Event Data Recorders (EDRs) are electronic devices, commonly called black boxes, that have been installed in motor vehicles dating back to the 1990’s. EDRs have the ability to record information about what a vehicle did before, during and immediately after a traffic crash. EDRs are generally part of a vehicle’s airbag control module, powertrain control module, or rollover sensor.

No. However, the majority of vehicles currently manufactured have some type of EDR installed in them. By the year 2020, about 99% of all motor vehicles being sold in North America were equipped a “black box” that were accessible by way of a variety of diagnostic tools.

No. While there are certain minimum standards manufacturers have to meet, there is an abundance of non-mandated information manufacturers choose to record. When and how an EDR records, as well as the type of data recorded, is dependent upon the year, make, and model of the vehicle. An EDR can be configured to record a variety of data including, but not limited to, information about how a vehicle’s airbag and restraint system functioned as well as pre-crash speed, brake use or throttle application.

No. EDRs can only record when power is applied. Powering of the event data recorder requires battery power be available, and the ignition is in the “on” position. Given the fact an EDR is normally a part of the vehicle’s airbag control module, there should never be a recording, nor airbag deployment, unless the vehicle was being used (driven).

Nearly every vehicle being manufactured for North America has an event data recorder in it. However, their first implementation is highly dependent upon the individual car company. For example, General Motors first installed a downloadable EDR in 1994, while Volkswagen and Audi did not have known application of EDRs in their vehicles until 2015. Most vehicles can be downloaded with the Bosch Crash Data Retrieval tool. However, manufacturer specific tools are sometime required.

Yes. NHTSA released a ruling (NHTSA-2006-25666; 49 CFR Part 563 Titled: Event Data Recorders) that regulated the type of information manufacturers had to recorded, as well as the method in which it must be stored. The ruling affected all vehicles manufactured for North America after September 1st 2012, and required all manufacturers make their EDR data available to the public.

Generally, the data contained within an EDR should be treated as property of the vehicle owner. If consent to access the information from an EDR is being sought, then the vehicle owner should be contacted.

Vehicles have become increasingly complex, with numerous onboard vehicle computers to include, but not limited to, infotainment systems. The type(s) of data obtainable from a vehicle’s onboard computer system(s) can include unique identifiers of connected devices (via Bluetooth or wireless), call logs, contact lists, SMS messages, emails, pictures, videos, social media feeds, door openings, transmission shifts, hard accelerations or decelerations, stability control events, and GPS data, including data relating to recent destinations, favorite locations, and the navigation history of the subject vehicle. Our experts have the ability to download an interpret many of these devices.