The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiated an investigation concerning approximately 250,712 Honda Insight and Honda Passport vehicles due to concerns regarding unintended activation of the automatic emergency braking system. This development was announced on Monday, marking the commencement of a preliminary probe by the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). The trigger for this investigation stemmed from 46 complaints received by the ODI, which included accounts of three crashes or fires and two injuries related to the issue.
The affected vehicles encompass models from 2019 to 2022 of the Honda Insight, recognized as a hybrid electric car, as well as the Honda Passport SUV. The inadvertent activation of the automatic emergency braking system poses a significant safety hazard, potentially elevating the risk of collisions leading to both personal injury and property damage, as outlined by the NHTSA.
In light of these concerns, Honda’s North American office has yet to provide immediate commentary on the matter. The initial phase of the NHTSA’s investigation, known as a preliminary evaluation, entails a thorough examination of consumer complaints and manufacturer service bulletins that indicate the presence of a potential safety defect. This marks the commencement of a process aimed at identifying and addressing any safety issues that may exist within the affected vehicles.
