NHTSA Investigates 1.7 Million Hondas for Random Braking

Safety officials from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have launched an investigation into 1,732,000 Honda Motor vehicles due to repeated reports of random braking that increases the risk of a crash, reports Reuters.

The probe covers 2018-2019 Honda Accords and 2017-2019 Honda CR- V vehicles.

Specifically, the agency said in a document posted on its website that it received a total of 278 complaints of “inadvertent or unexpected activation of the automatic emergency braking system.” This scenario may cause rapid vehicle deceleration and increases the likelihood of a collision. In particular, the problem can lead to increased vulnerability to rear end impact collisions, notes NHTSA.

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) notes that it received 107 of the complaints regarding Honda Accords and another 171 concerning Honda CR-Vs. The reports allege braking incidents, “some with large speed changes, occurring with nothing obstructing the vehicle's path of travel.”

Of the 278 complaints, six claim that a collision occurred and resulted in minor injuries.

The Honda probe comes on the heels of a formal investigation one week ago by NHTSA into 416,000 Tesla vehicles over complaints of unexpected brake activation tied to its driver assistance system, Autopilot.

A preliminary evaluation by NHTSA is the first phase before the agency could issue a formal recall demand. Honda said it will cooperate with the investigation and continue its own internal one as well, reports Reuters.