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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

Power Train complaints

148 reports
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9,519 miles · May 30, 2016
Power Train

WHEN THIS KEYLESS ENTRY VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, ENGINE CAN BE TURNED OFF AND DRIVER CAN EXIT WITHOUT SHIFTING TO PARK. THE VEHICLE WILL SOUND AN ALARM AND DISPLAY "SHIFT TO PARK" ON ONE OF IT'S SCREENS. HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING ON ANY FORM OF INCLINE. WE HAVE ALMOST LOST THE CAR THREE TIMES IN PEO…

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WHEN THIS KEYLESS ENTRY VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, ENGINE CAN BE TURNED OFF AND DRIVER CAN EXIT WITHOUT SHIFTING TO PARK. THE VEHICLE WILL SOUND AN ALARM AND DISPLAY "SHIFT TO PARK" ON ONE OF IT'S SCREENS. HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING ON ANY FORM OF INCLINE. WE HAVE ALMOST LOST THE CAR THREE TIMES IN PEOPLE'S DRIVEWAYS WITH THIS PROBLEM. YES, THE PREFERRED SOLUTION IS TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEFORE EXITING BUT THAT IS NOT A REAL-WORLD SOLUTION FOR FLAT-LANDERS (THIS SOLUTION IS ONLY USED ON STEEP INCLINES). OUR PREVIOUS IGNITION KEY CAR WOULD NOT LET US REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN PARK. THIS DEFICIENCY COULD EASILY RESULT IN AN OUT-OF-CONTROL RUNAWAY CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10871484

3,000 miles · May 20, 2016
EnginePower TrainSeats

VEHICLE STOPPED AND IDLING WHILE IN GEAR, VIBRATION FELT THROUGHOUT THE CABIN. TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS IMMEDIATELY OBSERVABLE, DISTRACTING, AND COULD POSSIBLY GIVE ME A HEADACHE ON LONGER STOP-AND-GO TRIPS. CONTACTED HONDA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY HAD DEALER PERFORM THE APPLICABLE FIXES BUT ISSUE REMAINS. DEALER CLAIMS THEY…

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VEHICLE STOPPED AND IDLING WHILE IN GEAR, VIBRATION FELT THROUGHOUT THE CABIN. TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS IMMEDIATELY OBSERVABLE, DISTRACTING, AND COULD POSSIBLY GIVE ME A HEADACHE ON LONGER STOP-AND-GO TRIPS. CONTACTED HONDA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY HAD DEALER PERFORM THE APPLICABLE FIXES BUT ISSUE REMAINS. DEALER CLAIMS THEY CAN'T FEEL THE VIBRATION, HOWEVER, THEY AREN'T IN THE CAR AS LONG AS I AM (OR ARE TRYING TO COVER THE PROBLEM). HONDA CLAIMS THEY CAN DO NOTHING ELSE BUT THEY WILL INFORM ME OF ANY FIXES IN THE FUTURE. ALSO MENTIONED THAT I SHOULD REPORT THIS ISSUE ELSEWHERE AS THEY CAN NO LONGER HELP ME AT THIS TIME. PER THEIR SUGGESTION, I'M REPORTING THIS HERE.

NHTSA ODI #10870016

200 miles · May 12, 2016
Power Train

THIS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE. GOING DOWN SHORT MODERATE HILL ON HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO DROP INTO A LOWER GEAR; AS IF, IT HAD A STANDARD TRANSMISSION (HAS AUTOMATIC). THEN SEEMED TO BE IN LIMBO FOR VERY SHORT TIME, RESUMED AS NORMAL AND HAVE NOT HAD ANOTHER INCIDENT. VERY STRANGE FOR A NEW VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10864646

5 miles · May 12, 2016
EnginePower Train

STRONG ENGINE VIBRATIONS: PURCHASED VEHICLE MAY 2015 AND AFTER I DROVE THE VEHICLE A FEW DAYS A STRONG VIBRATION WAS FELT FROM THE ENGINE WHILE STOPPED AND IN DRIVE. VIBRATION IS ALSO FELT WHILE IN PARK. HONDA HAS ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT ON WEB SITE BUT REFUSES TO ALERT THE CUSTOMERS VIA WIDE ALERT. HONDA ISSUED A BULLETI…

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STRONG ENGINE VIBRATIONS: PURCHASED VEHICLE MAY 2015 AND AFTER I DROVE THE VEHICLE A FEW DAYS A STRONG VIBRATION WAS FELT FROM THE ENGINE WHILE STOPPED AND IN DRIVE. VIBRATION IS ALSO FELT WHILE IN PARK. HONDA HAS ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT ON WEB SITE BUT REFUSES TO ALERT THE CUSTOMERS VIA WIDE ALERT. HONDA ISSUED A BULLETIN FOR A THREE MODE "FIX" THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. TWO DIFFERENT HONDA DEALERS HAVE TRIED THE PROCURES PROVIDED IN THE BULLETIN WITH NO AVAIL. I REPEATEDLY TAKE IT BACK TO THE HONDA DEALER BUT NOW THEY WILL NOT OPEN A SERVICE TICKET STATING " WE'VE DONE ALL WE CAN DO" HAD I KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM I WOULD HAVE NOT PURCHASED. WHAT AM I TO DO NOW WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT I CAN'T EVEN TRADE IN BECAUSE OTHER DEALERS KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH THE 2015 HONDA CRV.

NHTSA ODI #10864586

7,000 miles · Apr 2, 2016
EnginePower TrainSeats

HONDA CR-V 2015 VIBRATION . LAST YEAR I PURCHASED A 2015 HONDA CR-V AND AS WITH MOST OTHER OWNERS, IT HAS A BAD VIBRATION ISSUE WHILE AT A STOP IN DRIVE MODE WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES. I ALSO VIBRATES AT LOW SPEEDS BETWEEN 40 -50 MPH AND AROUND 70 MPH. I HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES BUT STILL VIBRATES WHILE STOPPED IN THE DRIVE …

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HONDA CR-V 2015 VIBRATION . LAST YEAR I PURCHASED A 2015 HONDA CR-V AND AS WITH MOST OTHER OWNERS, IT HAS A BAD VIBRATION ISSUE WHILE AT A STOP IN DRIVE MODE WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES. I ALSO VIBRATES AT LOW SPEEDS BETWEEN 40 -50 MPH AND AROUND 70 MPH. I HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES BUT STILL VIBRATES WHILE STOPPED IN THE DRIVE MODE (IN GEAR WITH FOOT ON BRAKE). I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH HONDA CORP AND THEY SAID EVEN WITH THE 4 SUGGESTED REPAIRS WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN PREFORMED ON MY CAR BY THE LOCAL HONDA SERVICE CENTER, THIS WILL NOT STOP THE VIBRATION ISSUE AND THAT HONDA HAS NO OTHER KNOWN FIX TO STOP THE VIBRATION ISSUE AND THAT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE CAR. THE LOCAL HONDA SERVICE CENTER VERBALLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE VIBRATION ISSUE BUT REFUSED TO PUT IT ON THE SERVICE REPORT THAT THERE IS STILL A VIBRATION ISSUE. I SEE ALL THE POST FROM OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS A DISTRACTION AND I CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE AS ONE, TIME WHILE I WAS SETTING AT A RED LIGHT, IT STARTED VIBRATING AND WHILE I WAS DISTRACTED BY THE SEAT AND CAR VIBRATING, THE TRUCK BEHIND ME BLEW HIS LOUD HORN AND I ALMOST RAN THE RED LIGHT THAT HAD CHANGED WHILE I WAS DISTRACTED. I KNOW THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT BUT I DO NOT KNOW THE STATUS OF IT. THEY HAD TO KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM PRIOR TO SENDING THE 2015 HONDA CR-V TO THE DEALERS, BUT NOBODY INFORMED THE BUYERS OF THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10853051

7,500 miles · Mar 30, 2016
Power TrainCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HONDA CR-V. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO THE DRIVE POSITION AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE MAILBOX. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HONDA CR-V. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO THE DRIVE POSITION AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE MAILBOX. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,500.

NHTSA ODI #10852517

500 miles · Mar 29, 2016
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

WHEN AT A STOP AND IN IDLE THE CAR VIBRATES AS IF THERE IS NOT ENOUGH RPM'S TO KEEP IT RUNNING PROPERLY. ALSO VIBRATES WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY OR AT A LOWER RPM. WAITING FOR A RECALL AS HONDA HAS ADMITTED THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE COMBINATION.

NHTSA ODI #10852167

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2016
Power TrainService BrakesUnknown Or Other

VIBRATING WHEN STOP RUNNING AND RPM RISES WHEN GOING DOWN ON A HILL EVEN WHE PUSH THE BRAKES RISES TO 2500 RPM BRAKES OR TIRES SOUND LIKE GRINDING WHEN COMING TO A STOP

NHTSA ODI #10849978

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2016
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HONDA CR-V. WHILE DRIVING AT BOTH LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND VIBRATED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MORE THAN THREE TIMES, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY FOR THE CONDITION. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ASSO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HONDA CR-V. WHILE DRIVING AT BOTH LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND VIBRATED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MORE THAN THREE TIMES, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY FOR THE CONDITION. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEWLY DESIGNED ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION/POWER TRAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONDITION CONTINUED TO PROGRESS WITH NO SOLUTION TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NAUSEOUS FREQUENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND SHOOK. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO PERMANENT REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10839763

9,300 miles · Feb 23, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

ON THREE SEPERATE OCCASIONS A WARNING LIGHT IN THE MIDI WINDOW AN ERROR MESSAGE COMES UP: "SOME DRIVER SYSTEMS CANNOT OPERATE"

NHTSA ODI #10837662

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.

Go deeper into Honda CR-V problems