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2015 Honda CR-V

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

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

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

491 reports with mileage · 179 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

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

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

38 crash reports4 fire reports18 injury reports

Engine complaints

243 reports
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5 miles · Apr 28, 2015
EnginePower Train

VIBRATIONS FELT THRU STEERING COLUMN, PEDALS AND FLOOR IN THE RPM RANGE 1,000-1,500. HAPPENS DURING ALL NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS, VERY ANNOYING AND HAVE REQUESTED A FULL REFUND. HONDA SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SELL WITHOUT FULLY DISCLOSING THIS DEFECT. I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN A CLASS ACTION SUIT IF NOT FULLY REFUNDED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10713331

1,700 miles · Apr 27, 2015
EnginePower Train

WITH GEAR IN DRIVE, CAR NOTICEABLY VIBRATES/STUTTERS WHILE STOPPED. VIBRATION IS VISIBLE WHEN LOOKING AT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WHEN EMPTY. RPM RANGES FROM 500-600. VIBRATION DISSIPATES WHEN VEHICLE IS MOVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10713146

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2015
Engine

I BOUGHT 2015 CR-V ON 3/14/2015, AND NOTICED THE VIBRATION PROBLEM ONE WEEK LATER. I REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY DENIED THE CAR HAS SUCH PROBLEM. THE VIBRATION IS GETTING STRONGER AND STRONGER THAT GET ME DISTRACTED AND FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WHILE DRIVING. ON 4/11/2015 I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE SERVIC…

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I BOUGHT 2015 CR-V ON 3/14/2015, AND NOTICED THE VIBRATION PROBLEM ONE WEEK LATER. I REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY DENIED THE CAR HAS SUCH PROBLEM. THE VIBRATION IS GETTING STRONGER AND STRONGER THAT GET ME DISTRACTED AND FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WHILE DRIVING. ON 4/11/2015 I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE SERVICE DEPT. OF DEALERSHIP, AND SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT NOT ONLY YOU HAVE THIS PROBLEM, WE CANNOT FIX IT, AND WE ARE WAITING FOR INSTRUCTIONS FROM HONDA HEADQUARTER. I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I HEARD THIS! I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND SO MANY MANY COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE LAST NOVEMBER, BUT HONDA STILL SELL CR-V ON MARKET. I THINK THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE TO THE CUSTOMERS! HONDA SHOULD TELL THE TRUTH TO THE CUSTOMERS AND LET THEM MAKE THE CHOICE. HONDA KEEPS SAYING NO SAFETY ISSUE, HOW CAN WE BELIEVE THEM? WHY OTHER CARS DON'T HAVE SUCH PROBLEM? MIGHT BE NO SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE NEW CAR RIGHT AWAY, HOW ABOUT YEARS AFTER? HOW MANY YEARS CAN HONDA GUARANTEE? HONDA SHOULD FACE TO THIS PROBLEM, AND STOP SELLING THIS CAR ON THE MARKET, AND RECALL ALL 2015 CR-V WHICH HAVE THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712890

2,800 miles · Apr 25, 2015
EngineUnknown Or Other

JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THE 2015 HONDA CR-V, WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, IDLING, THE CAR SHAKES SO MUCH THAT I FEEL LIKE I'M GETTING MASSAGED. I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED HONDAS AND THIS IS RIDICULOUS FOR A BRAND NEW HONDA. I HAVE OLDER VEHICLES THAN THIS AND IT RUNS SMOOTHER. MY HONDA DEALER STATES THEY CONTACTED HO…

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JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THE 2015 HONDA CR-V, WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, IDLING, THE CAR SHAKES SO MUCH THAT I FEEL LIKE I'M GETTING MASSAGED. I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED HONDAS AND THIS IS RIDICULOUS FOR A BRAND NEW HONDA. I HAVE OLDER VEHICLES THAN THIS AND IT RUNS SMOOTHER. MY HONDA DEALER STATES THEY CONTACTED HONDA AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712857

50 miles · Apr 24, 2015
EnginePower Train

I BOUGHT HONDA 2015 CRV-LX AT MAR 23 2015, AND I NOTICED A TERRIBLE VIBRATION WHEN I DROVE TO HOME AFTER THE CAR IS WARM AND STOP AT STOP-SIGH IN D GEAR. YOU CAN SEE THE VIBRATION IN OPEN WINDOWS, SEATS,ETC AND ANYTHING IN THE CAR. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AT MAR 24 AND THE SERVICE GUY DROVE ANOTHER NEW CRV TO COMPARE WITH …

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I BOUGHT HONDA 2015 CRV-LX AT MAR 23 2015, AND I NOTICED A TERRIBLE VIBRATION WHEN I DROVE TO HOME AFTER THE CAR IS WARM AND STOP AT STOP-SIGH IN D GEAR. YOU CAN SEE THE VIBRATION IN OPEN WINDOWS, SEATS,ETC AND ANYTHING IN THE CAR. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AT MAR 24 AND THE SERVICE GUY DROVE ANOTHER NEW CRV TO COMPARE WITH MINE AND ALSO GOT THE TOTALLY SAME PROBLEM AND THEN HE SAID IT IS MANUFACTURER PROBLEM SO THAT THEY CAN'T FIX IT. AND THEN WENT BACK TO ASK THE SALES, SALES SAID ALL CRV HAS SUCH PROBLEM AND THIS PURCHASE WAS DONE ALREADY SO THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME EVEN THIS IS A REALLY SUPER ANNOYING PROBLEM FOR ME AND ALL THE CRV'S OWNER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712698

200 miles · Apr 24, 2015
EnginePower Train

THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE 2015 HONDA CR-V WHERE THE CAR VIBRATES AND RATTLES SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN IDLING IN DRIVE WITH BRAKE DEPRESSED. THE RPM SEEMS TO DROP DOWN TO 600 AND THE ENGINE STARTS MAKING NOISE AND VIBRATING. AT THE PRESENT TIME IT IS ONLY AN INCONVENIENCE AND IRRITATING BUT I FEEL THAT IF THIS CONTINUES THEM WE MAY BE…

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THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE 2015 HONDA CR-V WHERE THE CAR VIBRATES AND RATTLES SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN IDLING IN DRIVE WITH BRAKE DEPRESSED. THE RPM SEEMS TO DROP DOWN TO 600 AND THE ENGINE STARTS MAKING NOISE AND VIBRATING. AT THE PRESENT TIME IT IS ONLY AN INCONVENIENCE AND IRRITATING BUT I FEEL THAT IF THIS CONTINUES THEM WE MAY BE LOOKING AT PREMATURE WEAR AND TEAR OF PARTS JUST DUE TO THE EXCESS VIBRATIONS. CONSUMERS MAY BE IN FOR HUGE SPENDS TO REPLACE PARTS THAT WERE WORN OUT OVER THE YEARS DUE TO EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712662

200 miles · Apr 22, 2015
Engine

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE WE NOTICED THAT IT HAS AN EXTREME VIBRATION PROBLEM. FOR US, THE PROBLEM IS MOST PRONOUNCED WHEN THE CAR IS WARMED UP, AND IT IS IDLING. UNDER PARTICULAR ELECTRICAL LOAD CONDITIONS THE CAR WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VIBRATION IS THE WORST WHEN THE CAR IS IDLING IN THE 500-600 RPM RANGE. S…

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SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE WE NOTICED THAT IT HAS AN EXTREME VIBRATION PROBLEM. FOR US, THE PROBLEM IS MOST PRONOUNCED WHEN THE CAR IS WARMED UP, AND IT IS IDLING. UNDER PARTICULAR ELECTRICAL LOAD CONDITIONS THE CAR WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VIBRATION IS THE WORST WHEN THE CAR IS IDLING IN THE 500-600 RPM RANGE. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE RIDDEN IN THE CAR AND ASKED US IF SOMETHING IS WRONG, AND WHY IS THE CAR SHAKING LIKE THAT. EVEN MY FIVE-YEAR-OLD ASKED WHY THE CAR SHAKES SO BAD. THE VIBRATION IS SO STRONG, AND THE IDLE SO BAD, THAT AT TIMES IT FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE IS ABOUT TO DIE. HONDA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY. IT IS AN UNACCEPTABLE PROBLEM THAT MUST BE FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712142

14 miles · Apr 21, 2015
EnginePower Train

A STRONG VIBRATION WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND IN DRIVE. THE VIBRATION RATTLES THE WHOLE CAR- YOU CAN SEE THE VIBRATION IN OPEN WINDOWS, THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE GEAR SHIFT. UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVE AND LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE. SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR ON LONG DISTANCES. FIRST HONDA- PROBABLY LAST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10711997

10 miles · Apr 21, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSteering

SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT MY 2015 CRV TOURING I NOTICED SEVERE SHAKING WHILE IDLING. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE FOR A 4 CYLINDER VEHICLE AND SINCE I HAD TRADED IN A V8 I WAS JUST NOT USED TO IT. I TOOK HIS WORD FOR IT AND HAVE UNFORTUNATELY BECOME ACCUSTOM TO IT BUT IN THE LAST MONTH IT …

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SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT MY 2015 CRV TOURING I NOTICED SEVERE SHAKING WHILE IDLING. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE FOR A 4 CYLINDER VEHICLE AND SINCE I HAD TRADED IN A V8 I WAS JUST NOT USED TO IT. I TOOK HIS WORD FOR IT AND HAVE UNFORTUNATELY BECOME ACCUSTOM TO IT BUT IN THE LAST MONTH IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE. NOW IT IS SHAKING VIOLENTLY ENOUGH TO WHERE IF YOU WERE DRIVING INSTEAD OF IDLING YOU MAY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS ALSO NOT BEEN MY ONLY SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. MY OTHER COMPLAINT IS THAT ON CERTAIN ROAD TYPES THE CAR IS EXTREMELY UNSTABLE. THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE I ACTUALLY PULLED OVER AND CALLED MY HUSBAND TO LET HIM KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS HAPPENING BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE NEW AND WERE GRABBING THE LINES IN THE ROAD AND THAT IT SHOULDN'T LAST LONG. WELL, HERE IT IS FIVE MONTHS AND 4000 MILES LATER AND IT'S ACTUALLY GETTING WORSE! THE CAR VEERS TO THE RIGHT AND TO THE LEFT UNCONTROLLABLY. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING WHEN THERE WAS ICE ON THE ROAD AND IT ACTUALLY PULLED US AND MADE US TEMPORARILY SLIDE ON THE ICE DUE TO IT JERKING AND HE ALMOST LOST CONTROL. THIS IS THE LEAST SAFE I'VE FELT IN ANY CAR THAT I'VE EVER OWNED. I FEAR FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY EVERY TIME WE RIDE IN IT AND I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN HOW HONDA HAS HANDLED THE COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10711864

200 miles · Apr 19, 2015
EnginePower Train

TOOK DELIVERY OF 2015 CRV EXL ON 04-09-15. FOUND PRONOUNCED DRIVE TRAIN SHUDDER WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE AT SPEEDS FROM IDLE TO 30MPH AT 1000-1250 RPM. RETURNED VEH. TO LIA HONDA IN NORTHAMPTON MASS. WHERE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE AND DOCUMENT COMPLAINT. SERVICE WRITER STATES THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF ISSUE BUT HAS NO FIX. M…

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TOOK DELIVERY OF 2015 CRV EXL ON 04-09-15. FOUND PRONOUNCED DRIVE TRAIN SHUDDER WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE AT SPEEDS FROM IDLE TO 30MPH AT 1000-1250 RPM. RETURNED VEH. TO LIA HONDA IN NORTHAMPTON MASS. WHERE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE AND DOCUMENT COMPLAINT. SERVICE WRITER STATES THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF ISSUE BUT HAS NO FIX. MY 2011 CRV RAN SMOOTH AS GLASS. HONDA HAS BEEN THE BENCHMARK FOR QUALITY VEHICLES BUT HAS REALLY DROPPED THE BALL ON THE 2015 CRV. IF A MACHINE SHUDDERS OR VIBRATES WHEN IN OPERATION THERE IS AN INDICATION THAT IT WAS MIS-DESIGNED, SOMETHING IS BROKEN OR WILL BREAK IN THE NEAR FUTURE. REAL SHAME THAT HONDA RELEASED THIS VEHICLE WITH THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. WILL CERTAINLY BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE IF SOMETHING COMES APART IN THE POWERTRAIN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS AT SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10706474

Official recalls

3

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

Dec 18, 2023

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

17V305000 · Engine

May 4, 2017

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

Consequence & remedy

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

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

15V121000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Mar 2, 2015

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

Consequence & remedy

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

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

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

NHTSA investigations

2

EA21002 · Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · No close date supplied

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

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

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

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

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

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

EA19001 · Electrical Overstress

Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024

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

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

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