VTC ACTUATOR RATTLES UPON START UP FREQUENTLY
2014 Honda CR-V
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2014 Honda CR-V do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 400.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all CR-V years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
396 reports with mileage · 191 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 190 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 77 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
190 reportsWE WERE DRIVING AND WE HEARD A LOUD BANG, WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD , WHEN WE LOOKED ALL OIL WAS COMING OUT OF ENGINE AND TRANSMITION. BOTH ENGINE AND TRANSMITION ARE BROKEN. NO ROAD HAZARD ACCORDING TO HONDA DEALER/ MECHANIC. ALSO AIR CONDITIONING FAILED LAST YEAR, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. WE WERE DRIVING…
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WE WERE DRIVING AND WE HEARD A LOUD BANG, WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD , WHEN WE LOOKED ALL OIL WAS COMING OUT OF ENGINE AND TRANSMITION. BOTH ENGINE AND TRANSMITION ARE BROKEN. NO ROAD HAZARD ACCORDING TO HONDA DEALER/ MECHANIC. ALSO AIR CONDITIONING FAILED LAST YEAR, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. WE WERE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY, NO PREVIOUS NOTICE OF ANY PROBLEM. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON.
I CURRENTLY OWN A 2014 HONDA CRV AND THERE IS A SPECIFIC PART THAT WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES CALLED A VTC ACTUATOR AND ITS A FAULTY DESIGN ALL THE 2012 TO 2014 HONDA CRVS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND I'M AFRAID IT WILL EVENTUALLY RUIN MY ENGINE, EVERYTIME ON START THERE IS GRINDING SOUND AND WHEN I FIRST GOT THE VEHICLE IN 2015 IN WOULD O…
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I CURRENTLY OWN A 2014 HONDA CRV AND THERE IS A SPECIFIC PART THAT WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES CALLED A VTC ACTUATOR AND ITS A FAULTY DESIGN ALL THE 2012 TO 2014 HONDA CRVS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND I'M AFRAID IT WILL EVENTUALLY RUIN MY ENGINE, EVERYTIME ON START THERE IS GRINDING SOUND AND WHEN I FIRST GOT THE VEHICLE IN 2015 IN WOULD ONLY DO THE IN THE WINTER THEN IN WARMER WEATHER IT WOULDN'T NOW ITS CONSTANT ON EVERY STARTUP.
ON ENGINE STARTING ESPECIALLY MORNING OR COLD STARTS ENGINE CHAIN SPROCKET CLATTERS FOR A NUMBER OF SECONDS. IN NOVEMBER 2016 OR 2017 WENT TO HONDA DEALER FOR CHECK OUT PERFORMANCE AND ANY PROBLEMS OR RECALLS AT CASTLE HONDA MORON GROVE IL TEL # 847-965-8833. WE QUESTIONED ABOUT THE RATTLING COMING ON WHEN 1ST START OF THE DAY. …
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ON ENGINE STARTING ESPECIALLY MORNING OR COLD STARTS ENGINE CHAIN SPROCKET CLATTERS FOR A NUMBER OF SECONDS. IN NOVEMBER 2016 OR 2017 WENT TO HONDA DEALER FOR CHECK OUT PERFORMANCE AND ANY PROBLEMS OR RECALLS AT CASTLE HONDA MORON GROVE IL TEL # 847-965-8833. WE QUESTIONED ABOUT THE RATTLING COMING ON WHEN 1ST START OF THE DAY. THEY JUST ANSWERED SOME ENGINES DO THIS WHEN THEY ARE COLD, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT! WELL WE DIDN'T WORRY IT SINCE THE HONDA DEALER ANSWERED ITS OK. NOW OVER TIME THE RATTLING IS GETTING LONGER AND LOUDER. I WORK FOR THE STATE AND AT TIMES AM NOT AVAILABLE TO HELP MY WIFE WHEN I AM NOT AT HOME. IAM AFRAID THE RATTLING MAY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING TOTALLY AND PLACE HER IN DANGER. MY NAME IS [XXX] I AM 73 YEARS OLD AND A HONDA BUYER SINCE 1965.. I WISH YOU TO CHECK WITH YOUR ENGINEERS ABOUT THE TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS AND OILCHAIN LUBRICATING PROBLEMS AND TECHNICAL CHANGES INVOLVING AL HONDAS IN THIS PARTICULAR MOTORS. THANK YOU [XXX]. EMAIL IS, [XXX] .PLEASE SUBMIT AN WRITTEN RESPONSE ALSO. TEL # [XXX]. THANKS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
VEHICLE MAKES GRINDING NOISE FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS DURING A COLD START. VEHICLE WAS IN PARK.
WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK WHEN FIRST STARTING VEHICLE AND WHEN CAR IDLING. DANGEROUS BECAUSE NO VISIBILITY IN COLD CONDITIONS. ALSO, NO HEAT ON DRIVER'S SIDE. HONDA RELEASED SERVICE BULLETIN 14-063 SO THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT HAVE DONE NOTHING TO REPAIR. I JUST PAID THE DEALER $618 TO HAVE THE HEATER CORE FLUSHED …
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WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK WHEN FIRST STARTING VEHICLE AND WHEN CAR IDLING. DANGEROUS BECAUSE NO VISIBILITY IN COLD CONDITIONS. ALSO, NO HEAT ON DRIVER'S SIDE. HONDA RELEASED SERVICE BULLETIN 14-063 SO THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT HAVE DONE NOTHING TO REPAIR. I JUST PAID THE DEALER $618 TO HAVE THE HEATER CORE FLUSHED 3 TIMES BUT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE ISSUE WILL NOT RETURN. VERY DANGEROUS IF DRIVING IN COLD, ICY CONDITIONS WITH LOW VISIBILITY AND RELYING ON DEFROSTER TO FUNCTION.
VTC ACTUATOR IS NEEDING CONSTANT REPLACING ASAP OR IT WILL STRETCH THE TIMING CHAIN WHICH WILL CAUSE SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE. I AM ON MY 2ND REPLACEMENT OF THE VTC ACTUATOR IN 2 WEEKS. NO MAJOR DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED AS YET BUT I AM TRYING TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING. THE HONDA FIX IS NOT A FIX
AT THE SPEED OF 25 - 30 MILES PER HOUR, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SHAKE AND SHIMMY. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE SHAKING WAS SO BAD LAST WEEK I WAS REALLY SCARED! I LOOKED UP THE DESCRIPTION ON GOOGLE AND WOW!Z THERE ARE SOOOOO MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS! THEY SAID IT WAS A PROGRAM ISSUE FOR THE …
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AT THE SPEED OF 25 - 30 MILES PER HOUR, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SHAKE AND SHIMMY. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE SHAKING WAS SO BAD LAST WEEK I WAS REALLY SCARED! I LOOKED UP THE DESCRIPTION ON GOOGLE AND WOW!Z THERE ARE SOOOOO MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS! THEY SAID IT WAS A PROGRAM ISSUE FOR THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE! HOWEVER, WHEN PEOPLE TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE PROGRAM UPGRADE; AND GET THE TRANSMISSION FLUID DRAINED AND REPLACED, THE PROBLEM QUICKLY RETURNS!!!!!!!! SO.....HOW DO I GET THIS VEHICLE FIXED! I AM FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE IT!!!!!! I BOUGHT THE CAR THROUGH HENDRICK TOYOTA ON RIVERS AVE IN NORTH CHARLESTON, SC. THEY TOOK THE HONDA CRV VEHICLE IN AS A TRADE FOR A TOYOTA. SO, WHAT DO I DO WITH THIS DUD!!! IT IS A BAD SEED AS FOR A CAR. WHO IS GOING TO MAKE GOOD ON THE BAD PART CALLED A TRANSMISSION? IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BEGINNING SOON AFTER I MADE THE PURCHASE!
I OWN A 2014 HONDA CRV. BROUGHT IN TO HOPKINS MN HONDA ON 10-13-16 BECAUSE THERE WAS COLD AIR BLOWING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEN THE HEAT WAS ON. THEY FLUSHED THE HEATER CORE WITH CLR AND DRAINED AND FILLED THE RADIATOR. BROUGHT IT BACK TO HOPKINS MN HONDA ON 12-21-16 BECAUSE THE AIR WAS STILL NOT WARM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THEY …
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edacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
TIMING CHAIN RATTLE UPON COLD START 67,000 MILES, THIS SEEM TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THESE VEHICLES AND YOU NOR HONDA IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT!
Official recalls
123V858000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Dec 18, 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA21002 · Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Opened Sep 17, 2021 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
EA19001 · Electrical Overstress
Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications. The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU. In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment. FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle. Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW. These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes. An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time. In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU. This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners. Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW. The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation. The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage. There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation. The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU. If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC. Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC. All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled. In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024. With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
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