Inactive ADAS Systems: The Hidden Impact of the Chip Shortage on Vehicle Repairs

While the global chip shortage situation has significantly improved, we still see vehicles that have been partially equipped with inactive ADAS systems. Usually, these vehicles are brought to us because the system is not working properly or at all. Some vehicle makers plan to complete the installation and activate these systems at a later date once the missing parts are more readily available.

One example is that some 2022-2023 GM vehicles have been sold with Park Assist sonar sensors installed in either the rear bumper or front & rear bumpers. The sonar sensors are connected to the vehicle wiring harness, but the vehicle does not have a park assist control module installed rendering the sensors unusable until the control module is added and the system activated. The park assist option is one of a handful of options that may be incomplete. GM has identified these vehicles by adding an option (RPO) code on the vehicle build sheet that signifies an incomplete system installed. There is also a GM Service Bulletin hashtag#PIT5883J that lists each corresponding RPO code, the affected system, affected vehicles, and if a retrofit is planned.

Another example we have seen in the past was on a 2023 Honda CR-V that came in from a body shop after a collision where the left blind spot module was replaced. There was a blind spot system error on the dash display and two related trouble codes found on a scan indicating no communication with the right blind spot module and an open circuit to the left mirror LED. Upon closer inspection of the vehicle, we found that the mirrors were not equipped with LED indicators, and the right blind spot module was labeled “Dummy” on the back side. Due to the chip shortage, this CR-V was shipped without the blind spot system and had “Dummy” blind spot modules that look like real modules, plugged into the vehicle wiring harness as well. When the shop unknowingly replaced the dummy module that was damaged with a real blind spot module it activated the blind spot system on the vehicle and triggered the trouble codes. In this case the Honda parts catalogue showed both the real and dummy modules and did not specify which module is equipped by the VIN. Also, according to the build sheet data, this CR-V is equipped with the blind spot system. We have not found any documentation from Honda regarding the dummy blind spot modules.