NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
85 reports34,000 miles · Jun 12, 2016
SuspensionWheels
TOOK TRUCK IN AT 14,000 MILES WITH A DISTINCT VIBRATION TO DEALER WHERE TRUCK WAS LEASED. TRUCK WAS RETURNED WITH TIRES ROTATED AND TIRES REBALANCED. THIS PROBLEM RESURFACED AGAIN AT 24,000 MILES AND TRUCK AGAIN WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER. I WAS NOTIFIED BY DEALERS REP. THAT I NEEDED TO BUY 4 NEW TIRES TO WHICH I TOLD DEALER REP T…
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TOOK TRUCK IN AT 14,000 MILES WITH A DISTINCT VIBRATION TO DEALER WHERE TRUCK WAS LEASED. TRUCK WAS RETURNED WITH TIRES ROTATED AND TIRES REBALANCED. THIS PROBLEM RESURFACED AGAIN AT 24,000 MILES AND TRUCK AGAIN WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER. I WAS NOTIFIED BY DEALERS REP. THAT I NEEDED TO BUY 4 NEW TIRES TO WHICH I TOLD DEALER REP THAT THIS TRUCK WAS A LEASED VEHICLE WHICH I DID NOT OWN AND IT WAS UP TO DEALER TO FIX TRUCK. I ALSO GOT IN TUCH WITH THE MAKER OF THE TIRE WHICH WAS MICHILIN TIRE WHO STATED TO ME THAT THE TIRE IN QUESTION SIZE P255/70R 18 HAD A 5 YEAR 50,000 MILE WARRENTY. MICHILIN ASKED ME FOR THE NUMBER TO THE DEALER AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH DEALER TO TRY TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND WORK WITH DEALER TO FIX THE SITUATION. I GOT IN TOUCH WITH DEALER ON THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT HE HAD CONSULTED MICHILIN AND TOYOTA AND THEY HAD WORKED IT OUT BUT ALSO REQUESTED FROM ME TO GIVE THE TRUCK A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, WHICH I AGREED TO. WHENI WENT TO THE DEALER LATER THAT AFTERNOON TO PICK UP THE TRUCK I PAID FOR THE ALIGNMENT ON TRUCK AND TALKED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO ELUDED TO ME THAT HE WAS TELLING ME SOMTHING THAT TOYOTA DID NOT WANT THE CUSTERER TO KNOW AND THAT WAS THAT TOYOTA WAS HAVING TRUBLE WITH THESE TRUCKS AND THAT THEY WERE TO HEAVY IN THE FRONT END FOR THE TIRES TO SUSTAIN THE WEIGHT BUT THAT MY TRUCK WAS READY AND I ASSUMED THAT 4 NEW TIRES HAD BEEN PUT ON THE TRUCK SO I PICKED IT UP AND DROVE OPFF. NOW APPOXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO AS I HAD JUST REACHED 34,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE THE VIBRATION STARTED UP AGAIN AND AGAIN I CONSULTED MICHILIN AND THEY ASKED ME TO GO TO AN AUTHERIZED MICHILIN DEALER TO INSPECT THE TIRE AND TRUCK SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THIS WAS DONE AND TO MY SURPRISE I FOUND OUT THAT THE TOYOTA DEALEE HAD NOT REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES AS INDICATED AT 14,000 MILLES BUT ONLY PUT ON 2 TIRES.
NHTSA ODI #10873778
34,800 miles · May 23, 2016
Seat Belts
I HAVE ONLY 34,800 MILES ON MY 2013 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT IS ALREADY SHOWING SEVERE WEAR (WITH FRAYING) ON THE BELT, AND THE SEAT BELT LATCH IS ALSO LOSE AT IT'S MOUNTING POINT ON THE DRIVERS SEAT FRAME. THE WHOLE LATCH ASSEMBLY "CLUNKS" WHEN I PULL ON IT, OR EVERY TIME I STOP THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI #10870416
65,000 miles · Apr 29, 2016
Engine
OIL LEAK AROUND CAMS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM NOTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET - BOTH 4.6 AND 5.7 LITER MOTORS. TOYOTA REFUSES TO COVER IF YOU ARE NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM AFTER 60K MILES OR 5 YEARS. OIL LEAKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE MOTOR ON TO THE EXHAUST. THE DATE I NOTED BELOW, IS ONLY WHEN THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME. I BELIEVE THI…
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OIL LEAK AROUND CAMS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM NOTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET - BOTH 4.6 AND 5.7 LITER MOTORS. TOYOTA REFUSES TO COVER IF YOU ARE NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM AFTER 60K MILES OR 5 YEARS. OIL LEAKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE MOTOR ON TO THE EXHAUST. THE DATE I NOTED BELOW, IS ONLY WHEN THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME. I BELIEVE THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SOMETIME NOW. I JUST REACHED 60K+ WITH MY LAST OIL CHANGE AND WAS THEN REPORTED TO ME -- I BELIEVE WITH THAT INTENTION.
NHTSA ODI #10862161
10,000 miles · Feb 27, 2016
Tires
2013 TUNDRA WITH MICHELIN LT285/65R (DOT B713) WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON THEM HAD INNER SIDE WALL SPLIT AND TIRE BLOW OUT AT 60 MILES PER HOUR. ALMOST CAUSED VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. EVENT OCCURRED 2/16/16. TIRES PURCHASED 6/20/15.
NHTSA ODI #10838752
23,199 miles · Nov 25, 2015
Engine
VEHICLE AT 23199 MILES, STILL UNDER WARRANTY-CAR STATIONARY, SMELLED BURNING OIL AND NOTICED THE OIL LEAK FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE WHEEL WELL ABOVE THE HEAT SHIELD. VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER AND CAM TOWER SEAL WAS LEAKING FROM BOTH SIDES. THEY ALSO FOUND VALVE COVER WAS LEAKING AS WELL. THIS WAS A GREAT SAFETY CONCERN DUE …
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VEHICLE AT 23199 MILES, STILL UNDER WARRANTY-CAR STATIONARY, SMELLED BURNING OIL AND NOTICED THE OIL LEAK FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE WHEEL WELL ABOVE THE HEAT SHIELD. VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER AND CAM TOWER SEAL WAS LEAKING FROM BOTH SIDES. THEY ALSO FOUND VALVE COVER WAS LEAKING AS WELL. THIS WAS A GREAT SAFETY CONCERN DUE TO FIRE HAZARD. FACTORY DEFECT DUE TO INSUFFICIENT SEAL APPLIED TO THE MATTING SURFACES. DEFECT REMEDIED AND MAJOR REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. THEY HAVE CHANGED ALL THE GASKETS AND SEALS ON THE ENGINE.
NHTSA ODI #10806728
20,000 miles · Oct 7, 2015
Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA TUNDRA EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/T 684 II TIRES, SIZE: P255/70/R18 (NA). WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WEAR ON THE TREADS OF THE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE TI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA TUNDRA EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/T 684 II TIRES, SIZE: P255/70/R18 (NA). WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WEAR ON THE TREADS OF THE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRES AND THE VEHICLE WAS 20,000.
NHTSA ODI #10780544
50,000 miles · Oct 1, 2015
Seat Belts
MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT CONNECT AND UPON INSPECTION 2 PIECES INCLUDING A SPRING FELL OUT OF IT.
NHTSA ODI #10778916
43,117 miles · Aug 24, 2015
Engine
CONTINUOUS OIL LEAK FROM CAM TOWER ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD. DEALER DENIED THE ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THE SIGNS ARE VERY OBVIOUS. A CALL TO TOYOTA TO GOT ME NO WHERE. THEY DENIED THE ISSUE LIKE THE DEALER. THERE IS OIL ON THE ENGINE BLOCK AND ALSO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS BLACK FROM THE ALL OF THE OIL DRIPPING. AFTER DRIVING FOR AWHILE T…
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CONTINUOUS OIL LEAK FROM CAM TOWER ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD. DEALER DENIED THE ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THE SIGNS ARE VERY OBVIOUS. A CALL TO TOYOTA TO GOT ME NO WHERE. THEY DENIED THE ISSUE LIKE THE DEALER. THERE IS OIL ON THE ENGINE BLOCK AND ALSO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS BLACK FROM THE ALL OF THE OIL DRIPPING. AFTER DRIVING FOR AWHILE THE CAR SMELLS LIKE IT'S BURNING. THERE IS A VERY REAL POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. THE ISSUE APPEARS TO BE WIDESPREAD. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH CAN FIND EXTENSIVE EXAMPLES. TOYOTA APPEARS TO BE REVERTING TO IT'S OLD WAYS AND NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES.
NHTSA ODI #10758974
40,000 miles · Jan 20, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE FUEL LINES, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND UNDER THE VEHICLE NEAR THE REAR WINDOWS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE W…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE FUEL LINES, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND UNDER THE VEHICLE NEAR THE REAR WINDOWS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
NHTSA ODI #10676766
11,321 miles · Jan 19, 2015
Engine
I WOULD LIKE YOUR HELP IN ASSESSING THE POSSIBLE DANGER FROM AN ACTIVE EXCESSIVE OIL LEAK FROM THE CAM TOWER ON THE 2013 TUNDRA. THIS RELATIVELY NEW TRUCK LEAKED OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE UNTIL I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THIS COULD HAVE LEAD TO AN AUTO FIRE AND SINCE I AM A DISABLED SENIOR THIS…
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I WOULD LIKE YOUR HELP IN ASSESSING THE POSSIBLE DANGER FROM AN ACTIVE EXCESSIVE OIL LEAK FROM THE CAM TOWER ON THE 2013 TUNDRA. THIS RELATIVELY NEW TRUCK LEAKED OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE UNTIL I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THIS COULD HAVE LEAD TO AN AUTO FIRE AND SINCE I AM A DISABLED SENIOR THIS IS TERRIFYING. A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE INTERNET LITERATURE SHOWS THAT THIS LEAKING CAM TOWER SEAL IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND CAN HAPPEN REPETITIVELY BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURE DEFECT IN THE CAM TOWER COVER AND SEALS. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IS THERE REALLY A DANGER OF FIRE? IN SHORT SHOULD I THINK ABOUT BUYING A NEW TRUCK AND IS THERE ANY INVESTIGATION TAKING PLACE AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND ASSISTANCE AT THIS TIME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10676450
Official recalls
5Nov 23, 2021
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.
Consequence: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.
Steering:rack And Pinion
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.
Consequence: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.
May 11, 2017
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles accessorized with Southeast Toyota accessory 20-inch Rockstar wheels installed by Southeast Toyota or a Southeast Toyota dealer. The Rockstar wheels were installed with lugnuts that may crack and detach.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Lugnuts that crack and detach may cause the wheels to separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will install new replacement lugnuts, free of charge. The recall began June 23, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET17A.
Jul 16, 2014
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Toyota Tundra vehicles modified by GST as part of certain vehicle packages to be equipped with a combination of non-Toyota-brand 20-inch alloy wheels and chrome plated lug nuts. The coating on the lug nuts may give, causing the lug nuts to loosen or the wheel studs to fracture.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the lug nuts loosen, or the wheel studs fracture, the wheel may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GST will notify owners, and dealers will replace 20 lug nuts and torque them to specification, free of charge. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074.
Apr 9, 2013
Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, 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 inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Jan 16, 2013
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Seats
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
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
1EA19001 · Electrical Overstress
Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications. The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU. In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment. FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle. Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW. These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes. An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time. In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU. This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners. Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW. The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation. The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage. There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation. The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU. If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC. Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC. All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled. In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024. With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
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