Investigation has moved forward to engineering analysis
Next step could be recall
An inquiry into the safety of nearly 3 million Honda Motor vehicles has been upgraded. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received nearly 1,300 complaints about so-called phantom braking in Honda vehicles.
The probe began in 2022, with the safety regulator investigating 1.7 million Honda models after reports of the automatic emergency braking feature engaging without warning. At that time, NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation said it had received a total of 278 complaints.
NHTSA upgraded the probe to an engineering analysis and added 2020-2022 Honda CR-V and Accord models, bringing the total number involved to nearly 3 million. The NHTSA said that of the sudden vehicle deceleration complaints, 50 injuries and 31 crashes were reported. Vehicles involved include the 2018-2022 Honda Accord and the 2017-2022 Honda CR-V.
Investigations by the safety monitor start with a defect petition, then may move fordward to a preliminary evaluation, recall query, and finally en engineering analysis. The analysis is the last step before a recall but doesn’t mean that a recall is necessary or will be put in place.
