2012 Honda Fit

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.

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Fit. The contact stated that while making a turn from a complete stop at the exit of a gas station, the vehicle became immovable, and there was an abnormally high-pitched grinding sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to AAA Auto Body Shop, where the contact was informed that the passenger's side CV axle was fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. AAA informed the contact that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V770000 (Power Train), and the VIN was included in the recall. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the driver's side CV axle had failed due to corrosion test and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired free of charge. The manufacturer was contacted but denied the reimbursement claim for the passenger’s side CV axle repair, despite receiving the repair bill. The failure mileage was 88,052.

NHTSA ID

11723931

Incident

Mar 3, 2026

Mileage

88,052 mi

The electronic steering power assist failed several times in the past two weeks. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The safety of occupants was put at risk because of the difficulty of steering safely in traffic. The car has not yet been taken to my dealer for evaluation. The vehicle or component has not yet been inspected. No warning lamps or other symptoms of the problem appeared prior to the failure.

NHTSA ID

11592516

Incident

Jun 3, 2024

While driving my regular commute to work with the radio on, the radio and interior lights (not sure if headlights because I can't see them) flashed on and off and the power steering warning light flashed on and off. At that time, the car jerked and I lost power steering for a moment. This happened several times and the radio stopped working. This did not happen on the way home, but reoccured a few days later. I made an appointment with the dealer They had my car for the day and were not able to locate the issue, but they fixed my radio and told me to bring it back if it happened again. They checked alternator, fuses, and looked for an electrical short. A few weeks later, it happened again, I brought the car back and they could not find the problem, but fixed the radio. The car was fine for a month and it is happening again. Losing power steering while driving is a serious safety hazard for myself and others.

NHTSA ID

11567103

Incident

Jan 18, 2024

Three instances of engine misfiring, causing the car to immediately go into a speed limiting mode during driving. This is a major safety hazard and can happen in the middle of high speed driving. The first instance was a 52K miles, second at 69K miles, and third at 130K miles. The most recent instance resulted in the spark plug ejecting from the cylinder head, melting into the coil pack, and stripping out the cylinder head thread. This resulted in a costly repair.

NHTSA ID

11529075

Incident

Jun 21, 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Fit. The contact stated he noticed a strong odor of gasoline inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the mechanic stated that spark plug #3 was loosened. The ignition wire was replaced, and the spark plug was tightened. The manufacturer was contacted, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 65,000.

NHTSA ID

11492292

Incident

Oct 24, 2022

Mileage

65,000 mi

Driving down the highway the spark plug was blown out of the engine head and the car lost power immediately. The car has approximately 12,000 miles and all OEM parts from the manufacture. Maintenance was kept up on the car. This is extremely dangerous since this highway is usually busy with cars and tractor trailers. My son was in the left lane and was almost hit by a tractor trailer due to the violent explosion of the spark plug being blown out of the engine. In addition, was unable to get over to the shoulder of the road and had to stop in the left-hand lane on route 80 in NJ which is very dangerous. Both of my sons were in the car when this occurred. The car was towed to my licensed mechanic who confirmed that the spark plug was blown out of the engine which caused the loud noise and loss of power. There was no warning, symptoms or messages before this occurred which is why I am extremely concerned for the safety of others who own this type of vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11464459

Incident

May 11, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Fit equipped with Continental General Tires, Tire Line: Altimax RT43, Tire Size: 195/50/R16, DOT number: 6539wby54618. The contact stated that the driver’s side front tire had started to show signs of bubbling on the sidewall of the tire. The contact had taken the vehicle to a certified tire mechanic who notified the contact of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21T001000 (Tires) and 21T018000 (Tires). The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the Vin was not under recall. The vehicle failure mileage was 147,000 and the approximate tire failure mileage was 13,000. The manufacturer who and confirmed that their vehicle was not included in any recall. The approximate vehicle was 147,000 and the approximate failure mileage was 13,000.

NHTSA ID

11424370

Incident

Jul 9, 2021

Mileage

147,000 mi

SPARK PLUGS NUMBER 1 & 2 CAME LOOSE AND CAUSE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY LOOSE POWER ON HIGHWAY. THE LOOSE SPARKPLUGS DAMAGED THE IGNITION COILS AND THE CAR WOULD ONLY RUN AT ABOUT 15 MPH WHICH WAS DANGEROUS ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN INSPECTED THE NUMBER 3 & 4 PLUGS WERE STILL TIGHT. SPARKPLUGS AND IGNITION COILS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. AROUND 90000 MILES ON VEHICLE. DATE IS ALSO APPROXIMATE

NHTSA ID

11396580

Incident

Aug 1, 2019

Mileage

90,000 mi

Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Driver's Airbag Inflator for 2007-11 CR-V and Other Listed Years and Models.

"Service Bulletin - There are several A/C leak detection tools available. -Refrigerant Gas Leak Detector -Ultrasonic Leak Detector -Leak Dye"

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.

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 driver's airbag inflator only.

Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator for 2010-12 Accord and Other Listed Years and Models (Expires September 30, 2028)

Service Bulletin - American Honda is conducting an inspection of certain vehicles that have previously had the passenger's airbag inflator replaced as part of the Takata Passsenger's Airbag Inflator recall. If you completed the repair described by this service bulletin on or before May 10, 2019, make sure to use the Warranty Claim Information provided below.