2014 Acura TSX

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.

A GRAINDING NOISE FROM THE INTER ROD BEARING

NHTSA ID

11560442

Incident

Oct 27, 2023

FROZEN BRAKES WHEN STARING THE CAR, THE FIRST PUMP ON THE BRAKE WORKS AS EXPECTED. THEN THE NEXT 3-5 PUMPS, THE PEDDLE DOES NOT GO DOWN AND HAS THUS THE CAR DOES NOT STOP. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN I GO TO WORK IN THE MORNING. BUT, IT HAS HAPPENED DURING THE AFTERNOON. BUT MOST MORNING, I CAN GUARANTEE IT WILL HAPPEN. IT'S USUALLY ON COLD MORNINGS (TEENS AND BELOW) BUT I'M SEEING IT NOW IN 30DEGREE WEATHER. I TOOK IT TO THE ACURA DEALERSHIP (ACURA OF TROY, MI) AND THE SERVICE MANAGER [XXX] DIDN'T LOOK INTO IT AT ALL. HE SAID THEY PERFORMED THE STANDARD 'ACURA CHECK' AND THERE WERE NO ISSUES. I PROVIDE GREG WITH DETAILS ON THE ISSUES AS WELL AS PRINTOUTS FROM OTHERS WHO HAVE REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE. ALL HE DID WAS SMILE AND SAID THEY DID THE ACURA SAFEFTY CHECK AND IT PASSED. I'LL BE SENDING THIS INFO TOO; THE OWNER AND GM OF ACURA OF TROY AND TO ACURA CORP.(HONDA). HERE IS JUST 1 THREAD ON THE ISSUES: HTTPS://ACURAZINE.COM/FORUMS/SECOND-GENERATION-TSX-DISCUSSION-2009-2014-143/FROZEN-BRAKE-PEDAL-901219/ FOR YOUR SELECTION ON THE DATE OF WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I'M ADDING THE SERVICE DATE. BUT THIS IS ON ONGOING PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11320299

Incident

Nov 16, 2018

Mileage

38,972 mi

THE VTC ACTUATOR PART NUMBER 14310-R40-A01 HAS GONE BAD. THE VERY SAME PART NUMBER IS USED ON MULTIPLE HONDAS AND ACURAS. WHEN USED ON THE HONDA VARIANT (ACCORD) THE PART HAS BEEN DEEMED TO BE DEFECTIVE BY HONDA OF AMERICA PER TSB 09-010. YET WHEN THE VERY SAME PART IS USED IN THE SAME ENGINE ON AN ACURA, HONDA OF AMERICA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND/OR REPLACE THE PART. THE ISSUE OCCURS ON COLD STARTS AND PRODUCES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS.

NHTSA ID

11311780

Incident

Feb 24, 2020

Mileage

75,000 mi

WHEN THE CAR SITS OVER NIGHT OR WHEN IT COLD THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL NOT GO DOWN, BRAKE NO WORKING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY SAID IS NORMAL, AT THREE YEARS AGO.IN 1/31/2019,THE DAY VERY COLD IN NEW YORK CITY, I WENT ON THE PARKWAY AND THE CAR COULD NOT BRAKE, BECAUSE THE PEDAL WOULD NOT GO DOWN. I WENT TO DEALER AT 2/2/2019, THEY SAID THEY KNOW SOME VEHICLE HAVE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11174577

Incident

Dec 16, 2015

Mileage

6 mi

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2014 ACURA TSX MAY 27 2014 FROM CONCORD ACURA DEALERSHIP. SINCE 2014-2019 MY CAR HAS BEEN STALLING TO START. I'VE BROUGHT IT IN MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE, THEY WOULD SEND ME HOME AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. ON JAN 2017, AFTER BRINGING MY CAR IN FOR THE 8TH TIME, THEY FINALLY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH A BAD BATTERY FROM THE MANUFACTURER WAREHOUSE, THAT WAS WHY MY CAR WOULDN'T START FOR 2 YEARS. SO THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. JAN 2019 EXACTLY 2 YEARS LATER, MY CAR STALLS AGAIN! I IMMEDIATELY CALLED AAA TO REPLACE MY BATTERY 01/15/19. MY CAR STILL FAILED TO START AS THE AAA TECHNICIAN ASKED ME TO START MY CAR. SO I DROPPED IT OFF AT ACURA OF CONCORD AGAIN ON 01/17/19. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE AGENT CALLED ME LATER THAT DAY JAN 17TH AND SAID MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NO ISSUES. SHE CALLED ME AGAIN JAN 18TH AND SAID MY CAR PASSED ALL INSPECTIONS AND I CAN PICK IT UP NEXT DAY. JAN 19TH MORNING, SHE CALLS ME AND SAYS, "YOU HAVE A BAD BATTERY". BUT I JUST REPLACED MY BATTERY ON JAN 15TH AND IT NEEDS REPLACING JAN 19TH?CAN SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY IN 4 YEARS I NEED 4 NEW BATTERIES? TODAY JAN 28TH, I GOT A CALL FROM ACURA CORPORATE THAT THEY CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS DRAINING MY CAR BATTERY AND WHY I'M HAVING BATTERY ISSUES. THEY WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DEFECTIVE CAR! SOMETHING IS KILLING MY BATTERY!!!! I WORK AT A HOSPITAL AND I TAKE ER CALLS FOR TRAUMA PATIENTS. IF MY CAR IS UNRELIABLE AND NOT STARTING, IT IS PUTTING MY PATIENTS LIFE AT HIGH RISK AND AFFECTING MY WORK ETHICS. WHY DOESN'T MY CAR START? WHY DOES MY CAR STALL WHEN TRYING TO START FOR 4 YEARS? WHY DO I NEED 4 NEW BATTERIES IN 4 YEARS? I HAVE VIDEOS OF MY CAR HARD START/ STALLING ISSUE WHICH I CANNOT ATTACH ON HERE. IF MY CAR DOES NOT START IN AN EMERGENCY CASE, IT IS ENDANGERING MY LIFE AND THE PEOPLE RELYING ON ME AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

11172618

Incident

Jan 15, 2019

WHEN CAR IS STARTED IN COLD WEATHER, BRAKES DO NOT WORK FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO ISSUE, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS REFERRED ME TO DEALER.

NHTSA ID

11064575

Incident

Jan 13, 2018

Mileage

61,600 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 ACURA TSX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V346000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10896766

Incident

Jul 23, 2016

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2009-2014 TLs, TSXs & TSX Wagons with a client complaint of the brake pedal feeling soft or spongy when depressed, almost reaching the floor. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2009-2014 TLs, TSXs & TSX Wagons with a client complaint of the brake pedal feeling soft or spongy when depressed, almost reaching the floor. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2009-2014 TLs, TSXs & TSX Wagons with a client complaint of the brake pedal feeling soft or spongy when depressed, almost reaching the floor. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2009-2014 TLs, TSXs & TSX Wagons with a client complaint of the brake pedal feeling soft or spongy when depressed, almost reaching the floor. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2009-2014 TLs, TSXs & TSX Wagons with a client complaint of the brake pedal feeling soft or spongy when depressed, almost reaching the floor. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passenger's airbag inflator only.