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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an Engineering Analysis into reports of inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) activations in certain Honda vehicles. The investigation follows earlier assessments of 2019-2022 Honda Insight and Passport models and has now been expanded to include 2023 Honda Passport vehicles. The inquiry seeks to determine the scope, frequency, and potential safety risks associated with this issue, which may involve hundreds of reported incidents.
Key Highlights:
- Vehicles under investigation: 2019-2022 Honda Insight, 2019-2023 Honda Passport models.
- Reason for investigation: Allegations of AEB activation without visible obstruction, causing rapid deceleration.
- Reported incidents:
- 412 reports linked to the alleged defect (Honda’s data).
- 106 consumer complaints received directly by NHTSA.
- 475 unique vehicle reports reviewed, including three crash allegations and two injury claims.
- Manufacturer’s stance: Honda suggests some incidents may stem from consumer misunderstanding of AEB system functionality.
On March 7, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) initiated a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24008) to examine complaints of AEB systems in the affected vehicles engaging unexpectedly. The complainants claim that the AEB system activated without an obstruction in the vehicle’s path, leading to sudden and unnecessary deceleration. Despite Honda’s analysis suggesting that consumer misunderstanding could be a factor, many complaints indicated that dealerships were unable to reproduce the issue or dismissed it as normal system behavior.
The expanded Engineering Analysis (EA25002) aims to further explore the implications of inadvertent AEB activations. The investigation will evaluate potential safety consequences, including crashes and injuries, and seek to determine whether the defect warrants a recall. Consumers can access detailed reports via the NHTSA website by referencing the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number.
This investigation underscores the critical importance of ensuring that advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), such as AEB, function as intended to maintain public safety and trust in automotive technology.
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