Tag Archives: NHTSA

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Honda Under NHTSA Investigation for Seatbelt and Airbag Issues Affecting Over Half a Million Vehicles

While much of the safety spotlight has been fixed on Tesla lately, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is widening its gaze—and this time, Honda’s in the frame. The agency has opened two separate investigations covering a combined 583,000 vehicles, including the family-hauling Honda Pilot SUV and Odyssey minivan.

The issues under review might sound like the stuff of small-print recalls, but they could have big implications for passenger safety—especially for families who depend on Honda’s reputation for reliability.

Seatbelt Confusion in the Pilot

The first probe targets the 2023–2024 Honda Pilot, and it centers on the SUV’s seatbelt reminder system. According to NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), the Pilot may incorrectly indicate that second- and third-row passengers are buckled up—or, worse, that they’re not.

That’s not just an annoyance for safety-conscious parents—it’s potentially dangerous. The third row in the Pilot isn’t exactly in the driver’s line of sight, so confirming that everyone’s properly strapped in already requires a bit of trust (or a lot of neck craning). With an inaccurate seatbelt warning system, a driver could be left constantly second-guessing whether the back seats are secure, or distractedly checking the display while on the move.

Only six official complaints have been logged so far, but given the nature of the issue, even a small number has prompted regulators to take a closer look.

Unwanted Airbag Deployments in the Odyssey

Then there’s the 2018–2022 Honda Odyssey, which has its own more dramatic concern. NHTSA has received 19 complaints alleging that the minivan’s side curtain and rear airbags can deploy when the vehicle hits a pothole or a harsh bump—no crash required.

As anyone who’s ever experienced an airbag deployment can attest, it’s not a gentle affair. The blast is loud, violent, and could easily cause injury—or at least startle the driver enough to cause a real collision afterward. One complaint has already triggered an early warning report tied to injury or death, though details remain unclear.

No Recall—Yet

To be clear, neither the Pilot nor the Odyssey has been recalled at this stage. But between 142,572 Pilots and 441,002 Odysseys potentially affected, Honda owners should keep an ear out for official updates.

The hope is that these problems turn out to be isolated incidents. But if NHTSA’s investigation points to a broader flaw, Honda will likely need to issue a recall and fix the systems quickly—before an incorrect seatbelt warning or an overzealous airbag turns an ordinary drive into something far more serious.

Source: NHTSA

News

NHTSA Moves to Rewrite the Rules of the Road for Self-Driving Cars

For decades, the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) have been the rulebook for everything from seatbelts to headlights. But when those rules were inked, the idea of a car piloting itself without a steering wheel—or even a driver—was strictly the stuff of science fiction. Today, with autonomous shuttles already roaming certain city streets, the government is finally working to catch the law up to the tech.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed a slate of changes aimed at making those aging regulations compatible with driverless vehicles, particularly robotaxis and purpose-built shuttles like those operated by Amazon-owned Zoox. In their current form, the rules are littered with assumptions about human drivers, from references to transmission shift levers to requirements tied to the driver’s seating position.

Among the four updates on the table: revising standards for transmission shift position sequences, as well as modernizing rules covering windshield defrosting, defogging, and wiper systems. NHTSA also wants to tweak FMVSS 108, the catchall regulation for lights and reflective devices, which currently presumes a human behind the wheel.

The move builds on an earlier effort to simplify the exemption process for companies developing autonomous vehicles. By clearing away outdated driver-centric language, NHTSA hopes to both streamline development and keep individual states from cobbling together their own patchwork rules—a nightmare scenario for automakers trying to scale nationwide fleets of AVs.

“Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards were written for vehicles with human drivers and need to be updated for autonomous vehicles,” said NHTSA Chief Counsel Peter Simshauser. “Removing these requirements will reduce costs and enhance safety.”

It’s a statement that captures both the promise and the tension of this moment. Regulators want to “unleash American ingenuity” while ensuring that safety doesn’t take a back seat to speed of deployment. With the rules of the road under revision, the big question is how fast these robotaxis will move from novelty to normal.

Source: NHTSA

News

Lamborghini recalls Countach LPI 800-4

In August 2021, Lamborghini unveiled the new Countach LPI 800-4, inspired by the original Countach that premiered half a century ago. It is a limited edition that was produced in only 112 units, and all cars were sold out in the first week. However, Countach LPI 800-4 owners already have a problem as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced that all cars must be recalled.

After last month’s incident in Qatar, when one of the four glass panels above the engine compartment fell off the Countach, the NHTSA decided to recall all cars, noting that it could be dangerous for drivers and increase the risk of traffic collisions.

Lamborghini has already conducted an internal investigation and after testing found that the problem was caused by a supplier error. It was also found that there is a possibility of the same problem on other cars and the only option was a recall.

In January 2023, Lamborghini will contact all owners to return the vehicles to dealers for inspection. The glass panels will be inspected and replaced if necessary.

Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 is powered by a 6.5-liter V12 engine combined with an electric motor with a total power of 803 hp (599 kW) and 531 lb-ft (720 Nm) of torque. Power is transmitted to all wheels via a 7-speed ISR (Independent Shifting Rods) automatic gearbox. It reaches 62 mph in 2.8 seconds, 124 mph (200 km/h) in 8.6 seconds and a top speed of 221 mph (355 km/h).

Source: NHTSA