An issue with your Honda road departure mitigation will impact the system functionality, preventing it from providing the intended safety benefits. The system’s failure is often due to a malfunctioning camera or sensor, extreme weather conditions, or electrical issues.
Honda Road Departure Mitigation System
The Honda road departure mitigation system is a safety feature that prevents your vehicle from drifting off the road. This system uses cameras and sensors to find lane markings. And warns the driver whenever it detects that the vehicle is steering out of its lane.
A notification will pop up on the dashboard, and the steering wheel will vibrate to alert the driver. And if the driver doesn’t do anything to correct the situation, the system will apply mild steering assistance to recenter the vehicle. The system may also apply the brakes in some instances to prevent the vehicle from leaving its lane.
The system will only operate when the vehicle is cruising at a speed between 45 and 90 MPH on a straight or slightly curvy road.
Causes of Failed Honda Road Departure Mitigation System
Below are the factors that could cause the failure of a Honda road departure mitigation system:
Faulty Camera
The system relies on a camera mounted behind the windshield to detect lane markings. A slight issue with the camera will cause the system to fail. A dirty or obstructed camera lens will hinder the system from capturing accurate images of the road markings. Causing the system to malfunction.
Also, a broken or poorly calibrated camera may not be able to detect the lane markings correctly, which would invariably cause the system to fail. Since the road departure mitigation system relies on the camera footage to detect lane markings, the system will fail if the camera malfunction.
Blown fuse
A blown fuse can also cause your Honda road departure mitigation system to fail. The system relies on electrical power to function correctly. If a fuse is blown, it can prevent the system from receiving the necessary power.
Fuses are designed to protect the electrical system from damage caused by power surges or other electrical problems. The fuse will blow to protect the electrical components from damage when a power surge occurs.
Bad weather condition
During bad weather conditions, such as heavy rain, snow, or fog, the cameras and sensors can malfunction as inclement conditions might obstruct them. For instance, snow can cover the sensors or the camera lens, interfering with the system’s ability to detect road markings.
Similarly, the camera will have difficulty seeing the road ahead during heavy rain. Any interference with lane marking detection will consequently cause the system to fail.
Battery issue
An issue with your vehicle battery can also cause the road departure mitigation system to malfunction. The system relies on power from the battery to stay operational. A weak or failing battery may have difficulty supplying sufficient charge to keep the system running, causing it to fail.
The system will trigger a warning on the dashboard to notify the driver that the system has been disabled. The driver will also notice that other systems that need battery power to stay operational will malfunction.
Possible Fixes for a Malfunctioning Honda Road Departure Mitigation System
Check the Battery Condition
Checking the battery condition means ensuring that the battery has enough charge. By sufficient power, we mean that the battery voltage measures 12 volts when tested with a voltmeter. This way, the electrical systems, including the road departure mitigation system, have sufficient charge.
If the battery is weak or has a low charge, it might not be able to supply enough power to the system, causing it to malfunction.
So, if you’re experiencing issues with your road departure mitigation system, checking the battery condition is a good first step to see if a weak battery might be the cause. Charging or replacing a defective battery will fix the issue if that is what caused the system malfunction.
Reset the system by disconnecting the battery.
Another possible fix is to reset the system. This is done by disconnecting the car’s battery. It is a simple and straightforward process.
Disconnecting the battery cuts off the power supply to all the electrical systems in the car. This includes the road departure mitigation system. By doing this, you’re giving the system a fresh start and resetting any issues or glitches that might have caused it to malfunction.
You’ll need to locate the battery in the car (usually under the hood) and remove the negative cable to disconnect the battery. After the battery has been disconnected for a few minutes, you can reconnect the cable and start the car. If that doesn’t work, you may want to proceed to investigate a blown fuse.
Check and replace the blown fuse.
If the road departure mitigation system isn’t working, it might be due to a blown fuse. The good news is that this is usually an easy fix. To check the fuse, you’ll need to locate the fuse box in the car (usually under the dashboard or hood) and find the fuse for the system. This corresponding fuse for the system should be labeled in the vehicle manual or the fuse box cover.
Visually inspect the fuse to see if it’s blown. If the fuse is blown, you can replace it with a new one with the same amperage rating.
Clean or Replace the camera if broken
Over time, the camera lens can get dirty from dust, dirt, and debris on the road. This can cause the camera not to accurately detect the road markings, leading to the system malfunctioning.
The camera is usually mounted behind the windshield or the rearview mirror. Gently wipe the lens with a soft, clean cloth. You can use a small amount of water, but avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive materials that could scratch the lens.
Final Thoughts
The road departure mitigation system is a safety feature designed to prevent vehicles from drifting off the road. But it is not unusual for this system to malfunction, causing it to stop working.
Most times, its failure is caused by an issue with the camera. However, inclement weather conditions, blown fuse and battery issues are also possible culprits. Disconnecting the battery to reset the system is what we usually recommend.
But if that doesn’t work, you should check the battery condition. You may also want to investigate a blown and check the camera’s condition.
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