NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Engineering Analysis EA09-001: Ignition Shift Interlock

Closed

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Engineering Analysis EA09-001 on January 5, 2009, the day it closed Recall Query RQ08-006, whose summary cites it, and closed it on October 14, 2010. NHTSA's investigations file lists 3 Honda models for it and links recall 10V-364 to it.

Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file

Key facts

NHTSA number: EA09-001 (also written EA09001)
Investigation type: Engineering Analysis A more detailed stage of a defect investigation, opened when NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation decides an issue merits further review, often after a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query; it can include vehicle testing, surveys and further information requests.
Status: Closed October 14, 2010
Opened: January 5, 2009
Closed: October 14, 2010
Vehicle or equipment manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Components: Electrical System — Ignition — Anti-Theft — Control Module; Electrical System — Ignition — Switch
Recall linked by NHTSA: 10V-364: IGNITION INTERLOCK, reported August 5, 2010
Vehicles and equipment: 3 Honda models, including the Element and Accord

NHTSA's summary

As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Engineering Analysis EA09-001.

try.vin does not copy NHTSA's investigation documents; NHTSA's investigation record lists the ones NHTSA has published.

On August 4, 2010, American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA regarding a ignition interlock defect in approximately 384,220 model year (MY) 2003 Honda Accord and Civic and MY 2003 and 2004 Honda Element vehicles with automatic transmissions (Recall 10V-364).

In a September 22, 2010 supplemental DIR, Honda expanded the scope of the recall population based on manufacturing and complaint data.

The total population for the complete recall is approximately 551,498 vehicles.

The information listed in this closing report refers only to the subject vehicles, MY 2003 Accords with automatic transmissions.

According to Honda's DIR, Under certain conditions the interlock lever of the ignition switch may unexpectedly deform, which can allow the interlock function of a vehicle with an automatic transmission to be defeated if the driver does not follow the typical shut-down procedure of shifting the gear selector to the Park position before rotating the ignition key to the off position. Removal of the ignition key when the gear selector of a vehicle with an automatic transmission has not been shifted to the Park position can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.

Honda's dealers will be instructed to inspect the ignition interlock switch and, if necessary, replace the original interlock pin and lever within the ignition switch and replace them with new, redesigned parts.

This investigation is closed.

Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation

NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Engineering Analysis EA09-001. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.

Honda

Honda Accord
- 2003
Honda Civic
- 2003
Honda Element
- 2003, 2004

All Honda recalls

What an NHTSA investigation is

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.

An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Honda VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.

Sources

NHTSA's investigation record for EA09-001

Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.