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2012 Honda Odyssey

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Honda Odyssey do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 249.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

187 reports with mileage · 57 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.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports6 fire reports19 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

58 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2014
Service BrakesSteering

WHENEVER YOU PRESS THE BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES A LOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627686

29,229 miles · Jul 29, 2014
Service BrakesSteering

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING BEGINS TO SHAKE AS SOON AS BRAKES ARE APPLIED (EVEN LIGHTLY). THIS IS MY SECOND HONDA MINIVAN AND I DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH MY PREVIOUS ONE. I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 2 YEARS. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10617390

15,451 miles · Jul 15, 2014
Service Brakes

WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO FT. JACKSON SOUTH CAROLINA TO ATTEND OUR DAUGHTERS BASIC COMBAT TRAINING GRADUATION, WITH 4 ADULTS AND 2 CHILDREN ON BOARD WITH BAGS AT CARGO REAR. WHEN DRIVING AT THE SPEED OF 70MPH AND EVERY TIME I APPLIED THE BRAKES I FELT A PRONOUNCE SHAKING, VIBRATION AND PULSATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL, AND FRONT PART …

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WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO FT. JACKSON SOUTH CAROLINA TO ATTEND OUR DAUGHTERS BASIC COMBAT TRAINING GRADUATION, WITH 4 ADULTS AND 2 CHILDREN ON BOARD WITH BAGS AT CARGO REAR. WHEN DRIVING AT THE SPEED OF 70MPH AND EVERY TIME I APPLIED THE BRAKES I FELT A PRONOUNCE SHAKING, VIBRATION AND PULSATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL, AND FRONT PART OF THE VEHICLE, AND ALSO MY SEATING INFRONT NOTICE IT AND SHE WAS TERRIFIED OF WHAT GONNA HAPPENED. THIS IS HAPPENING THE ENTIRE ROUND TRIP FROM CLEVELAND OHIO TO SOUTH CAROLINA. IM RISKING THE LIFE OF MY FAMILY. WHEN I TRIED TO REPLICATE IT BY MYSELF THE CAR WILL NOT SHAKE. THE DEALER EXAMINE AND STATED THAT FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE SLIGHTLY OUT OF ROUND. AND TO REPLACE IT WILL CHARGED ME 379.95 AS WHAT THEY SAID ITS PAST BEYOND 12,000 MILES. VERY UNRELIABLE PARTS THEY PUT, VERY POOR METAL QUALITY OF BRAKE ROTORS CANT WITHSTAND NORMAL FRICTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610571

8,000 miles · May 21, 2014
Service Brakes

WE PURCHASED A 2012 HONDA ODYSSEY ON FEBRUARY 18, 2012 FROM SPREEN HONDA. WE RECEIVE 3 FREE OIL CHANGES AND TIRE ROTATIONS. THE FIRST OIL CHANGE DID NOT INCLUDE A TIRE ROTATION, BUT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE IN GREAT SHAPE. THE 2ND OIL CHANGE INCLUDED A TIRE ROTATION. THIS WAS APPROX. IN JUNE OF 2012…

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WE PURCHASED A 2012 HONDA ODYSSEY ON FEBRUARY 18, 2012 FROM SPREEN HONDA. WE RECEIVE 3 FREE OIL CHANGES AND TIRE ROTATIONS. THE FIRST OIL CHANGE DID NOT INCLUDE A TIRE ROTATION, BUT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE IN GREAT SHAPE. THE 2ND OIL CHANGE INCLUDED A TIRE ROTATION. THIS WAS APPROX. IN JUNE OF 2012. AFTER THE TIRE ROTATION, WE EXPERIENCED SOME SHAKING AT HIGHER SPEEDS WHEN WE APPLIED THE BRAKES. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO SPREEN HONDA AND JIM, THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND IT WAS FROM 'THE HEAT'. HE RESURFACED THEM FOR FREE UNDER THE WARRANTY. IN JUNE OF 2013, WE HAD BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES REPLACED. THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED AS PART OF THE BRAKE INSTALLATION. WE REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES IN MARCH OF 2014. THIS WAS THE 2ND SET OF NEW TIRES FOR THIS VAN. AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION WAS DONE BY FIRESTONE ON 5/3/2014. WE EXPERIENCED SHAKING WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, ESPECIALLY DOWN HILL. RETURNED VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE AND TALKED TO THE MANAGER. HE DID A BRAKE INSPECTION AND STATED THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH SURFACE ON THEM TO RESURFACE SO THEY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. LOOKED OVER MY RECORDS FOR THE TOYOTA CAMRY I TRADED IN TO SEE THAT THERE WAS NOT A HISTORY OF MISUSE OF BRAKES AND THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AFTER FIVE YEARS. CALLED HONDA AND SPOKE TO THEIR RECALL DEPARTMENT WHO TOLD ME THERE WERE NO RECALLS. RECEIVED ANOTHER CALL FROM HONDA WHO TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING HE CAN DO AND NOTED THE ACCOUNT. TOLD HIM THAT I AM LOOKING FURTHER INTO THIS MATTER AND WILL TAKE IT FROM THERE. CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT SPREEN HONDA AND HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A CALL BACK REGARDING THIS MATTER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593107

28,000 miles · May 8, 2014
Service BrakesSteering

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES SEVERELY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE BRAKES WERE HOT DUE TO STEEP DESCENTS WHILE MOUNTAIN DRIVING. STEERING WAS SERIOUSLY IMPAIRED DUE TO EXTREME SHIMMYING EFFECTING THE ENTIRE FRONT END. BRAKING WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587166

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2014
Service Brakes

FRONT DISC ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS CAUSE EXTREME SHAKING OF VEHICLE THAT THE DRIVER CAN DETECT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. FIRST DETECTED IN ~EARLY 2013 AT LOW MILES (~20000-25000). TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY INSTRUCTED WE HAD WARPED ROTORS. THEY REFINISHED FOR FREE, BUT I SUSPECTED THAT THE ROTORS MUST BE BAD QUALITY AND ASKED TO RE…

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FRONT DISC ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS CAUSE EXTREME SHAKING OF VEHICLE THAT THE DRIVER CAN DETECT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. FIRST DETECTED IN ~EARLY 2013 AT LOW MILES (~20000-25000). TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY INSTRUCTED WE HAD WARPED ROTORS. THEY REFINISHED FOR FREE, BUT I SUSPECTED THAT THE ROTORS MUST BE BAD QUALITY AND ASKED TO REPLACE. THEY DID NOT AND SAID THE REFINISHING SHOULD WORK. IT TEMPORARILY WORKED (NOW AT ~38000 MILES AND STARTED SHAKING AGAIN AT ~30-35K). I HAVE DECIDED TO REPLACE WITH UPGRADED ROTORS AND PADS MYSELF AND NOT WORRY ABOUT LOW QUALITY ROTORS FROM HONDA (VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS PROBLEM GIVEN WE LOVED OUR OLDER 2008 MODEL AND THEY DIDN'T FIX PROPERLY, BUT OVERALL VERY HAPPY WITH VEHICLE). NOTICE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ALL READY POSTED AND KNOW OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD BRAKE ISSUES WITH ODYSSEY THROUGH CHAT BOARDS. DON'T KNOW WHY HONDA IGNORES THE ISSUE WHEN ITS OBVIOUS THE ROTORS ARE POOR QUALITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10574030

17,710 miles · Jan 22, 2014
Service Brakes

VEHICLE SHUDDERED WHILE BRAKING AT 30-70 MPH ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING DOWNHILL, ALSO CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE BACK AND FORTH. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TODAY AND THEY FOUND WARPED ROTORS WHICH SEEMS UNUSUAL IN THIS LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE. THE DEALER RESURFACED THE ROTORS AND RE-INSTALLED WITH NEW BRAKE PADS AT NO CHARGE. *…

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VEHICLE SHUDDERED WHILE BRAKING AT 30-70 MPH ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING DOWNHILL, ALSO CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE BACK AND FORTH. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TODAY AND THEY FOUND WARPED ROTORS WHICH SEEMS UNUSUAL IN THIS LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE. THE DEALER RESURFACED THE ROTORS AND RE-INSTALLED WITH NEW BRAKE PADS AT NO CHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10561095

22,000 miles · Jan 11, 2014
Service Brakes

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE CAR HAS EXTREMELY BAD VIBRATION AND THE CAR HAS TROUBLE SLOWING DOWN. I FIRST NOTICED THIS WAS OCCURRING AT ABOUT 22000 MILES. WHEN THE BRAKES GOT WARM AND WHILE GOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR DRIVING DOWN HILL THE CAR WOULD VIBRATE SO BAD IT SHAKES THE STEERING WHEEL AND MY ARMS. I TO…

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AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE CAR HAS EXTREMELY BAD VIBRATION AND THE CAR HAS TROUBLE SLOWING DOWN. I FIRST NOTICED THIS WAS OCCURRING AT ABOUT 22000 MILES. WHEN THE BRAKES GOT WARM AND WHILE GOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR DRIVING DOWN HILL THE CAR WOULD VIBRATE SO BAD IT SHAKES THE STEERING WHEEL AND MY ARMS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE BREAKS WERE WARPED, BUT THAT IT WAS OK TO DRIVE. I DROVE THE CAR A LITTLE MORE BUT TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER TO LOOK AT AGAIN BECAUSE IT JUST DOESN'T FEEL SAFE. THEY RECOMMENDED NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS, THE BREAKS WERE ONLY HALF WAY WORN. AS WITH THE TIME BEFORE THEY SAID IT WAS MY DRIVING, BUT I DON'T DRIVE BAD, AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. IF THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR I WOULD PAY, BUT I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO FURTHER. HONDA NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10559462

15,900 miles · Nov 30, 2013
Service BrakesCrash

AT AROUND 5:20PM ON 11/15/13, I WAS ON SANTOMAS EXPWY @ MONROE AND THE TRAFFIC LIGHT HAD JUST TURNED GREEN. VEHICLES HAD STARTED MOVING INCLUDING MINE. SUDDENLY ONE OF THE CARS AHEAD OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY (NOT SURE WHY). THE CARD IN FRONT OF ME WAS SUCCESSFUL IN STOPPING. BUT, MY CAR (HONDA ODYSSEY TOURING 2012) DID NOT STOP. I…

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AT AROUND 5:20PM ON 11/15/13, I WAS ON SANTOMAS EXPWY @ MONROE AND THE TRAFFIC LIGHT HAD JUST TURNED GREEN. VEHICLES HAD STARTED MOVING INCLUDING MINE. SUDDENLY ONE OF THE CARS AHEAD OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY (NOT SURE WHY). THE CARD IN FRONT OF ME WAS SUCCESSFUL IN STOPPING. BUT, MY CAR (HONDA ODYSSEY TOURING 2012) DID NOT STOP. I APPLIED BRAKES, BUT THE BRAKES WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN MAKING THE CAR STOP. I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO APPLY OTHER BRAKES. I TRIED TO TURN THE VEHICLE TO GET A WIDTH FOR STOPPING, BUT THE BRAKES STILL DID NOT WORK AND MY CAR HIT THE BACK OF THE CAR IN FRONT WHICH THEN CREATED A CHAIN REACTION TO TWO MORE CARS AHEAD. THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN ANY OF THE CARS AFFECTED AND JUST THE DRIVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10554188

22,200 miles · Nov 5, 2013
Service Brakes

I HAVE 22K MILES ON MY ODYSSEY. A FEW MONTHS AGO I STARTED FEELING SHAKING UPON BRAKING WITH STEERING WHEELS ALSO SHAKING BADLY. FINALLY TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO AFTER A DRIVE TEST SAID "FRONT BRAKE VIBRATION - RECOMMEND BRAKE PADS AND RESURFACE ROTORS". HOWEVER THE HONDA COURTESY INSPECTION REPORT SAYS 8MM LEFT IN BRAKE PADS …

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I HAVE 22K MILES ON MY ODYSSEY. A FEW MONTHS AGO I STARTED FEELING SHAKING UPON BRAKING WITH STEERING WHEELS ALSO SHAKING BADLY. FINALLY TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO AFTER A DRIVE TEST SAID "FRONT BRAKE VIBRATION - RECOMMEND BRAKE PADS AND RESURFACE ROTORS". HOWEVER THE HONDA COURTESY INSPECTION REPORT SAYS 8MM LEFT IN BRAKE PADS WHICH IS MORE THAN 60% LIFE. I STRONGLY FEEL THIS IS TOO SOON FOR ROTORS OR BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT AND SOMETHING OUGHT TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT HERE WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550997

Official recalls

5

17V725000 · Seats:mid/rear Assembly

Nov 17, 2017

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The second row outboard seats can slide sideways to one of two positions. If a seat is placed between either of the two positions when attaching the seat to the vehicle floor, the seat will not latch properly to the seat striker, allowing the seat to tip forward unexpectedly during braking.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the seat tips forward during braking, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket to the second row outboard floor strikers, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2018. Owners may contact American Honda Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is S0G.

16V933000 · Seats:mid/rear Assembly

Dec 27, 2016

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Odyssey vehicles manufactured August 17, 2010, to October 1, 2015. The affected vehicles have second row outboard seats that have a release lever that allows the seats to move for easier access to the third row of seats. This release lever may remain in the unlocked position allowing the seats to move unexpectedly.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An unlocked second row outboard seat increases the risk of injury to the seat occupant during a crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional bracket and spring to both second row outboard seats, free of charge. Interim letter has been mailed, and a second notification will be sent . Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KD5.

13V143000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Apr 15, 2013

Honda is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 CR-V, Odyssey, and model year 2013 Acura RDX vehicles. During sub-freezing temperatures, the brake-shift interlock blocking mechanism may become slow and allow the gear selector to be moved from the Park position without pressing the brake pedal. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the gear selector is moved from the park position without pressing the brake pedal it can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated brake shift interlock blocking mechanism free of charge. The recall began on May 13, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's campaign recall numbers are S96, S97, and S98.

13V016000 · Air Bags

Jan 18, 2013

Honda is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Pilot and 2011-2013 Odyssey passenger vehicles manufactured from March 13, 2008, through December 21, 2012. One or more rivets that attach the airbag module to the airbag cover may be missing.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The absence of more than one rivet could alter the performance of the driver's airbag during deployment. This could potentially increase the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda dealer. The dealer will inspect the driver's airbag module and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.

11V602000 · Suspension:front

Dec 22, 2011

HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012, ODYSSEY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 31, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2011. THE RETENTION NUT FOR THE FRONT RIGHT LOWER SUSPENSION DAMPER BOLT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE, POTENTIALLY ALLOWING THE NUT TO LOOSEN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE NUT LOOSENS, THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY WOULD ONLY BE ATTACHED BY ONE BOLT, ALLOWING THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO SHIFT TO AN EXTREME INWARD ANGLE, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: HONDA CONTACTED ALL NINE OWNERS BY PHONE ON DECEMBER 19, 2011, AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.

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

1

DP26005 · Inadvertent Deployment Of Air Bags

Opened Jul 13, 2026 · No close date supplied

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

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a Petition dated May 30, 2026. The Petition is requesting an investigation into inadvertent air bag deployment in model year (MY) 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The Petition contends that air bags can deploy absent a sufficiently severe event to trigger a deployment, such as an impact, rollover event, or G-force threshold breach. The Petition further alleges that the Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) and Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) conflict and inaccurate data is being recorded for the air bag system. The Petitioner cites 10 complaints received by ODI alleging the same failure. ODI will evaluate these complaints to determine if they are related to the failure cited in the Petition andconduct a technical review under 49 CFR Part 552. This Defect Petition is being opened to evaluate whether to grant or deny the Petition. The Petition can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under NHTSA Number 11744118.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a Petition dated May 30, 2026. The Petition is requesting an investigation into inadvertent air bag deployment in model year (MY) 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The Petition contends that air bags can deploy absent a sufficiently severe event to trigger a deployment, such as an impact, rollover event, or G-force threshold breach. The Petition further alleges that the Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) and Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) conflict and inaccurate data is being recorded for the air bag system. The Petitioner cites 10 complaints received by ODI alleging the same failure. ODI will evaluate these complaints to determine if they are related to the failure cited in the Petition andconduct a technical review under 49 CFR Part 552. This Defect Petition is being opened to evaluate whether to grant or deny the Petition. The Petition can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under NHTSA Number 11744118.

Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module:software

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a Petition dated May 30, 2026. The Petition is requesting an investigation into inadvertent air bag deployment in model year (MY) 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The Petition contends that air bags can deploy absent a sufficiently severe event to trigger a deployment, such as an impact, rollover event, or G-force threshold breach. The Petition further alleges that the Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) and Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) conflict and inaccurate data is being recorded for the air bag system. The Petitioner cites 10 complaints received by ODI alleging the same failure. ODI will evaluate these complaints to determine if they are related to the failure cited in the Petition andconduct a technical review under 49 CFR Part 552. This Defect Petition is being opened to evaluate whether to grant or deny the Petition. The Petition can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under NHTSA Number 11744118.

Air Bags

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a Petition dated May 30, 2026. The Petition is requesting an investigation into inadvertent air bag deployment in model year (MY) 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The Petition contends that air bags can deploy absent a sufficiently severe event to trigger a deployment, such as an impact, rollover event, or G-force threshold breach. The Petition further alleges that the Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) and Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) conflict and inaccurate data is being recorded for the air bag system. The Petitioner cites 10 complaints received by ODI alleging the same failure. ODI will evaluate these complaints to determine if they are related to the failure cited in the Petition andconduct a technical review under 49 CFR Part 552. This Defect Petition is being opened to evaluate whether to grant or deny the Petition. The Petition can be viewed at NHTSA.gov under NHTSA Number 11744118.