NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE12026
Preliminary Evaluation · Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
An investigation is not a finding that a defect exists.
NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
What NHTSA is examining
The agency's own description of the inquiry, quoted as published
Ignition Interlock Failure - Rollaway
On December 10, 2012, Honda Motor Company submitted a defect information report to NHTSA regarding ignition interlocks in approximately 576,117 model year MY) 2003 through 2004 Honda Pilot and Odyssey vehicles that are the subject of this investigation and 231,044 MY 2003 through 2006 Acura MDX vehicles (Recall No. 12V-573).Honda's report states that a design change to the ignition switch used in the recalled vehicles reduced the range of rotation for the ignition switch from 160 degrees in earlier designs to 125 degrees without a corresponding change to the ignition interlock blocking mechanism.The result was that excessive rotational force could damage a lever that would allow the driver to remove the ignition key that was in a position other than the Park position, which may allow the vehicle to roll away.ODI identified 176 complaints related to the alleged defect, including 48 roll away crashes.Threeof the incidents resulted in the following injuries to pedestrians:1) a broken foot and torn Achilles tendon; 2) a fractured fibula and crush injuries to a shin area; and 3) an incident requiring unspecified treatment at a hospital emergency room.This investigation is closed.The VOQs associated with this investigation are: 10486515, 10486393, 10486100, 10485010, 10482229, 10482091, 10481169, 10481105, 10481079, 10481027, 10480804, 10480648, 10480099, 10480009, 10479934, 10479695, 10479561, 10479517, 10479494, 10479484, 10479437, 10479421, 10479409, 10479343, 10478916, 10478876, 10478857, 10478845, 10478784, 10478776, 10478720, 10476767, 10473167, 10465590, 10463995, 10457825, 10452596, 10451185, 10448593, 10446962, 10440841, 10440040, 10439061, 10439033, 10438611, 10425909, 10403299, 10397920, 10395833, 10395298, 10379673, 10374724, 10365751, 10363501, 10361325, 10358480, 10355331, 10354680, 10354669, 10354390, 10353281, 10351899, 10351489, 10351240, 10349716, 10349612, 10348987, 10348955, 10348725, 10348579, 10348564, 10348429, 10348389, 10348268, 10348254, 10331474, 10325334, 10276072, 10179464.
An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.
Investigation details
Identifiers, dates and outcome as recorded by NHTSA
- Action number
- PE12026
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
- Component
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
- Opened
- Oct 2, 2012
- Closed
- Jan 14, 2013
- Associated recall campaign
- 12V573000
Vehicles named in this investigation
8 model years across 3 models
Being named here means NHTSA included the vehicle in the scope of its inquiry. It is not a statement that these vehicles have a defect.