Investigations
FRONTAL DRIVER AIR BAG
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE04053 - closed, opened 2004-07-26 and involving the HONDA HONDA.
NHTSA investigation PE04053 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2004-07-26 and currently closed. The subject of record is HONDA HONDA, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for HONDA. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2004-11-22 - NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
A Preliminary Evaluation like PE04053 is the entry point of the federal defect-investigation process. NHTSA engineers scan complaint databases, field reports, and manufacturer data to decide whether an Engineering Analysis is warranted, whether a voluntary recall is already sufficient, or whether the pattern does not rise to a defect finding.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "DURING TWO OF 13 NHTSA RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT COMPATIBILITY CRASH TESTS, THE DRIVER-SIDE FRONTAL AIRBAG FAILED TO PROPERLY DEPLOY DUE TO A LARGE TEAR IN THE AIRBAG FABRIC. BOTH R&D TEST VEHICLES THAT CONTAINED A FAILED A..." Investigations are the early-warning layer of the federal auto-safety system, sitting upstream of formal recalls and defect orders. Whether this one closes without action or escalates into an Engineering Analysis, the full history stays in the ODI archive so researchers, litigators, and buyers can pull the paper trail at any time. Related HONDA files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
DURING TWO OF 13 NHTSA RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT COMPATIBILITY CRASH TESTS, THE DRIVER-SIDE FRONTAL AIRBAG FAILED TO PROPERLY DEPLOY DUE TO A LARGE TEAR IN THE AIRBAG FABRIC. BOTH R&D TEST VEHICLES THAT CONTAINED A FAILED AIR BAG WERE 4-DOOR, 4-CYLINDER (L4) VEHICLES. SUBSEQUENT STATIC AND DYNAMIC TESTS CONDUCTED BY HONDA REVEALED THAT DURING SEVERE CRASH CONDITIONS, THE AIRBAG FABRIC CAN SNAG THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE AIRBAG MODULE COVER AT THE EMBLEM ATTACHMENT POINTS. HONDA REPORTS THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE AND COVER DESIGN ARE UNIQUE TO THE 4-DOOR, 4-CYLINDER SUBJECT VEHICLES. ON NOVEMBER 17, 2004, HONDA NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WOULD RECALL 228,932 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 AND 28,428 EARLY-MY 2005 ACCORD L4 SEDANS (UP THROUGH EARLY-OCTOBER, 2004). AS PART OF THE RECALL REMEDY, HONDA WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL PIECE OF PROTECTIVE FABRIC/FLAP BETWEEN THE AIRBAG AND THE INSIDE AIRBAG MODULE COVER. SEE NHTSA RECALL 04V551 FOR DETAILS. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 250 EXPORTED ACCORD VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. THE V-6 MODELS AND THE 2-DOOR, 4-CYLINDER MODELS ARE NOT INCLUDED BASED ON DIFFERENT AIR BAG AND AIR BAG MODULE COVER DESIGNS. THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
About This Investigation Type
A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first phase of NHTSA's investigation process. It is opened when the agency identifies a potential safety defect pattern, usually triggered by consumer complaints, manufacturer reports, or field monitoring. During a PE, NHTSA gathers information to determine whether a formal engineering analysis is warranted.
Other HONDA Investigations
Inaccurate Rear Passenger Seat Belt Warning Status
Loss of Motive Power
Inadvertent Deployment of Side Air Bags
Engine failure
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
Data from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Cross-references: NHTSA recall campaign API and NHTSA FARS where fatality records overlap. PlainCars does not rate or recommend vehicles. about how PlainCars sources NHTSA data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.