This week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stepped up an investigation led by its Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) into an issue with the automated emergency braking system in certain models of Honda vehicles, namely the Honda Accord and Honda CR-V.

The NHTSA report revealed that out of almost 1300 complaints filed so far, 31 of them involved a crash, and there were reports of 58 injuries from 50 different incidents. This investigation by the ODI covers a large number of vehicles, totaling nearly 3 million, including various models such as the 2018–2022 Honda Accord, 2018–2022 Accord Hybrid, 2017–2022 Honda CR-V, and 2020–2022 CR-V Hybrid.

The NHTSA, through its Office of Defects Investigation, has decided to delve deeper into concerns surrounding the automated emergency braking system in a significant number of Honda Accord and Honda CR-V models, reaching almost three million vehicles. This system, referred to by Honda as the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), has been under scrutiny for its unexpected activation, particularly in situations where there seems to be no obstacle in the vehicle’s path. The initial focus of the investigation, conducted earlier, was on the 2017–2019 CR-V and 2018–2019 Accord vehicles.

This investigation started on February 21, 2022, after multiple reports indicated that the system was activating even when there was no apparent obstruction, leading to sudden deceleration of the vehicle and raising the risk of a collision.

On Monday, April 15, the NHTSA announced that the initial probe led by the ODI has been upgraded to an engineering analysis, widening the scope of the investigation. This analysis now includes nearly three million Honda Accord, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, and CR-V Hybrid vehicles from the model years 2017 through 2022.

According to NHTSA’s documents, the ODI has received a total of 1294 complaints regarding the inadvertent activation of the CMBS system, though this number might change over time. Among these complaints, 31 cases involved an actual crash, resulting in 58 reported injuries from 50 separate incidents.

Documentation from the NHTSA suggests that Honda has provided information to the ODI regarding a potential defect in the system. Additionally, Honda hinted that some customers might not fully understand the CMBS and its limitations. The NHTSA’s website indicates that an engineering analysis typically concludes within 18 months and could potentially lead to a recall of the affected vehicles.