HEADLIGHTS FLASH OR TURN OFF WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNALS. DASH LIGHTS ALSO DIM. SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN I USE THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. IF I TURN THE SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION THEN BACK THEY HAVE TURNED BACK ON.
2017 Toyota Tundra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2017 Toyota Tundra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 144.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tundra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
45 reports with mileage · 33 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
78 reportsWHEN DRIVING AROUND AT NIGHT AND USE THE TURN SIGNAL, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF AND INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS AND RADIO LIGHTS WILL DIM, AS IF IT IS DAY TIME. IT TYPICALLY HAPPENS IN THE MORNINGS WHEN IT'S COLD OUT.
WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH SELECTED TO 'AUTO' AND WHEN ENGAGING THE TURN SIGNAL TO THE LEFT DURNING NIGHT DRIVING, ALL EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD GO BLACK UNTIL TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IS MOVED TO THE ON THE POSITION. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. INITIALLY, THIS DEALERSHIP T…
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WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH SELECTED TO 'AUTO' AND WHEN ENGAGING THE TURN SIGNAL TO THE LEFT DURNING NIGHT DRIVING, ALL EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD GO BLACK UNTIL TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IS MOVED TO THE ON THE POSITION. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. INITIALLY, THIS DEALERSHIP THOUGHT IT WAS THE LIGHT SENSOR LOCATED ON THE DASH OF THE TRUCK AND REPLACED IT USING A WARRANTY CLAIM. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY (NEXT DAY), THE VEHICLE REPEATED THE SAME INITIAL FAILURE OVER 3 TIMES IN AN HOUR. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THAT SAME TOYOTA DEALERSHIP BUT UPON ARRIVAL I WAS MET WITH RESISTANCE DUE TO A PREVIOUS WARRANTY CLAIM FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THEY ADVISED ME IF I WANTED THE SWITCH REPLACED, IT WOULD BE TOTALLY AT MY EXPENSE. I LEFT THAT DEALERSHIP AND PROCEEDED TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO REPLACED THE SWITCH AT MY EXPENSE. THE REPLACING OF THE SWITCH HAS SOLVED THE LIGHTS GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING DURING THE NIGHT. I'VE READ ON SEVERAL TRUCK FORUMS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY TOYOTA BUT THEY HAVEN ACKNOWLEDGED IT. LUCKILY, I CAN AFFORD TO REPLACE MY SWITCH TO ENSURE MY FAMILY IS SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE BUT MY SUBMISSION HERE IS FOR THOSE THAT CAN'T AFFORD THE REPLACEMENTS AND NEED TOYOTA TO ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THIS SERIOUS BUT INEXPENSIVE ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA TUNDRA. AFTER THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WALKER TOYOTA (8457 SPRINGBORO PIKE, MIAMISBURG, OH) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL HOSE HAD BEEN DAMAGED BY RODENT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA TUNDRA. AFTER THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WALKER TOYOTA (8457 SPRINGBORO PIKE, MIAMISBURG, OH) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL HOSE HAD BEEN DAMAGED BY RODENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
UNBURNT FUEL IS ENTERING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND COMBUSTING WHEN IT COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTORS. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FROM THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT. TOOK THE TRUCK TO DICK HANNAH TOYOTA IN LONGVEIW WA. THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS. THE TALKED TO THE FACTORY BUT NOBODY…
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UNBURNT FUEL IS ENTERING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND COMBUSTING WHEN IT COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTORS. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FROM THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT. TOOK THE TRUCK TO DICK HANNAH TOYOTA IN LONGVEIW WA. THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS. THE TALKED TO THE FACTORY BUT NOBODY HAS A SOLUTION. THE DEALER TRIED A SIMILAR TRUCK AND GOT THE SAME RESULTS. THEY TALKED TO THE TOYOTA FIELD REP. AND HE STATED HE COULD MAKE THIS HAPPEN TO HIS TUNDRA WHEN EVER HE WANTED? THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE INCRUISE CONTROL ALSO.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RODENTS DAMAGED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE BY EATING THE SOY-BASED WIRES. THE DEALER (MODESTO TOYOTA, 4513 MCHENRY AVE, MODESTO, CA 95356, (209) 529-2933) DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING AND THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS AN EXTENSIVE REP…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RODENTS DAMAGED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE BY EATING THE SOY-BASED WIRES. THE DEALER (MODESTO TOYOTA, 4513 MCHENRY AVE, MODESTO, CA 95356, (209) 529-2933) DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING AND THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS AN EXTENSIVE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY OR RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
TOYOTA 3UR-FE 5.7L V8 ENGINE CAMSHAFT TOWER SEAL IS PRONE TO PREMATURE FAILURE, WHICH LEADS TO ENGINE OIL LEAKING ON THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD, WHICH COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL FIRE/FLASH HAZARD. MORE DETAILS (INCLUDING PHOTOS) COULD BE FOUND IN THE RECALL PETITION AT: HTTPS://WWW.CHANGE.ORG/P/TOYOTA-MOTOR-COMPANY-GET-TOYOTA-TO-…
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TOYOTA 3UR-FE 5.7L V8 ENGINE CAMSHAFT TOWER SEAL IS PRONE TO PREMATURE FAILURE, WHICH LEADS TO ENGINE OIL LEAKING ON THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD, WHICH COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL FIRE/FLASH HAZARD. MORE DETAILS (INCLUDING PHOTOS) COULD BE FOUND IN THE RECALL PETITION AT: HTTPS://WWW.CHANGE.ORG/P/TOYOTA-MOTOR-COMPANY-GET-TOYOTA-TO-RECALL-CAM-SHAFT-TOWER-LEAKAGE-PROBLEM-ON-5-7L-V8-3UR-FE-ENGINE?SOURCE_LOCATION=TOPIC_PAGE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHEN THE WIPER SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHEN THE WIPER SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BERT OGDEN TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 8721 W EXPY 83, HARLINGEN, TX 78552, (956) 622-4384), BUT THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO SPARTAN TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 5701 S PENNSYLVANIA AVE, LANSING, MI 48911, (517) 394-6000), BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 1808292570. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
IBC IS A COMPLETELY TERRIBLE PART IN THE TRUCK. 3 TIMES PULLING A TRAILER AND THEN THE BRAKES COMPLETELY GIVE OUT. TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE CENTER AND OF COURSE NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. TOOK THE TRAILER TO A RV PLACE AND NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. AFTER ALL THE THREADS AND EVERYONE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE TOW BRAKES NOT WORKING TOYOT…
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IBC IS A COMPLETELY TERRIBLE PART IN THE TRUCK. 3 TIMES PULLING A TRAILER AND THEN THE BRAKES COMPLETELY GIVE OUT. TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE CENTER AND OF COURSE NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. TOOK THE TRAILER TO A RV PLACE AND NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. AFTER ALL THE THREADS AND EVERYONE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE TOW BRAKES NOT WORKING TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO OWN UP TO A PROBLEM. IT IS UNSAFE AND SOMEONE WILL GET HURT. HOW IS THIS NOT BEING ADDRESSED AND WHY IS THE PROBLEM NOT FIXED? WHY HAVE A TOW PACKAGE AND NOT BE ABLE TO TOW. TAKE OWNERSHIP AND FIX THE BRAKES!!
THE VEHICLE'S INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS VERY DARK AND HARD TO READ DURING THE DAY. ESPECIALLY ON CLOUDY DAYS OR WHEN WEARING SUNGLASSES. AS A RESULT, READING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TAKES SIGNIFICANT EFFORT, WHICH MEANS MORE TIME OF EYES NOT ON THE ROAD AND IT MAKES CONTROLLING SPEED HARD. ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE INS…
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THE VEHICLE'S INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS VERY DARK AND HARD TO READ DURING THE DAY. ESPECIALLY ON CLOUDY DAYS OR WHEN WEARING SUNGLASSES. AS A RESULT, READING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TAKES SIGNIFICANT EFFORT, WHICH MEANS MORE TIME OF EYES NOT ON THE ROAD AND IT MAKES CONTROLLING SPEED HARD. ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING DOES NOT COME ON UNLESS THE HEAD AND TAIL LIGHTS ARE ON. WITH LIGHT SWITCH SET TO "AUTO", HEAD & TAILLIGHTS AND THUS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS WILL BE OFF DURING THE DAY. WITH THE LIGHT SWITCH SET TO ON, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS WILL BE ON, BUT THE MAXIMUM OUTPUT IS NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO BE EASILY VISIBLE IN DAYTIME DRIVING. LIKE MOST VEHICLES IN TEXAS, MY TRUCK CAME WITH LEGAL AND MODEST SIDE WINDOW TINTING FROM THE DEALER. THIS REDUCES LIGHT FALLING ONTO THE MOSTLY BLACK INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND REFLECTING OF THE THIN WHITE LETTERING. HENCE, IT TAKES EFFORT TO READ. THE PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED WHEN WEARING SUNGLASSES (A MUST DURING SUMMER IN TEXAS) OR WHEN DRIVING ON CLOUDY DAYS.
Official recalls
521V920000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System; Steering:rack And Pinion
Nov 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.
18V123000 · Seat Belts; Seats:mid/rear Assembly
Feb 20, 2018
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017 Toyota Tundra vehicles. One of the rear split bench seat leg brackets may not have been properly tightened to the vehicle's floor pan, possibly allowing the seat to move in a crash. A vehicle with an improperly tightened seat leg bracket could fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems," 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages," and 225, "Child restraint anchorage systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the rear split bench seat moves in a crash, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the five seat leg bracket bolts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0I.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Seats:mid/rear Assembly
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017 Toyota Tundra vehicles. One of the rear split bench seat leg brackets may not have been properly tightened to the vehicle's floor pan, possibly allowing the seat to move in a crash. A vehicle with an improperly tightened seat leg bracket could fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems," 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages," and 225, "Child restraint anchorage systems."
Consequence: If the rear split bench seat moves in a crash, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the five seat leg bracket bolts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0I.
Seat Belts
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017 Toyota Tundra vehicles. One of the rear split bench seat leg brackets may not have been properly tightened to the vehicle's floor pan, possibly allowing the seat to move in a crash. A vehicle with an improperly tightened seat leg bracket could fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems," 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages," and 225, "Child restraint anchorage systems."
Consequence: If the rear split bench seat moves in a crash, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the five seat leg bracket bolts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0I.
17V831000 · Equipment:other:labels
Dec 20, 2017
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. 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 load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.
17V311000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
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.
17V051000 · Structure:body:bumpers
Jan 24, 2017
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Tundra vehicles equipped with a resin rear step bumper and resin reinforcement brackets (vehicles with chrome step bumpers are not affected). In the event of an impact to the corner of the bumper, the resin bracket may be damaged but not be noticed.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If a person steps on the corner of the bumper that is damaged, a portion of the bumper may break away, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the resin rear bumper reinforcement brackets with steel ones, and replace the rear bumper tread, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0C.
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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