Honda Accord under investigation due to airbag failures
Sat, Aug 22 2015
"For vehicles with a failed SRS module, some or all of the airbags may be unavailable in a crash warranting deployment," NHTSA's investigation says. Drivers are warned when the part stops working by a light on the instrument panel, but several of these reports indicate the module is unable to show diagnostic trouble codes when being inspected. The only way to fix the issue is to replace the whole component, and the Detroit News reports that can cost $500 or more. NHTSA's preliminary evaluations investigate "the scope, frequency, and consequence" of a problem and don't necessarily mean a recall is warranted.
INVESTIGATION Subject : SRS Module Failure
Date Investigation Opened: AUG 18, 2015
Date Investigation Closed: Open
NHTSA Action Number: PE15029
Component(s): AIR BAGS
All Products Associated with this Investigation close
Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s)
HONDA ACCORD 2008
Details
Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
SUMMARY:
ODI has identified 19 VOQ reports alleging failure of the air bag SRS control module. One of the reports involved a frontal crash event where the frontal air bags did not deploy. The crash resulted in an injury to the driver and lone occupant, and the vehicle was subsequently inspected by the agency. According to the reports, the failure of the SRS module is indicated by the air bag readiness indicator lamp illuminating on the instrument panel. Consumers report the SRS control module had to be replaced to correct the condition. Several reports indicated that the SRS module was unable to communicate thus preventing diagnostic trouble codes from being retrieved. An inability of the SRS unit to communicate raises concern about the readiness of the entire supplemental restraints system. As a result, for vehicles with a failed SRS module, some or all of the air bags may be unavailable in a crash warranting deployment.
ODI is opening this investigation to further evaluate the scope, frequency, and consequence of the alleged SRS module failures.
The VOQ reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10733519, 10715339, 10703521, 10676517, 10653157, 10648611, 10633431, 10629318, 10627454, 10606626, 10604360, 10583069, 10578211, 10533114, 10500547, 10480012, 10462403, 10457826, 10441706.
Date Investigation Opened: AUG 18, 2015
Date Investigation Closed: Open
NHTSA Action Number: PE15029
Component(s): AIR BAGS
All Products Associated with this Investigation close
Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s)
HONDA ACCORD 2008
Details
Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
SUMMARY:
ODI has identified 19 VOQ reports alleging failure of the air bag SRS control module. One of the reports involved a frontal crash event where the frontal air bags did not deploy. The crash resulted in an injury to the driver and lone occupant, and the vehicle was subsequently inspected by the agency. According to the reports, the failure of the SRS module is indicated by the air bag readiness indicator lamp illuminating on the instrument panel. Consumers report the SRS control module had to be replaced to correct the condition. Several reports indicated that the SRS module was unable to communicate thus preventing diagnostic trouble codes from being retrieved. An inability of the SRS unit to communicate raises concern about the readiness of the entire supplemental restraints system. As a result, for vehicles with a failed SRS module, some or all of the air bags may be unavailable in a crash warranting deployment.
ODI is opening this investigation to further evaluate the scope, frequency, and consequence of the alleged SRS module failures.
The VOQ reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10733519, 10715339, 10703521, 10676517, 10653157, 10648611, 10633431, 10629318, 10627454, 10606626, 10604360, 10583069, 10578211, 10533114, 10500547, 10480012, 10462403, 10457826, 10441706.
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