A recent U.S. government investigation has shed light on an unexpected automatic braking problem affecting nearly 3 million Honda vehicles, potentially leading to a recall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Wednesday that it has escalated its probe, initiated in February 2022, to an engineering analysis phase following the reception of 1,294 complaints related to the issue. The majority of these complaints were lodged by consumers directly or through the company.
The complaints allege that the automatic emergency braking system in these Honda vehicles may engage without any obstacles in their path, thereby heightening the risk of a collision. The NHTSA has documented 47 reported crashes and 112 instances of injuries associated with this problem.
The investigation is focused on two of Honda's popular models, the CR-V small SUV and the Accord midsize car, spanning model years 2017 through 2022 for the CR-V and 2018 through 2022 for the Accord.
According to agency records, Honda has suggested that some customers might not fully comprehend the system and its limitations. However, consumers have reported that Honda dealers were unable to replicate the issue, with some being informed that such braking incidents were normal for the system. In certain cases, consumers have indicated that the problem persisted despite these explanations.
In response to the investigation, Honda has expressed its commitment to collaborating with the NHTSA on the examination of the Collision Mitigation Braking System and conducting an internal review of available information.
The NHTSA's evaluation will focus on the frequency of the problem occurrence and the potential safety implications associated with it. This investigation is part of a series of inquiries by the agency into the performance of automatic braking systems, which are lauded for their potential to prevent rear-end collisions and enhance safety on the roads.
While most new vehicles already come equipped with these systems as part of a voluntary industry initiative, the NHTSA is actively working on regulations to mandate the inclusion of these technologies in new vehicles and establish standards for obstacle detection and braking capabilities.
