ACCELERATION FROM 15 TO 40 MPH. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER 2015 CRV VEHICLES WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE MUST BE DRIVEN IN LOWER GEAR ('SPORT") IN ORDER FOR SYMPTOMS TO DISAPPEAR UNTIL VEHICLE REACHES 50+ MPH. DEALER SAYS FIX MUST COME FROM HONDA IN THE FORM OF A SOFTWARE CHANGE.

NHTSA ODI #10808247

6,000 miles · Dec 2, 2015
Engine

I PURCHASED MY CAR IN MAY THE RECALL WAS ISSUED IN MARCH SO OBVIOUSLY THEY DID NOT PULL THE 137 CARS AFFECTED. AFTER 6000 MILES WITH NO WARNING, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NO SAFETY WARNING SIGN OTHER THEN A RAPPING SOUND THAT CONTINUED TO GET LOUDER UNTIL THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE. THIS STARTED WELL DRIVING DOWN ROUTE 28.WHEN I WAS CON…

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I PURCHASED MY CAR IN MAY THE RECALL WAS ISSUED IN MARCH SO OBVIOUSLY THEY DID NOT PULL THE 137 CARS AFFECTED. AFTER 6000 MILES WITH NO WARNING, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NO SAFETY WARNING SIGN OTHER THEN A RAPPING SOUND THAT CONTINUED TO GET LOUDER UNTIL THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE. THIS STARTED WELL DRIVING DOWN ROUTE 28.WHEN I WAS CONTACTED BY THE REPAIR CENTER I WAS TOLD THAT 3/4 OF THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACED. WHEN I EXPRESSED CONCERN WITH THE RESULTS OF ALL OF THE ENGINE FLUIDS BEING SHARED THROUGH OUT THE ENGINE AND FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE WITH ONLY FIXING 3/4 OF THE ENGINE. I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA. THEY DIDN'T CARE THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED. THAT THE CAR WAS NOT PULLED AND FIXED WHEN THEY ISSUED THE RECALL. AMERICAN HONDA DOES NOT CARE ABOUT CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. WHEN I ASKED CHRIS THE CUSTOMER REP THAT WAS ASSIGNED TO MY COMPLAINT TO BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUPERVISOR TO FILL A OFFICIAL COMPLAINT I WAS TOLD "THERE IS NO ONE HIGHER THEN HIM" HE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT MY CONCERNS FOR SAFETY OR ABOUT THE INVESTMENT I MADE IN PURCHASING A NEW VEHICLE. SO ONCE YOU BUY IT YOUR ON YOUR OWN THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT CUSTOMER SAFETY OR CONCERNS.

NHTSA ODI #10807905

5 miles · Dec 2, 2015
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

THE CAR IS VIBRATING LIKE CRAZY. WE BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND I CALLED THE SALES PERSON AFTER PURCHASING AND HE TOLD ME THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VIBRATION BUT NOTHING IS WRONG AND THAT IT IS NORMAL. THE VIBRATION IS GETTING WORSE AND AM GETTING SICK OF DRIVING A $30,000 CAR WITH VIBRATION.

NHTSA ODI #10807890

9 miles · Nov 23, 2015
EngineStructureUnknown Or Other

VIBRATION/SHUDDER/LOW RPM'S. NOTICED 2 DAYS AFTER DRIVING THE CAR HOME FROM THE DEALER. DEALER WAS IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED. WAS TOLD TO CONTNUE DRIVING THE CAR, THAT IT WAS PROBABLY NOTHING. TOOK THE CAR BACK WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF PURCHASE AT WHICH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS NO SOLUATION A…

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VIBRATION/SHUDDER/LOW RPM'S. NOTICED 2 DAYS AFTER DRIVING THE CAR HOME FROM THE DEALER. DEALER WAS IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED. WAS TOLD TO CONTNUE DRIVING THE CAR, THAT IT WAS PROBABLY NOTHING. TOOK THE CAR BACK WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF PURCHASE AT WHICH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS NO SOLUATION AT THIS TIME. THEY REFUSSED TO REPLACE MY BRAND NEW HONDA CRV 2015 WITH A TROUBLE FEE CAR. AND TO THIS DATE (7 MONTHS LATER) THEY STILL HAVE NO SOLUATION. MY CAR VIBRATES AND SHUDDERS ALL THE TIME THE RPM'S ARE LOW CAUSING A DISCONNECT WHEN ENGAGING THE GAS PEDDLE. HONDA SAID IT'S A SOFTWARE PROBLEM----WHICH THEY KNEW ABOUT WHEN THEY SOLD ME THE CAR---BUT AGAIN---HAVE NO SOLUTION. AGAIN, THE HONDA CRV 2015 VIBRATES/SHUDDERS/LOW RPM'S WHEN ITS IDLING OR IN MOTION----ALL THE TIME!!

NHTSA ODI #10806253

400 miles · Nov 19, 2015
EnginePower Train

SHAKE OUT OF THE SEAT VIBRATION WHEN STOPPED IN DRIVE AND ALL ACCESSORIES AND LIGHTS OFF. TRANSMISSION VIBRATION AT TAKEOFF UP TO 30 MPH, OR 1,500RPM. THE ISSUE IS CONSTANT, AND HONDA DEALER STATES IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10794802

3,700 miles · Nov 15, 2015
EnginePower Train

AT A FULL STOP WITH BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED, EXCESSIVE VIBRATION OCCURS FROM ENGINE . BOTH PASSENGERS IN FRONT AND REAR CAN FEEL IT ALONG WITH DRIVER. RPMS DROP BELOW 600. FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO STALL. ONLY OCCURS AT FULL STOP WHEN WARMED UP WITH BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED. SEEMS LIKE LOW RPM PROBLEM. WILL BRING BACK TO DEALER …

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AT A FULL STOP WITH BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED, EXCESSIVE VIBRATION OCCURS FROM ENGINE . BOTH PASSENGERS IN FRONT AND REAR CAN FEEL IT ALONG WITH DRIVER. RPMS DROP BELOW 600. FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO STALL. ONLY OCCURS AT FULL STOP WHEN WARMED UP WITH BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED. SEEMS LIKE LOW RPM PROBLEM. WILL BRING BACK TO DEALER THIS WEEK. IT SEEMS MANY OTHERS HERE ARE EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 4000 MILES ON IT AND WAS PURCHASED NEW . MANUFACTURE DATE WAS 02/15. WONDERING IF THIS IS PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE CURRENT RECALL. PLEASE ADDRESS. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10790437

300 miles · Nov 11, 2015
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

PURCHASED THE 2015 CRV IN FEBRUARY 2015. APPROXIMATELY A WEEK AFTER MAKING THE PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXTENSIVELY VIBRATING WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, WITH THE VEHICLE ENGAGED IN THE DRIVE POSITION AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE RPM'S DROPPED BELOW 600. THE VIBRATION IS FE…

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PURCHASED THE 2015 CRV IN FEBRUARY 2015. APPROXIMATELY A WEEK AFTER MAKING THE PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXTENSIVELY VIBRATING WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, WITH THE VEHICLE ENGAGED IN THE DRIVE POSITION AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE RPM'S DROPPED BELOW 600. THE VIBRATION IS FELT IN BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SEATS, BUT MORESO IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO STALL OUT. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AS I HAVE THE CONSTANT FEAR THAT IT IS GOING TO STALL OUT AT ANY GIVEN TIME. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER ON FOUR OCCASIONS, BUT THEY STATE THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM SO THEY HAVE BEEN OF NO HELP. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY HONDA, BUT IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THEY ARE MERELY BRUSHING IT OFF IN HOPES THAT THE COMPLAINTS WILL STOP.

NHTSA ODI #10789736

30 miles · Nov 8, 2015
EngineStructure

VEHICLE SEATS VIBRATES ON D MODE IF YOU STOP THE VEHICLE. RPM MOVED AUTOMATICALLY BETWEEN 600 TO 800 RMP ON VEHICLE STOP IN D MODE AND AC IS ON

NHTSA ODI #10789086

Official recalls

3

23V858000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Dec 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.

17V305000 · Engine

May 4, 2017

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Honda CR-V vehicles that recently received a replacement engine. The replacement engine may have been built with the wrong pistons, potentially affecting the engine's performance.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The reduced performance may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engines and replace the incorrect components, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KF6.

15V121000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Mar 2, 2015

American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014 Accord L4 vehicles manufactured July 29, 2014, to July 31, 2014, 2015 Accord L4 vehicles manufactured August 14, 2014, to January 30, 2015, and 2015 CR-V vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to February 6, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been assembled with improperly torqued connecting rod bolts, which can cause the engine to lose power or leak oil.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Loss of engine power may result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash. If the engine leaks oil in the proximity of hot engine or exhaust components, there is an increased risk of a fire.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine short block, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JP2 (for Accord models) and JP3 (for CR-V models).

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA21002 · Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

EA19001 · Electrical Overstress

Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.  During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications.  The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU.  In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment.  FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle.  Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW.  These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes.  An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time.   In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU.  This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners.  Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation.  The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage.  There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation.  The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU.  If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC.  Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC.  All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled.  In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024.  With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

Go deeper into Honda CR-V problems