Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
3560–25K
7225–50K
2650–75K
1775–100K
13100–150K
7150K+
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
What owners actually said
670 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2021
Engine
I have had this car for 3 years and have needed to replace the alternator twice. This is a safety concern, as I am ansi for parent and this could leave anyone stranded with the inability to start the vehicle under any conditions. This is a know problem with this specific year CRV, and is frequently discussed in the CRV community…
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I have had this car for 3 years and have needed to replace the alternator twice. This is a safety concern, as I am ansi for parent and this could leave anyone stranded with the inability to start the vehicle under any conditions. This is a know problem with this specific year CRV, and is frequently discussed in the CRV community as well as at the dealership, by repair staff. There should be a required recall to fix whatever is causing alternators needing to be replaced every 18 months.
NHTSA ODI #11425777
Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2021
Air Bags
According to the dealership looking at the vehicle, the air bag had a critical failure. The vehicle is only 5 years old. While the dealership stated this was the failure of a critical component and that the vehicle should not even be driven off the lot until the air bag was fully repaired, American Honda is stating it was simp…
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According to the dealership looking at the vehicle, the air bag had a critical failure. The vehicle is only 5 years old. While the dealership stated this was the failure of a critical component and that the vehicle should not even be driven off the lot until the air bag was fully repaired, American Honda is stating it was simply an issue with the indicator light and that the air bag was fully functional. Either the local Honda dealer or American Honda is not being honest about what happened here, but if the air bags on 5 year old Honda vehicles are failing, this seems like something that likely should be more aggressively address, particularly in light of the many air bag failures that have been in the news over the past few years.
NHTSA ODI #11424243
Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2021
Unknown Or Other
I purchased this vehicle on 10-9-20, and in late January or early February, I pushed the start button, and it clicked. Then, on the second try, it started. It has gotten progressively worse. It took about 10 minutes of trying at one point yesterday before it started. When this happens, it can start on the first try the next seve…
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I purchased this vehicle on 10-9-20, and in late January or early February, I pushed the start button, and it clicked. Then, on the second try, it started. It has gotten progressively worse. It took about 10 minutes of trying at one point yesterday before it started. When this happens, it can start on the first try the next several times before it starts having trouble again. A friend has a Honda Fit, and had the same issues. The dealer replaced the starter, and that worked for a bit, then she had the starter button replaced, and hasn't had issues since. Some time after this, she received a recall notice for the button, and is now waiting on reimbursement. I'm wondering if there will be a recall on the CR-V as well, but currently, I see that there are no unrepaired recalls on this vehicle.
NHTSA ODI #11421385
Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2021
Engine
So I went to my Honda dealership (Doylestown, PA) today with issues of my oil lamp going on (for a few days). The oil was low (it seemed to burn real quick) and adding additional oil was the item that was performed on my vehicle. However the service representative told me to come back after I have driven for 1000 additional mi…
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So I went to my Honda dealership (Doylestown, PA) today with issues of my oil lamp going on (for a few days). The oil was low (it seemed to burn real quick) and adding additional oil was the item that was performed on my vehicle. However the service representative told me to come back after I have driven for 1000 additional miles for them to check and see if the issue is the Piston Rings. Which he stated may run at least $3000. So I did some research and noticed that a recall (recall number KF6) was created for engines issues for Honda CRV 2015 (mgr Feb. 8 2015 - July 28, 2016). My SUV was mgr on April 2015. I wanted to see if it's possible that there is an issue with my vehicle and this recall.
NHTSA ODI #11421051
30,000 miles · May 10, 2021
Engine
NO ENGINE RESPONSE FROM STOP. 2 TO 5 SECONDS BEFORE ENGINE RESPONDS TO ACCELERATOR. HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN ENGINE AT TEMPERATURE. DEALER INSISTED IT WAS TRANSMISSION. CHECKED AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT IT COULD BE THE ENGINE. HAVE SEEN SAME COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET BUT NOT SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM. HAPPENS MOST …
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NO ENGINE RESPONSE FROM STOP. 2 TO 5 SECONDS BEFORE ENGINE RESPONDS TO ACCELERATOR. HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN ENGINE AT TEMPERATURE. DEALER INSISTED IT WAS TRANSMISSION. CHECKED AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT IT COULD BE THE ENGINE. HAVE SEEN SAME COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET BUT NOT SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM. HAPPENS MOST TRIPS BUT NOT ALWAYS. MAY HAPPEN FOR SEVERAL STOPS OR MAY NOT. STARTED WHEN CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND CONTINUES TODAY. STARTED AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES AND CAR HAS 90,000 MILES NOW. DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11415925
28,000 miles · Apr 26, 2021
Electrical System
I AM ON MY THIRD CAR BATTERY FOR A CAR THAT IS ONLY A LITTLE OVER FIVE YEARS OLD. I AM REPLACING THE BATTERIES EVERY 2-3 YEARS WHICH SEEMS A BIT RIDICULOUS. SO FAR, I AM OUT $330. I HAVE TRIED BOTH OEM AND NON-OEM BATTERIES, AND NOTHING SEEMS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED TO ME, I WAS STRANDED IN A STORE PARKI…
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I AM ON MY THIRD CAR BATTERY FOR A CAR THAT IS ONLY A LITTLE OVER FIVE YEARS OLD. I AM REPLACING THE BATTERIES EVERY 2-3 YEARS WHICH SEEMS A BIT RIDICULOUS. SO FAR, I AM OUT $330. I HAVE TRIED BOTH OEM AND NON-OEM BATTERIES, AND NOTHING SEEMS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED TO ME, I WAS STRANDED IN A STORE PARKING LOT. A FAMILY MEMBER CAME AND JUMP STARTED MY CAR, THEN FOLLOWED BEHIND ME AS I DROVE TO THE DEALER TO GET THE BATTERY CHECKED AND THEN LATER TO AN AUTO STORE WHERE I REPLACED THE BATTERY. THE GUY THAT REPLACED MY BATTERY SAID HE HAS THE SAME ISSUE WITH HIS CRV. THE SECOND TIME (ABOUT 2 YEARS LATER AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT), WHEN I WENT TO START MY CAR AFTER DRIVING TO A STORE, THE CAR HAD TROUBLE STARTING AND WHEN IT FINALLY TURNED OVER, MY DASHBOARD WAS LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AWD, VSA, LOW TIRE PRESSURE, AND ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. AFTER GOOGLING THE ISSUE, AND SEEING THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR HONDA CRVS, I KNEW THAT IT WAS LIKELY THE BATTERY. THE PLACE I WENT TO CHECKED THE BATTERY AND SURE ENOUGH, IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I TRIED CALLING HONDA TO ASK ABOUT IT, BUT THEY DENIED THAT IT WAS EVEN AN ISSUE. HOWEVER, A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALED THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS RECENTLY FILED FOR 2017-2019 HONDA CRVS. ALTHOUGH THE ISSUE LIKELY GOES BACK MUCH FURTHER, THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS PREVENTED EARLIER MODELS FROM BEING INCLUDED. THIS IS LIKELY A HONDA ISSUE, WHERE SOMETHING WAS NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE WITHOUT A PROPERLY FUNCTIONING BATTERY, IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURES MIGHT FAIL. THE DRIVER IS ALSO AT RISK OF GETTING STRANDED SOMEWHERE. MY CAR HAS HAD INTERMITTENT RANDOM TROUBLE STARTING THE WHOLE TIME I'VE HAD IT. (THERE'S NO PATTERN TO IT).
NHTSA ODI #11414029
114,000 miles · Mar 20, 2021
Engine
I TOOK MY CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE MY CAR VIBRATES AND IDLES LOW TO WHERE IT FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO CUT OFF AT A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT WHILE IN GEAR. THE SHOP CHANGED OUT THE VALVE GASKET AND DID AN OIL CHANGE PAID $260.00 THE CAR CONTINUED TO LOW IDLE AND VIBRATE AT THE STOP LIGHTS AND AND STOP SIGNS FELT LIKE IT …
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I TOOK MY CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE MY CAR VIBRATES AND IDLES LOW TO WHERE IT FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO CUT OFF AT A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT WHILE IN GEAR. THE SHOP CHANGED OUT THE VALVE GASKET AND DID AN OIL CHANGE PAID $260.00 THE CAR CONTINUED TO LOW IDLE AND VIBRATE AT THE STOP LIGHTS AND AND STOP SIGNS FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL OUT. A WEEK LATER I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP AND THEY CHANGED OUT THE COILS AND SPARK PLUGS ALSO CLEANED THE BODY THROTTLE WHICH COST ME $820 LEFT THERE AND STILL MY CAR AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS WHILE IN GEAR VIBRATES AND IDLES LOW AND FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL OUT. SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THAT SHOP 3 MORE TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO THE HONDA DEAL SHIP WHERE THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC AND UPDATED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND STILL MY CAR VIBRATES AND IDLE LOWS AND FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL OUT WHEN IN GEAR AT STOP LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. HONDA DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11404056
110,000 miles · Mar 20, 2021
Engine
LOUD RATTLING NOISES WITH ASSOCIATED STRONG UNSETTLING VIBRATIONS COME INTO THE CABIN. THESE VIBRATIONS AND RATTLING NOISES HAVE BEEN VERY DISTRACTING. THE RATTLING NOISES BEGIN AT A LOW VOLUME AND BECOME QUITE LOUD. THE ASSOCIATED VIBRATIONS MAKE ME FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. THESE DISTRACTIONS CERTAINLY DISTRACT ME FROM DRIVING …
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LOUD RATTLING NOISES WITH ASSOCIATED STRONG UNSETTLING VIBRATIONS COME INTO THE CABIN. THESE VIBRATIONS AND RATTLING NOISES HAVE BEEN VERY DISTRACTING. THE RATTLING NOISES BEGIN AT A LOW VOLUME AND BECOME QUITE LOUD. THE ASSOCIATED VIBRATIONS MAKE ME FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. THESE DISTRACTIONS CERTAINLY DISTRACT ME FROM DRIVING SAFELY AND ARE A SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA ODI #11404046
59,925 miles · Mar 1, 2021
Power Train
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY 2015 HONDA CR-V AWD TOURING EDITION AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFTS INTO A LOWER GEAR WHEN I START DRIVING DOWN A HILL. THIS CAUSES THE ENGINE TO REV HIGH AND WHINE LOUDLY UNTIL I REACH THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL WHEN IT FINALLY UPSHIFTS AND WORKS CORRECTLY. THE ENGINE IS WORKING TOO HARD TO MAINTAIN A SLOW…
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THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY 2015 HONDA CR-V AWD TOURING EDITION AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFTS INTO A LOWER GEAR WHEN I START DRIVING DOWN A HILL. THIS CAUSES THE ENGINE TO REV HIGH AND WHINE LOUDLY UNTIL I REACH THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL WHEN IT FINALLY UPSHIFTS AND WORKS CORRECTLY. THE ENGINE IS WORKING TOO HARD TO MAINTAIN A SLOW SPEED DURING THE DESCENT. CAN THE TRANSMISSION BE ADJUSTED SO IT DOESN'T DOWNSHIFT AND HOLD THE VEHICLE BACK? OR IS THIS A DEFECT WITH THIS TRANSMISSION THAT WILL BE COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY? IF SO, HOW CAN I GET A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION INSTALLED?
NHTSA ODI #11398449
76,263 miles · Jan 11, 2021
Engine
RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE ON COLD CRANK. THIS STARTED SUBTLE BUT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE.
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.
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.
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.