NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
110 reports86,000 miles · Aug 8, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND TURNING AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THESE INDICATORS CAME ON WHICH WERE THE VSA, POWER STEERING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM CAME ONE. ONCE THESE INDICATORS CAME ON THE CAR STARTED STALLING AND WOULDN'T GO PAST 2 RPM AND HAD LACK OF POWER. SO WE HAD TO AUTOMATICALLY STOP AND PULL OVER T…
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND TURNING AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THESE INDICATORS CAME ON WHICH WERE THE VSA, POWER STEERING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM CAME ONE. ONCE THESE INDICATORS CAME ON THE CAR STARTED STALLING AND WOULDN'T GO PAST 2 RPM AND HAD LACK OF POWER. SO WE HAD TO AUTOMATICALLY STOP AND PULL OVER TO THE SIDE. COUPLE OF CARS WERE BEHIND US AS WELL AND WE COULD HAVE CRASHED. WE TOOK ABOUT A MONTH OR SO BEFORE WE TOOK IT IN TO FRESNO ACURA AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP THAT'S BROKEN.
NHTSA ODI #11242634
86,000 miles · Aug 6, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA TLX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND VARIOUS UNKNOWN INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FRESNO ACURA (7250 N PALM AVE, FRESNO, CA 93711, (559) 431-3400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA TLX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND VARIOUS UNKNOWN INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FRESNO ACURA (7250 N PALM AVE, FRESNO, CA 93711, (559) 431-3400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
NHTSA ODI #11242131
39,000 miles · Aug 2, 2019
Electrical SystemService BrakesUnknown Or Other
2016 ACURA TLX 39,462 MILES ON ODOMETER. THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYED PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, EMISSION SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. AFTER 3 TIMES SHUTTING OFF AND TURNING ON THE POWER BUTTON, THE CONDITION WENT BACK TO NORMAL.
NHTSA ODI #11241361
46,202 miles · Aug 2, 2019
Electrical System
THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD REPEATED BATTERY FAILURES. I HAD TO HAVE A BATTERY REPLACED IN THIS CAR LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND YESTERDAY, THE NEW BATTERY DIED AGAIN. I WAS AT THE GAS STATION GETTING GAS AND WHEN I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE, ALL OF THE LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING WITH A LOUD REPETITIVE CLICKING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE WOULD …
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THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD REPEATED BATTERY FAILURES. I HAD TO HAVE A BATTERY REPLACED IN THIS CAR LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND YESTERDAY, THE NEW BATTERY DIED AGAIN. I WAS AT THE GAS STATION GETTING GAS AND WHEN I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE, ALL OF THE LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING WITH A LOUD REPETITIVE CLICKING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I HAD TO CALL ACURA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHO SENT OUT A AAA TOW DRIVER. THE TOW DRIVER SAID THAT HE HAS HAD ABOUT 80 CALLS FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE JUST THIS YEAR ALONE AND ALL OF THEM HAVE HAD BATTERY ISSUES. ACURA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THESE DEFECTIVE BATTERIES. I HAVE THE VEHICLE AT AN ACURA DEALER FOR THE 2ND TIME IN A YEAR TO HAVE THE BATTERY REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS STILL FAIRLY NEW WITH ONLY 46,000 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #11241252
12,000 miles · Jun 20, 2019
Wheels
EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS ABOVE 70MPH. BROUGHT BACK TO DEALERSHIP OVER 10 TIMES AND TOLD THE SAME THING OVER. THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE SINCE THEIR TECHNICIANS ARE UNABLE TO TEST DRIVE OVER 55MPH SPEED LIMIT. WAS ALSO INFORMED BY A SALES REP THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11221374
23,500 miles · Jun 20, 2019
Electrical System
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT AND WILL NOT CLOSE. WINDOW ROLLS UP CLOSED THEN IMMEDIATELY ROLLS BACK DOWN. NOTHING IS BLOCKING THE WINDOW OR STUCK IN THE TRACKS. DOES THIS A FEW TIMES THEN FINALLY CLOSES. ONLY OCCURS WHEN SWITCH IS PULLED ALL THE WAY FOR AUTO CLOSING. ADDITIONALLY, ON A FEW OCCASIONS, WHE…
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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT AND WILL NOT CLOSE. WINDOW ROLLS UP CLOSED THEN IMMEDIATELY ROLLS BACK DOWN. NOTHING IS BLOCKING THE WINDOW OR STUCK IN THE TRACKS. DOES THIS A FEW TIMES THEN FINALLY CLOSES. ONLY OCCURS WHEN SWITCH IS PULLED ALL THE WAY FOR AUTO CLOSING. ADDITIONALLY, ON A FEW OCCASIONS, WHEN I MAKE LEFT TURNS, THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW ROLLED UP BY ITSELF.
NHTSA ODI #11221373
23,500 miles · Jun 20, 2019
Unknown Or Other
VEHICLE HAS STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER RESTART FROM IDLE STOP. UPON RELEASING OF THE BRAKES OR MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL, A HALF RESTART INITIATES FOLLOWED BY A TOTAL STALL AND ALL LIGHT ON THE DASH FLASHING. THIS HAS HAPPEN ABOUT 7 TIMES FROM A FULL STOP RANDOMLY. THIS RESULTS IN A FULL STALL AND INABILITY TO RESTART TH…
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VEHICLE HAS STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER RESTART FROM IDLE STOP. UPON RELEASING OF THE BRAKES OR MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL, A HALF RESTART INITIATES FOLLOWED BY A TOTAL STALL AND ALL LIGHT ON THE DASH FLASHING. THIS HAS HAPPEN ABOUT 7 TIMES FROM A FULL STOP RANDOMLY. THIS RESULTS IN A FULL STALL AND INABILITY TO RESTART THE CAR FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS.
NHTSA ODI #11221372
37,700 miles · Nov 23, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainSteering
WHILE TRAVELING 75 MPH ON INTERSTATE MULTIPLE / ALL WARNING LIGHTS SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED ON DASH BOARD AND THE CAR PLACED ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL FROM DRIVE POSITION. UPON COMING TO REST CAR WAS PLACED INTO PARK ALONG SHOULDER AND WHEN DRIVE WAS SELECTED IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND ALLOWED TO SIT FOR SEVERAL MINU…
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WHILE TRAVELING 75 MPH ON INTERSTATE MULTIPLE / ALL WARNING LIGHTS SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED ON DASH BOARD AND THE CAR PLACED ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL FROM DRIVE POSITION. UPON COMING TO REST CAR WAS PLACED INTO PARK ALONG SHOULDER AND WHEN DRIVE WAS SELECTED IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND ALLOWED TO SIT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING AGAIN. AGAIN IT WOULD NOT ALLOW TO GO INTO DRIVE. TOW TRUCK WAS DISPATCHED AND AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES CAR WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE. VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN ABOUT 1/8 MILE ALONG SHOULDER TO VISIBLE REAR STOP ENTRANCE. WE WAITED FOR TOW TO TRUCK TO ARRIVE. CAR WAS RESTARTED AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO DRIVE OR NEUTRAL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LOAD ONTO TOW TRUCK. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS NEUTRAL AND DRIVE EVENTUALLY ENGAGED. CAR WAS TAKEN TO NEAREST DEALER JUST BEFORE CLOSE BEFORE MAJOR HOLIDAY. RECIEVED CALL FROM DEALER STATING THAT THE CAUSE OF ALL THIS WAS DEAD BATTERY. UNKNOWN TO THEM BATTERY WAS REPLACED Y MONTHS PRIOR. ALSO I HAVE DTS REPORT SHOWING MULTIPLE MALFUNCTIONS AND ERRORS. I FEEL THAT IF ALL THIS CAN HAPPEN BY HAVING A DEAD BATTERY (THAT SOMEHOW ALLOWS YOU TO RESTART YOUR CAR MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER INITIAL MALFUNCTION) THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. I CALLED DEALERSHIP BACK AND ASKED THEM TO DOUBLE CHECK DIAGNOSIS AND ALSO CHECK ALTERNATOR BEING THAT THE BATTERY IS ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD.
NHTSA ODI #11153416
Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2018
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
VEHICLE DOES NOT START. TOTAL ELECTRIC FAILURE. NOT A BATTERY PROBLEM PER DEALER. STILL AT DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA ODI #11132792
7,500 miles · May 17, 2018
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA TLX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INDEPENDENTLY INTO NEUTRAL WHILE ON AN INCLINE AND ROLLED IN REVERSE TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE HAZARD LIGHTS, AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 ACURA TLX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INDEPENDENTLY INTO NEUTRAL WHILE ON AN INCLINE AND ROLLED IN REVERSE TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE HAZARD LIGHTS, AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON. THE CONTACT THEN PARKED THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS: ACURA OF LYNNWOOD (21515 WA-99, LYNNWOOD, WA 98036, (425) 775-2925) AND ACURA OF BELLEVUE (13424 NE 20TH ST, BELLEVUE, WA 98005, (425) 644-3000) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED 79 TSBS ON THE POWER TRAIN; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V640000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,500.
NHTSA ODI #11096519
Official recalls
3Dec 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.
Nov 13, 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early April 2024, 2019 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-May 2024, 2020 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-June 2024, and 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed January 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.
Jan 29, 2019
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Acura MDX, 2015-2019 Acura TLX and 2015-2017 Honda Accord vehicles, equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine. Particulates in fuel may adhere to the internal components of the fuel pump, reducing its performance.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Reduced fuel pump performance can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the fuel injection engine control unit (FI-ECU) software and, if necessary, replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began March 25, 2019. Owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's recall number for this recall is P3W. Honda's recall number for this recall is N3X.
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
2EA25004 · No Restart After Auto Start/stop Engages
Opened Mar 26, 2025 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:crank/camshaft Position Sensor; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (ecu/ecm):software; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:hard Parts Internal/mechanical
On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:crank/camshaft Position Sensor
On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (ecu/ecm):software
On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:hard Parts Internal/mechanical
On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
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.