NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
178 reports10,000 miles · Nov 9, 2018
Air BagsStructureUnknown Or OtherCrashInjury
TAKATA RECALL IT WAS A REGULAR WEDNESDAY MORNING DRIVE TO MY OFFICE. I WAS IN HIGHWAY 101 N AND IN THE MOTION OF APPROX 30MPH DUE TO TRAFFIC. SUDDENLY AT AROUND 8AM, DUE TO THE TRAFFIC AHEAD I HAD TO BRAKE MY CAR. MY CAR WAS HALT AT A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE CAR AHEAD OF ME WHEN I HEARD THE EMERGENCY BEEP OF MY CAR AND WHILE I …
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TAKATA RECALL IT WAS A REGULAR WEDNESDAY MORNING DRIVE TO MY OFFICE. I WAS IN HIGHWAY 101 N AND IN THE MOTION OF APPROX 30MPH DUE TO TRAFFIC. SUDDENLY AT AROUND 8AM, DUE TO THE TRAFFIC AHEAD I HAD TO BRAKE MY CAR. MY CAR WAS HALT AT A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE CAR AHEAD OF ME WHEN I HEARD THE EMERGENCY BEEP OF MY CAR AND WHILE I WAS BEING CONFUSED AS TO WHY THE BEEP WENT OFF BECAUSE MY CAR WAS AT A SAFE DISTANCE OF THE CAR AHEAD OF ME, MY CAR WAS SEVERELY HIT FROM BEHIND.THE IMPACT WAS SO SEVERE TOWARDS THE TRUNK THAT MY CAR WAS DRAGGED FORWARD SUCH THAT THE FRONT OF MY CAR WENT ONTO HIT THE BACK OF THE CAR THAT WAS AT A SAFE DISTANCE FROM MY CAR.THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY SHIFT OF MY CAR FROM THE SECOND LANE WHERE THE IMPACT TOOK PLACE TO THE THIRD LANE OF THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR WAS TOTALED BECAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT. DURING THIS ACCIDENTAL EVENT MY FRONT CAR AND BACK CAR BOTH AIR BAG DEPLOYED EXCEPT MY CAR AIR BAG DIDN'T GET DEPLOYED AND BECAUSE OF THIS I WENT THROUGH SERIOUS MULTIPLE INJURIES CAUSING SOME LONG TERM BODILY DAMAGES.
NHTSA ODI #11150408
3,000 miles · Nov 6, 2018
Exterior Lighting
THE AUTOMATIC HIGH/LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING. WITH THE SWITCH IN CORRECT POSITION, EVERYTHING IS WORKING AS EXPECTED, THEN THE AUTO INDICATOR ON DASH GOES OFF AND THE LIGHTS STAY ON LOW BEAMS, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR TAIL LIGHTS AHEAD. THIS MAY ONLY BE FOR ABOUT A MINUTE TO SEVE…
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THE AUTOMATIC HIGH/LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING. WITH THE SWITCH IN CORRECT POSITION, EVERYTHING IS WORKING AS EXPECTED, THEN THE AUTO INDICATOR ON DASH GOES OFF AND THE LIGHTS STAY ON LOW BEAMS, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR TAIL LIGHTS AHEAD. THIS MAY ONLY BE FOR ABOUT A MINUTE TO SEVERAL MINUTES. WITH THE AUTO INDICATOR OFF, I AM STUCK ON LOW BEAMS. WHEN THE AUTO INDICATOR COMES BACK ON, THE SYSTEM FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. DURING THE TIME THE AUTO INDICATOR IS OFF, I CANNOT GET HIGH BEAMS UNLESS I TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH FROM AUTO TO ON. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE I HAVE TO MANUALLY CHANGE THE SWITCH SETTING AND THE LIGHTS GO OFF WHILE THE SWITCH IS MOVED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE LAST TIME BEING 11/5/2018.
NHTSA ODI #11149708
13,192 miles · Oct 12, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
RED BRAKE LIGHT, ABS, VSC, POWER STEERING, AND MIL LIGHTS CAME ON. DTC'S U0129.
NHTSA ODI #11139911
13,192 miles · Oct 12, 2018
Electrical System
SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING AT RANDOM. DTC'S P0500 AND B2283.
NHTSA ODI #11139910
13,192 miles · Oct 12, 2018
Engine
CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. GAVE DTC P0113, P0013, P1603, P1605.
NHTSA ODI #11139909
12,700 miles · Oct 11, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
ABS, VSC, MIL, MULTIPLE WARNING MESSAGES INCLUDING PRE COLLISION SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, LANE DEPARTURE ALERT MALFUNCTION, FRONT CAMERA UNAVAILABLE, CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTION. C1336 ERROR CODE. ZERO POINT CALIBRATION UNDONE. HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES.
NHTSA ODI #11139671
350 miles · Aug 31, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesUnknown Or Other
CAR HAS SEVERAL ISSUES, ONE IS DEFINITELY THE VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS IN DASH, THE WARNING LIGHTS POP UP AT DIFFERENT TIMES FOR NO REASON OCCASIONALLY AND DEALERS CAN'T FIND ISSUES, CAR ALSO HAS ISSUES WITH BRAKING SYSTEM. SEVERAL TIMES WENT AROUND CURVES IT ON STOPS AND CAR LOCKED UP AND WENT SIDEWAYS, DEALER SAID TESTED BUT LES…
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CAR HAS SEVERAL ISSUES, ONE IS DEFINITELY THE VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS IN DASH, THE WARNING LIGHTS POP UP AT DIFFERENT TIMES FOR NO REASON OCCASIONALLY AND DEALERS CAN'T FIND ISSUES, CAR ALSO HAS ISSUES WITH BRAKING SYSTEM. SEVERAL TIMES WENT AROUND CURVES IT ON STOPS AND CAR LOCKED UP AND WENT SIDEWAYS, DEALER SAID TESTED BUT LESS THAN A MILE PUT ON CAR?? CAR DOES NOT ACT LIKE IT HAS NORMAL ABS AND ALMOST GOT IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS WITH MY KIDS AND GRANDSON BECAUSE OF IT MY STOPPING OR LOCKING UP!! ALSO HAVE ISSUES SINCE I BOUGHT IT WITH RADIO/FEATURES/DISPLAY. THINGS SHOW UP HALF WAY OR IT TURNS OFF AT TIMES AND ALSO CALLS OUT EVEN WHEN UNTOUCHED. WORRIED ABOUT GPS CUTTING OUT WHEN NEEDED TOO. ALSO PLASTIC PART UNDER PASSAGED SIDE GLOVE BOX CONTINUOUSLY FALLS OFF, TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY JUST PUT BACK IN, DIDN'T REPLACE BUT YOU COULD SEE THE BEND WHERE HOOK WAS. AND GAS MILEAGE AND THE RECENT CVT RECALL, THEY UPDATED, NOT REPLACED AFTER I ASKED AND DESCRIBED HOW IT WAS DRIVING, AND STILL HAVING ISSUES BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T REPLACE AFTER I SAID IT WOULDN'T GO OVER A CERTAIN SPEED DURING HIGHWAY TRAVEL OR ROADS REQUIRING OVER 45 MPH. THE DRIVING WARNING THING WHEN YOU GO OVER LINES DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK EITHER, IT DOES 50% OF THE TIME. EXPLAINED THAT TOO BUT NOTHING DONE. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS CAR!! HAD SINCE 11/2016 AND BARELY DROVE BECAUSE OF ISSUES AND SAFETY CONCERNS. IT OUT HAS 8000 MILES BECAUSE OF IT.
NHTSA ODI #11123602
38,000 miles · Aug 30, 2018
Vehicle Speed Control
AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THE CRUISE CONTROL ON A DOWN HILL SLOPE GOES OUT OF CONTROL. AS I REACH THE TOP OF THE HILL AND START DOWN THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL ACCELERATE TO 4000 RPM AND THE SPEED WILL INCREASE 10-15 MPH OVER WHAT THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET AT. I MUST TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL TO REGAIN CONTROL OVER THE SPEED. SOMET…
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AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THE CRUISE CONTROL ON A DOWN HILL SLOPE GOES OUT OF CONTROL. AS I REACH THE TOP OF THE HILL AND START DOWN THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL ACCELERATE TO 4000 RPM AND THE SPEED WILL INCREASE 10-15 MPH OVER WHAT THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET AT. I MUST TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL TO REGAIN CONTROL OVER THE SPEED. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE PROGRAMMING OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. ON DOWN HILL THE CRUISE CONTROL SHOULD BE REDUCING FUEL TO MAINTAIN SPEED NOT INCREASE IT. I AM A POLICE OFFICER AND THIS CRUISE CONTROL IS A HAZARD.
NHTSA ODI #11123595
3,500 miles · Aug 21, 2018
Service BrakesCrash
I'M A TROOPER WITH THE OREGON STATE POLICE. I COVERED A CRASH TODAY WHERE THE MENTIONED VEHICLE BRAKED FOR THE DRIVER, BUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS NEVER ENGAGED. I SPOKE TO ANOTHER TOYOTA OWNER ON SCENE WHO STATED HIS TOYOTA DOES THE SAME WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING FOR HIM. THE DRIVER BEHIND THIS TOYOTA WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME, BUT …
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I'M A TROOPER WITH THE OREGON STATE POLICE. I COVERED A CRASH TODAY WHERE THE MENTIONED VEHICLE BRAKED FOR THE DRIVER, BUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS NEVER ENGAGED. I SPOKE TO ANOTHER TOYOTA OWNER ON SCENE WHO STATED HIS TOYOTA DOES THE SAME WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING FOR HIM. THE DRIVER BEHIND THIS TOYOTA WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME, BUT I CAN SEE THIS LACK OF BRAKE LIGHTS AS A PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #11121512
34,000 miles · Aug 19, 2018
Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other
I HAVE OWNED MY CAR JUST UNDER A YEAR. I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION RANDOMLY DOWN SHIFTING AT STOPS AND NOW I GET A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SO I PULL INTO MY CLOSEST AUTO PARTS STORE SINCE IT'S SUNDAY. BOOM 17 CODES FOR EMISSION CONTROL FAILURE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS LESS THAN A YEAR AND IM ALREADY SHOWING TRANSMIS…
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I HAVE OWNED MY CAR JUST UNDER A YEAR. I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION RANDOMLY DOWN SHIFTING AT STOPS AND NOW I GET A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SO I PULL INTO MY CLOSEST AUTO PARTS STORE SINCE IT'S SUNDAY. BOOM 17 CODES FOR EMISSION CONTROL FAILURE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS LESS THAN A YEAR AND IM ALREADY SHOWING TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND EMISSION CONTROL ISSUES. THIS IS NOT A GOOD SIGN FOR FUTURE YEARS TO COME. THERE WAS A RECALL EARLIER THIS YEAR INVOLVING THE TRANSMISSION AND NOW ITS SUDDENLY DISAPPEARED. I FIND IT STRANGE ESPECIALLY SINCE TOYOTA KEEPS DOWNPLAYING EVERYTHING EVERY TIME I GO IN.
NHTSA ODI #11120907
Official recalls
3Jan 17, 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk beginning March 2, 2020. A second letter notifying owners of the remedy repair will be mailed between March 16, 2020 and June 27, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB03, 20TA03 and 20TA05.
Jun 28, 2019
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is SET19A.
May 2, 2017
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA21002 · Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Opened Sep 17, 2021 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
EA19001 · Electrical Overstress
Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications. The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU. In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment. FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle. Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW. These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes. An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time. In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU. This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners. Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW. The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation. The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage. There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation. The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU. If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC. Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC. All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled. In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024. With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.