NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
499 reportsClear category filter79,000 miles · Aug 25, 2020
Steering
WIFE WAS DRIVING AT AROUND 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING CUT OUT. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING. I DROVE IT NEXT DAY AND NO ISSUES....DAY AFTER THAT I DROVE IT WITH ESSENTIALLY NO POWER STEERING. I BRING IT TO THE DEALER, "ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MOTOR" THEY TELL ME....THEY REPLACE THAT AND THEN DECIDE THE "CONTROL BOX" FOR …
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WIFE WAS DRIVING AT AROUND 35 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING CUT OUT. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING. I DROVE IT NEXT DAY AND NO ISSUES....DAY AFTER THAT I DROVE IT WITH ESSENTIALLY NO POWER STEERING. I BRING IT TO THE DEALER, "ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MOTOR" THEY TELL ME....THEY REPLACE THAT AND THEN DECIDE THE "CONTROL BOX" FOR IT ALSO NEEDS REPLACED....THEY REPLACE THAT AND THE ISSUE IS STILL NOT RESOLVED. NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THEY DONT KNOW WHATS WRONG WITH IT AND THEY ARE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH HONDA (ITS AT A HONDA DEALER.) HE TELLS ME LAST NIGHT TO BE PATIENT "THERES SOMETHING WE NEED TO TRY" I SAID OK KEEP ME UPDATED HAVNT HEARD BACK YET. I SEE THERES LOTS OF ISSUES ON HERE ABOUT THIS HOW IS IT NOT A RECALL? I ALSO FOUND A THREAD FROM 2015 WHERE PEOPLE HAVE PAPERWORK ABOUT A RECALL....BUT CAN FIND NOTHING ABOUT THIS RECALL ON HONDAS WEBSITE. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO BEING THE BILL IS ALREADY OVER 2K AND THEY DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO FIX....
NHTSA ODI #11351066
36,000 miles · Aug 17, 2020
Steering
I PURCHASED MY 2013 HONDA ACCORD LAST FALL. IT HAD 28,000 MILES ON IT AT PURCHASE AND HAS 36,700 MILES TODAY. TWO WEEKS AFTER I HAD AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRES ROTATED, I BEGAN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING PULLING LEFT. WHILE TRAVELING AT 50MPH ON A CROWDED CITY HIGHWAY, MY STEERING WHEEL JERKED LEFT AND I COULD HAVE HIT TH…
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I PURCHASED MY 2013 HONDA ACCORD LAST FALL. IT HAD 28,000 MILES ON IT AT PURCHASE AND HAS 36,700 MILES TODAY. TWO WEEKS AFTER I HAD AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRES ROTATED, I BEGAN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING PULLING LEFT. WHILE TRAVELING AT 50MPH ON A CROWDED CITY HIGHWAY, MY STEERING WHEEL JERKED LEFT AND I COULD HAVE HIT THE CAR IN THE LANE NEXT TO ME. THE PROBLEM PRESENTED AT INTERMITTENT TIMES OCCURRING LATER IN A TRIP. I DID AN EXPERIMENT IN A PARKING LOT; ROLLING FORWARD VERY SLOWLY, I LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN TO THE LEFT AND THE CAR EXECUTED A PERFECT 90-DEGREE LEFT TURN BY ITSELF. THE CAR DID THIS AGAIN TWICE MORE DESPITE TURNING THE ENGINE OFF FOR A PERIOD BEFORE TURNING IT BACK ON. I TOOK IT BACK TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO COULD FIND NO ERROR CODE BUT COULD REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AFTER RESETTING THE TORQUE SENSOR, IT WAS A BIT BETTER BUT NOT FIXED AS THE CAR STILL WANTS TO TURN LEFT. THE STEERING IS ERRATIC SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO TURN RIGHT AND SOMETIMES THE STEERING FEELS LOOSE. MY LOCAL MECHANIC SENT ME TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR WHO SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO A HONDA DEALER. THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT ALSO REPLICATED THE PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT FIX IT BECAUSE THE CAR DID NOT SHOW ANY ERROR CODES AND HONDA WILL ONLY REIMBURSE THEM IF THE CAR SHOWS TWO SPECIFIC ERROR CODES. I FOLLOWED THEIR SUGGESTION TO CALL HONDA; [XXX]. THE REGIONAL CASE MANAGER CALLED ME BACK, DID NOT ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT MY PROBLEM BUT RUDELY LAUNCHED INTO A RAPID-FIRE LECTURE ABOUT WHY HONDA WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM IN MY CAR. BOTH MECHANICS WHO LOOKED AT MY CAR STATE IT NEEDS A NEW POWER STEERING RACK AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM A DOCTORAL STUDENT, I CANNOT AFFORD A $2500 CAR REPAIR QUOTED BY BOTH MECHANICS. *JS *JS PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA ODI #11349961
150,000 miles · Aug 16, 2020
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering
THE TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE, POWER STEERING AND FCW ERROR LIGHTS COME ON WHILE DRIVING. THE MESSAGE STATES "FCW FAILED". THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, PARKED AND ON ALL ROAD SURFACES. EVEN WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. ALL LIGHTS COME ON AT THE SAME TIME.THE COME ON AS THE VEHICLE GETS TO NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE.
NHTSA ODI #11349747
68,000 miles · Aug 10, 2020
Steering
NO POWER STEERING, WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING. LOW MILEAGE, ALWAYS DID MANU REPAIRS.
NHTSA ODI #11344270
Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2020
Electrical SystemSteering
I LOST MY POWER STEERING AT 65MPH DRIVING TO THE COAST ON HIGHWAY 26 IN OREGON. I NEARLY CRASHED MY CAR ON THE CURVE WHEN MY WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN LIKE IT NORMALLY DOES. I HAD TO YANK THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO STAY ON THE ROAD. I WAS TERRORIST! I SLOWED MY CAN TO 50MPH THE REST OF THE 45 MILES TO MY BEACH HOUSE IN SEASIDE OREGON. …
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I LOST MY POWER STEERING AT 65MPH DRIVING TO THE COAST ON HIGHWAY 26 IN OREGON. I NEARLY CRASHED MY CAR ON THE CURVE WHEN MY WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN LIKE IT NORMALLY DOES. I HAD TO YANK THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO STAY ON THE ROAD. I WAS TERRORIST! I SLOWED MY CAN TO 50MPH THE REST OF THE 45 MILES TO MY BEACH HOUSE IN SEASIDE OREGON. THE STEERING CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AND I HAS HAPPY TO HAVE THE TRAFFIC SLOW DOWN 20 MILES OUT OF SEASIDE TO BUMPER TO BUMPER. I BARELY GOT THE WHEEL TO TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY AT OUR SEASIDE, OREGON HOME. I STARTED MY 'RESEARCH' TO SEE IF A RECALL HAD BEEN MADE ON MY CAR FOR POWER STEERING BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE DIED HITTING THE WALL OF DIRT AND TREES LEAVING THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE! I FOUND AN ARTICLE FROM 2014 THAT 374,000 PEOPLE HAD COMPLAINED OF THIS SAME PROBLEM. AND THAT YOU WERE INVESTIGATING BACK IN 2014! MY CAR ONLY HAS ABOUT 42,000 MILES ON IT AND THAT WAS THE TIME OF THEM GOING OUT ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE. CARS EFFECTED WERE 2013-2017 HONDA ACCORDS EX. MINE IS THAT AND A V6. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE CRASHED & DIED WITH THIS FAULTY PART? DO YOU HAVE RECORD OF IT? I WANT THIS ELECTRIAL POWER STEERING PART RECALLED!! YOU HAVE FAILED WITH NOT RECALLING IT BACK IN 2014!! I AM HOLDING "YOU" ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS HAPPENING TO ME!! I WANT YOU TO PAY FOR MY CAR TO BE FIXED AND MY RENTAL CAR! I NEED YOU TO RESPOND TO ME [XXX] [XXX] IS MY CELL. YOU ARE LUCKY I DIDN'T CRASH!! MY CAR IS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY IN SEASIDE, OREGON AND I NEED IT TOWED TO BEAVERTON, OREGON TO GET IT FIXED. I HAVE POSTED THE 2014 ARTICLE OF YOU NOT RECALLING THIS! INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA ODI #11340486
150,000 miles · Jul 10, 2020
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND VIBRATED ABNORMALLY WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND DECELERATED TO 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND VIBRATED ABNORMALLY WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND DECELERATED TO 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. BOB HOWARD HONDA LOCATED AT 13201 N. KELLY AVE, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73131, AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA ODI #11338653
62,010 miles · Jun 25, 2020
Steering
IBA CONDUCIENDO Y DE MOMENTO SE PUSO DURA LA DIRECCIN. LO ESCANEAN, LE BORRAN EL ERROR Y ENCIENDE SIN PROBLEMA, POSTERIORMENTE AL APAGARLO NUEVAMENTE PRESENTA LA DIRECCIN DURA. LE BORRAN NUEVAMENTE EL ERROR Y MIENTRAS NO SE APAGUE NO FALLA. I WAS DRIVING AND AT THE TIME THE DIRECTION GOT HARD. THEY SCAN IT, ERROR IT ERROR …
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IBA CONDUCIENDO Y DE MOMENTO SE PUSO DURA LA DIRECCIN. LO ESCANEAN, LE BORRAN EL ERROR Y ENCIENDE SIN PROBLEMA, POSTERIORMENTE AL APAGARLO NUEVAMENTE PRESENTA LA DIRECCIN DURA. LE BORRAN NUEVAMENTE EL ERROR Y MIENTRAS NO SE APAGUE NO FALLA. I WAS DRIVING AND AT THE TIME THE DIRECTION GOT HARD. THEY SCAN IT, ERROR IT ERROR AND IT TURNS ON WITHOUT PROBLEM, AFTER TURNING IT OFF AGAIN IT PRESENTS THE HARD ADDRESS. THE ERROR IS CLEARED AGAIN AND AS IT IS NOT TURNED OFF, IT DOES NOT FAIL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11330905
132,000 miles · Jun 11, 2020
Fuel System, GasolineSteering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EPS WARNING LIGHT AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE AND LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EPS WARNING LIGHT AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE AND LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #11328324
137,000 miles · Jun 9, 2020
Steering
WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON A TRIP TO TEXAS AND THE STEERING WHEEL AUTOMATICALLY TURNED ON ITS OWN, CAUSING US TO ALMOST CRASH INTO OTHER CARS ON THE HIGHWAY. NO LIGHTS APPEARED ON OUR DASH AND IT WAS OUT OF THE ORDINARY. WE WERE DRIVING 75-85 MPH AND COULD HAVE INJURED MULTIPLE PEOPLE IF WE HAD CRASHED. THE STEERING WHEEL…
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WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON A TRIP TO TEXAS AND THE STEERING WHEEL AUTOMATICALLY TURNED ON ITS OWN, CAUSING US TO ALMOST CRASH INTO OTHER CARS ON THE HIGHWAY. NO LIGHTS APPEARED ON OUR DASH AND IT WAS OUT OF THE ORDINARY. WE WERE DRIVING 75-85 MPH AND COULD HAVE INJURED MULTIPLE PEOPLE IF WE HAD CRASHED. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME SO HARD TO CONTROL REQUIRING MY FIANC TO GRIP THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN IT INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE OF THE HIGHWAY. ONCE HE LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULD TURN REALLY FAST ON ITS OWN TO THE LEFT. HE TRIED TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF, BUT THE ISSUE WAS STILL THERE. I CALLED THE HONDA DEALER AND EXPLAINED WHAT I FOUND ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. HE SAID HE WOULD RESEARCH IT AND CALL ME BACK BUT HE NEVER RETURNED MY CALL. THIS IS BIG SAFETY ISSUE THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF AND SHOULD COVER THE REPAIR COST. I TRIED CALLING CORPORATE ONLY TO HAVE MY CALL CUT OFF 3 TIMES. WHAT IS THE ACTUAL PROBLEM; BECAUSE WITHOUT A DASHBOARD LIGHT AND NO CODE WE DON'T KNOW? *TR
NHTSA ODI #11327909
105,500 miles · Jun 3, 2020
Steering
STEERING WHEEL TIGHTEN UP, NO WARNING SIGNS CAME ON. TIGHTNESS IN STEERING TO THE LEFT AND LOOSE WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. NO LOCKUP ON STEERING JUST A SENSE OF TIGHTNESS. HAPPENED RANDOMLY WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. WAS DRIVING LOCAL WHEN IT STARTED TO TIGHT UP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11327170
Official recalls
5Jun 19, 2025
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Honda Accord vehicles equipped with a 4-cylinder engine and a continuously-variable transmission. The affected vehicles were originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The driveshaft may corrode and break, due to damage from road salt or other contaminants.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A broken driveshaft can result in a loss of drive power, or a vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied. Both scenarios can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driveshaft assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is OM2. This recall expands previous recall number 20V769.
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.
Dec 10, 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Accord vehicles equipped with a 4-cylinder engine and a continuously-variable transmission that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The drive shafts were assembled with a lubricant that may have degraded the drive shafts' protective coating, making it more susceptible to damage from road salt or other contaminants, and potentially cause it to break.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A broken drive shaft may cause a sudden loss of drive power. The vehicle could also roll away if the parking brake has not been applied before the vehicle has been exited. Either condition can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the drive shafts, replacing both the left and right drive shafts, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 4, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Jun 29, 2017
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Honda Accord vehicles. The case for the battery sensor, part of the battery management system, may allow water to get in, potentially causing an electrical short.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensor, free of charge. Dealers will perform an interim remedy of applying adhesive to the case to prevent water intrusion. The recall began November 8, 2017. Owners may contact American Honda Customer Support Center at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KG0.
Jul 8, 2013
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2013 Accord vehicles that are Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) II rated that were manufactured January 15, 2013, through April 5, 2013. The fuel tank neck may be out of specification causing the fuel pump to not properly seal to the fuel tank.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An insufficent seal may led to a fuel leak which increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, nut and O-ring gasket free of charge. The recall began during August 2013. Honda's recall number is JA9. Owners may contact Honda at 1-310-783-2000.
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
5EA21002 · 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.
EA21001 · Loss Of Direction Control
Opened May 6, 2021 · Closed Aug 25, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
On May 6, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Engineering Analysis (EA21-001) to assess a sudden loss of steering control, in Model Year (MY) 2013-2015 Honda Accord vehicles. Consumers alleged while driving the steering wheel would pull to the left or the right independently. Steering pull may pose a risk of loss of directional control. Honda stated that they believed the inadvertent steering input was caused by a loose magnet located within the electronic power steering (EPS) system. Due to poor formulation of the adhesive, this magnet can become loose and move up to 2 degrees around the steering column. When the magnet moves, the torque sensor generates a signal that results in unwanted steering in either direction. Honda stated the steering force required to maintain directional control with a loose magnet is a maximum of 3-pound feet. The maximum force of the unwanted steering input can be overcome by the driver and is similar to driving on grooved pavement.The Vehicle Research Test Center (VRTC) sent over 4,000 questionnaires to 2013-2015 Honda Accord vehicle owners. Of the 637 responses, 58 consumers experienced unwanted steering. Consumers experiencing unwanted steering did not report difficulties maintaining directional control. There were no crashes or injuries reported to VRTC. Testing done by VRTC was not able to reproduce the allegations. Analysis of all relevant data indicates that the subject condition has a relatively low failure rate. The poor adhesive formulation was addressed by the supplier with three (3) counter measures in the manufacturing process.There has been a declining trend in consumer complaints to NHTSA which indicates possible exhaustion of parts prone to failure. In view of the low rate, declining complaint trend, the nature of failure, and resolution of the adhesive formulation, this Engineering Analysis is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.NHTSA.gov under the following ODI identification numbers: 11538714, 11528538, 11528008, 11522953, 11496557, 11495837, 11494328, 11478680, 11477167, 11476758, 11476263, 11471198, 11470001, 11467026, 11466561, 11466016, 11465626, 11464143, 11463558, 11462759, 11461500, 11460777, 11460191, 11455540, 11454334, 11452198, 11448114, 11447666, 11444888, 11444823, 11444172, 11443324, 11443243, 11443105, 11441374, 11439520, 11438345, 11437261, 11436824, 11436350, 11435994, 11435079, 11434969, 11434545, 11434442, 11434381, 11433824, 11433745, 11433555, 11433368, 11433176, 11431206, 11430465, 11430253, 11430009, 11429253, 11428301, 11427449, 11426841, 11426340, 11425928, 11425261, 11425230, 11423611, 11423245, 11422445, 11422395, 11422351, 11422220, 11422138, 11422069, 11421683, 11421589, 11421540, 11420573, 11419338, 11419270, 11418147, 11418143, 11417768, 11417742, 11417570, 11417437, 11416804, 11416699, 11416401, 11416378, 11416375, 11416155, 11416117, 11416084, 11416051, 11416032, 11416028, 11416024, 11416000, 11415933, 11415915, 11414105, 11406220, 11398736 ,11387075, 11387049, 11375580, 11364698, 11361125, 11351660, 11349961, 11327909, 11327170, 11301957, 11289067, 11282525, 11277659, 11258017, 11256914, 11218752, 11208077, 11196050, 11194358, 11189901, 11165075, 11163481, 11154891
DP20005 · Loss Of Direction Control
Opened Nov 23, 2020 · Closed May 7, 2021
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition dated October 19, 2020 requesting an investigation of an alleged defect in the steering system in Model Year (MY) 2013 Honda Accord vehicles. The petitioner alleges that MY2013 Honda accord vehicles are experiencing a sudden loss of steering control as the vehicle veers from its intended path of travel. The petitioner further alleges that this deviation from the intended path of travel occurs without warning or driver input while operating the vehicle under normal driving conditions. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11349961.On November 23, 2020, ODI opened a Defect Petition (DP20-005) to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition. ODI sent two Information Request (IR) letters to Honda requesting information on steering anomalies in MY2013 Honda Accord vehicles and later MY2014-2015 Honda Accord vehicles.ODI performed extensive analysis on the information obtained from Honda as well as information in NHTSA's database.Based on ODI's review of the applicable materials, including responses to the IR letters sent to Honda, Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) and Early Warning Reporting data, NHTSA has decided to grant the petition. ODI has opened an Engineering Analysis (EA21-001) to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety related consequences of the alleged defect, a sudden loss of steering control.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.NHTSA.gov under the following ODI identification numbers:11414105, 11406220, 11398736, 11387462 ,11387075, 11387049, 11375580, 11364698 ,11361125, 11351660, 11349961, 11327909, 11327170, 11324181, 11306112, 11301957, 11289067, 11282525, 11278511, 11277659, 11258017, 11256914, 11218752, 11208077, 11196050, 11194358, 11189901, 11165075, 11163481, 11156378, 11154891, 11131050
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.
PE14033 · Electric Power Steering Failure
Opened Nov 4, 2014 · Closed Oct 6, 2015
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:electric Power Assist System
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-033 to investigate 24 complaints alleging loss of power steering while driving in model year (MY) 2013 Honda Accord vehicles equipped with electric power steering (EPS).Analysis of service data for the original 24 complaints and 33 additional complaints received after PE14-033 was opened found that 85 percent of the vehicles with diagnostic trouble codes available to identify the faulty component had a code indicating torque sensor failure (DTC 53).In its response to ODI's information request letter for PE14-033, Honda identified two manufacturing process conditions that may have affected the quality of some early production torque sensors.Analysis of warranty returns and manufacturing processes determined that a relatively small number of torque sensors were potentially affected by the conditions, which were corrected by the supplier (Bourns) relatively early in production.Analysis of warranty data indicates that both conditions were early-life failure concerns and most of the affected sensors have already failed, resulting in a cumulative failure rate of less than 0.2 percent.Of the 20 VOQ's that appear to be related to torque sensor failure, 6 reported failure dates in 2013, 12 in 2014, and just 2 to date in 2015.ODI's analysis identified 2 minor crashes with no injuries that may have been related to torque sensor failure in the subject vehicles.This investigation is closed because the low failure rate and a declining trend indicate that failures are rare.The closing of this preliminary evaluation does not constitute a determination that no defect exists or that power steering failures do not present an unreasonable risk to safety. The VOQ's referenced in this resume are:10515618, 10515696, 10537336, 10542360, 10545177, 10563724, 10588425, 10595068, 10605909, 10627926, 10629629, 10630852, 10644762, 10654768, 10661240, 10664234, 10667364, 10672452, 10676256, and 10695191