NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
20 reportsClear category filter87,000 miles · Jun 30, 2020
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
THE CAR WOULD CUT OUT WHILE IN MOTION DURING A TURN. (IT LOOKS LIKE I'M STALLING). OTHER TIMES I WILL BE DRIVING STRAIGHT AND FEEL THE CARE LOSING POWER THE MORE I PUSHED ON THE GAS. ONCE I LET MY FOOT OFF IT WOULD HAVE POWER TO GO AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS MORE OFTEN WHILE ON CITY STREETS THEN HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IN MARCH, WHEN I WENT T…
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THE CAR WOULD CUT OUT WHILE IN MOTION DURING A TURN. (IT LOOKS LIKE I'M STALLING). OTHER TIMES I WILL BE DRIVING STRAIGHT AND FEEL THE CARE LOSING POWER THE MORE I PUSHED ON THE GAS. ONCE I LET MY FOOT OFF IT WOULD HAVE POWER TO GO AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS MORE OFTEN WHILE ON CITY STREETS THEN HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IN MARCH, WHEN I WENT TO START CAR THE CAR DASHBOARD WENT MAD FLASHING AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I WAS ABLE TO JUMP START THE CAR. I CHANGED THE BATTERY AND IT CONTINUES TO STALL. I NOTICE THAT THE NEWER VEHICLES ARE DOING THE SAME THING AND WONDER IF ITS THE SAME ISSUE THAT NEEDS ADDRESSING.
NHTSA ODI #11331778
1 miles · Oct 18, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control
I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY HONDA CIVIC SOMETIMES FEELS AS IF YOU WERE DRIVING STANDARD. YOU PRESS ON THE GAS PEDDAL AND IT HESISTATES TO GO AND THEN GOES IMMEDIATELY WHICH MAKES IT FEEL AS IF YOU ARE SHIFTING GEARS. (USED TO DRIVE STANDARD). IT DOES THIS ALL THE TIME. I NOTICED THAT IT DOES IT MORE OFTEN WHEN THE ECON BUTTON IS ON A…
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I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY HONDA CIVIC SOMETIMES FEELS AS IF YOU WERE DRIVING STANDARD. YOU PRESS ON THE GAS PEDDAL AND IT HESISTATES TO GO AND THEN GOES IMMEDIATELY WHICH MAKES IT FEEL AS IF YOU ARE SHIFTING GEARS. (USED TO DRIVE STANDARD). IT DOES THIS ALL THE TIME. I NOTICED THAT IT DOES IT MORE OFTEN WHEN THE ECON BUTTON IS ON AND LESS WHEN THE ECON BUTTON IS OFF BUT IT DOES DO IT ALL THE TIME. IT DOES THIS WHILE DRIVING ON REGULAR STREETS AND ON HIGHWAYS. THE CAR SHAKES A LOT WHEN THE AC IS ON. YOU TURN THE AC OFF AND IT STOPS SHAKING. THE CARS ENGINE IS FULL OF RUST THANKS TO HONDA FOR USING CHEAP PARTS TO MAKE THIS CAR. I HAVE SEARCHED THIS AND THERE ARE SEVERAL HONDAS WITH THE SAME ISSUE OF SEVERAL ENGINE PARTS BEING RUSTED.
NHTSA ODI #11141202
33,250 miles · Oct 22, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
FOR THE SECOND TIME IN AS MANY MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR WHEN SUDDENLY THE VSA WARMING LIGHT HAS COME ON, FOLLOWED BY THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WARNING LIGHT. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED, I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT COMPLEX AND CHECKED THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR MY CIVIC FOR ANY INFORMATION. IT SUGGESTED THAT…
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FOR THE SECOND TIME IN AS MANY MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR WHEN SUDDENLY THE VSA WARMING LIGHT HAS COME ON, FOLLOWED BY THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WARNING LIGHT. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED, I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT COMPLEX AND CHECKED THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR MY CIVIC FOR ANY INFORMATION. IT SUGGESTED THAT I WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES AND THE RESTART THE CAR. I WAITED FOR 10 MINUTES AND RESTARTED MY CAR. BOTH LIGHTS HAD GONE OUT AND I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE LOCAL CARMAX DEALER, WHERE I'D PURCHASED THIS CAR. THE SERVICE CENTER COULD NOT LOOK AT MY CAR THEN, BUT THE TECHNICIAN SET AN APPOINTMENT FOR ME FOR THE NEXT MONDAY AND REASSURED ME THAT I WOULD "PROBABLY" BE FINE UNTIL THEN. WHEN THAT DAY CAME I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WOULD NEED TO BE LOOKED AT BY AN AUTHORIZED HONDA DEALER, AUTONATION HONDA, BUT THAT CARMAX WOULD COVER THE COST BECAUSE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER THEIR LIMITED WARRANTY. DAYS LATER, I TOOK THE CAR TO AUTONATION AND THEY UPDATED THE VEHICLE'S SOFTWARE FOR THE VSA. TODAY, OCTOBER 22, 2017, I WAS DRIVING TO VISIT FAMILY WHEN THE VSA LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WARNING LIGHT. ONCE AGAIN, I PULLED OVER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND TURNED OFF THE CAR FOR 10 MINUTES. DURING THAT TIME I CALLED AND LEFT MESSAGES FOR BOTH MY CARMAX AND AUTONATION CONTACTS AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN, BOTH LIGHTS WERE OFF. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND MANY PEOPLE WHO SHARE THE SAME PROBLEM. HONDA APPEARS TO HAVE IGNORED THIS ISSUE IN LATER MODEL CARS AND I FEEL THIS IS SEVERELY DANGEROUS!
NHTSA ODI #11035519
36,000 miles · Jul 6, 2017
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
I WAS DRIVING AND MADE A TURN ON A CITY STREET AND SUDDENLY THE CAR AUTO-ACCELERATED TO A HIGH SPEED AND THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP IT NOR THE HAND-BRAKE. IT ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT AGAINST ANOTHER CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR 3 MONTHS AGO FROM THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS A CERTIFIED HONDA VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #11003496
27,000 miles · May 15, 2017
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CIVIC. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TOOK THREE TO FOUR SECONDS TO ACCELERATE AND THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CIVIC. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TOOK THREE TO FOUR SECONDS TO ACCELERATE AND THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. UPDATED 07/13/17*LJ *AS
NHTSA ODI #10985741
70,000 miles · Apr 22, 2016
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control
MY 2013 HONDA CIVIC HESITATES WHEN I ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, OR MERGE AT A FREEWAY ENTRY AND ACCELERATE TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION, COMPUTER CONTROL OR THE ENGINE OR CV TRANSMISSION MAY BE THE CAUSE. I SUSPECT TH…
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MY 2013 HONDA CIVIC HESITATES WHEN I ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, OR MERGE AT A FREEWAY ENTRY AND ACCELERATE TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION, COMPUTER CONTROL OR THE ENGINE OR CV TRANSMISSION MAY BE THE CAUSE. I SUSPECT THE COMPUTER CONTROL, AS THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH "ECO MODE". BUT THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHETHER "ECO MODE" IS ON OR OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY, BUT I WILL ONLY LIST THE MOST RECENT ISSUE BELOW.
NHTSA ODI #10860908
Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2015
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control
ALL OF THESE ISSUES HAVE PRESENTED THEMSELVES WHILE THE CAR WAS ON AND IN MOTION. DEAR HONDA: RECALL THE AIRBAGS ASAP!! #1 SIGN OF ISSUE @ 45 MILES: PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT/SENSOR WOULD BLINK ON-OFF INTERMITTENTLY (ALL THE TIME) ONLY WHILE DRIVING. BACK DRIVER WINDOW WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. #2 @ 15000 MILES: STEERING WHEEL CO…
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ALL OF THESE ISSUES HAVE PRESENTED THEMSELVES WHILE THE CAR WAS ON AND IN MOTION. DEAR HONDA: RECALL THE AIRBAGS ASAP!! #1 SIGN OF ISSUE @ 45 MILES: PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT/SENSOR WOULD BLINK ON-OFF INTERMITTENTLY (ALL THE TIME) ONLY WHILE DRIVING. BACK DRIVER WINDOW WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. #2 @ 15000 MILES: STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS INTERMITTENTLY WORKED BACKWARDS (VOLUME UP WOULD TURN DOWN & VICE VERSA.) IT WASN'T FREQUENTLY AND ALWAYS EVENTUALLY STARTED WORKING CORRECTLY. #3 @ 40000 MILES: AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON STATING "CHECK AIRBAGS" IT GOES OFF EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE BUT IS ON 90% OF THE TIME. (NOT UNDER WARRANTY, THE DEALER WANTS $150 JUST TO LOOK. HAVING THE CAR LESS 2YRS. AND THE AIRBAG HAVING ISSUES SINCE 45 MILES AND NEVER BEING IN AN ACCIDENT, I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR AND CAN'T AFFORD ANYWAY. HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. #3 @ 60000 MILES: MY CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. IT WON'T EVEN TURN ON. #4 @ 64000 MILES: THE HORN DOES NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME. ALL THESE ISSUES AND I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR 2.5 YRS. THE CRUISE AND VOLUME CONTROLS NOT WORKING IS ANNOYING BUT THE HORN AND AIRBAG IS A HUGE RISKY ISSUES. I'M NOT THE FIRST TO COMPLAIN. HONDA IS AWARE THERE IS ISSUES WITH THE AIRBAGS IN THESE MODELS AND STILL HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL? SHAME ON YOU HONDA! WHY WAIT? PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY AIRBAGS! HOW MANY BEFORE YOU MAKE IT RIGHT??!!
NHTSA ODI #10782506
15,447 miles · Sep 21, 2015
EngineService BrakesSteeringCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE KEY WAS IN THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START AFTER ANOTHER ATTEMPT AND THE VEHICLE DROVE FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE KEY WAS IN THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START AFTER ANOTHER ATTEMPT AND THE VEHICLE DROVE FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER THE SIDEWALK AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,447.
NHTSA ODI #10766542
900 miles · Aug 22, 2015
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control
WTHILE DRIVING AND SLOWING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT A FLASHING YELLOW LIGHT INTERSECTION AND BEING AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, I DRIVE TWO FOOTED, FOR QUICKER RESPONSE TIME. UPON STEPPING ON ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE HESITATES FOR 3-4 SECONDS BEFORE PICKING UP SPEED. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, I AM TOLD IT IS A 2 FOOTED DRIVER ISSUE …
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WTHILE DRIVING AND SLOWING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT A FLASHING YELLOW LIGHT INTERSECTION AND BEING AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, I DRIVE TWO FOOTED, FOR QUICKER RESPONSE TIME. UPON STEPPING ON ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE HESITATES FOR 3-4 SECONDS BEFORE PICKING UP SPEED. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, I AM TOLD IT IS A 2 FOOTED DRIVER ISSUE AND NOTHING THEY CAN BE DONE. I HAVE LEFT IT 24 HOURS AND BEEN TOLD, 'NO PROBLEM FOUND'. I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE MY HABITS TO ALLOW FOR IT. IT IS INTERMITTENT, AND IF IT IS A 2 FOOTED ISSUE, WHY INTERMITTENT? I HAVE NOT HAVE NOT CHANGED TO 1 FOOT DRIVING? SHOULD BE ALWAYS. I AM HIGHLY CONSIDERING GETTING A DIFFERENT BRAND VEHICLE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS ONE.
NHTSA ODI #10758502
4,000 miles · Feb 23, 2015
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION 2013 HONDA CIVIC HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN IN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. IT OCCURS MUCH MORE OFTEN IN 3RD GEAR AND HAPPENED TWICE JUST TODAY; IT HAS NEVER DONE THIS IN 1ST, 4TH, OR 5TH GEARS. I DON'T USE CRUISE CONTROL SO, UNLESS THE CRUISE CONTROL IS KICKING IN ON ITS OWN SOMEHOW, THAT IS…
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ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION 2013 HONDA CIVIC HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN IN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. IT OCCURS MUCH MORE OFTEN IN 3RD GEAR AND HAPPENED TWICE JUST TODAY; IT HAS NEVER DONE THIS IN 1ST, 4TH, OR 5TH GEARS. I DON'T USE CRUISE CONTROL SO, UNLESS THE CRUISE CONTROL IS KICKING IN ON ITS OWN SOMEHOW, THAT IS NOT THE CAUSE. WHEN THE CAR STARTS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN, I AM UNABLE TO EASILY MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT FROM 2ND OR 3RD INTO NEUTRAL AND HAVE TO EITHER APPLY ALOT OF PRESSURE TO MOVE IT INTO NEUTRAL OR USE THE CLUTCH. BREAKING WILL SOMETIMES STOP THE ACCELERATION BUT NOT ALWAYS AND SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN I USE THE BRAKE, WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR WILL CONTINUE ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. THIS HAS OCCURRED MOST OFTEN AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 25 AND 35. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10689930
NHTSA investigations
2EA21002 · Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Opened Sep 17, 2021 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
EA19001 · Electrical Overstress
Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications. The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU. In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment. FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle. Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW. These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes. An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time. In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU. This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners. Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW. The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation. The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage. There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation. The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU. If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC. Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC. All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled. In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024. With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
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