Investigations
SRS READINESS INDICATOR ILLUMINATION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE05043 - closed, opened 2005-08-12.
NHTSA investigation PE05043 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2005-08-12 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2006-03-24 - 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 PE05043 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: "THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED WITH AN OCCUPANT POSITION DETECTION SYSTEM (OPDS) FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT TO SUPPRESS THE SIDE AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF AN OUT-OF-POSITION OCCUPANT. ON SOME VEHICLES, THE OPDS UNIT AND SENS..." 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.
Investigation Summary
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED WITH AN OCCUPANT POSITION DETECTION SYSTEM (OPDS) FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT TO SUPPRESS THE SIDE AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF AN OUT-OF-POSITION OCCUPANT. ON SOME VEHICLES, THE OPDS UNIT AND SENSOR GRID MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO HIGH MOISTURE CONTENT AND/OR TO SPORADIC ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE ILLUMINATION OF THE SRS READINESS INDICATOR. IN THIS CONDITION, OPDS SUPPRESSION WILL NOT FUNCTION, BUT THE SIDE AIRBAG WILL STILL DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A SIDE CRASH. HONDA ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN APRIL 2004 TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS EVEN AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRES. AS A RESULT, SOME OWNERS MAY NOT BE OBTAINING THE NECESSARY REMEDIAL SERVICE WORK. CONTINUED ILLUMINATION OF THE SRS INDICATOR CAN "MASK" THE DETECTION OF OTHER AIRBAG COMPONENT FAULTS IF THEY OCCUR. IN MARCH 2006, HONDA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (06-009) TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON SRS ILLUMINATION AND OPDS ISSUES TO 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST). HONDA WILL SEND NOTIFICATION LETTERS TO OWNERS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND WILL PROVIDE A NO COST REPLACEMENT OF THE OPDS UNIT AS NEEDED. IN ADDITION, OTHER MY 1999-04 HONDA AND ACURA VEHICLES ARE ALSO COVERED BY THE BULLETIN. THIS ACTION TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
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.
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.