Honda driver says unexpected alert completely startled him, but there's an explanation

Published on Jul 06, 2025 at 10:37 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards

Last updated on Jul 03, 2025 at 3:11 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Emma Matthews

This Honda Civic driver said that an unexpected car alert completely startled him, but there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation.

A TikToker by the name of Tristan said that he got the fright of his life when a loud alert went off from his Honda on a normal drive on a completely normal day.

The post and his reaction spawned a huge debate online about indirect and direct Tire-Pressure Monitoring Systems.

Even though there’s a completely reasonable explanation for the unexpected alert, that doesn’t mean that the content creator is happy about it!

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His unexpected Honda Civic alert completely startled him

Apparently, Honda very quietly (ironically) made a minor change to its internal car systems, but the tiny change gave a certain TikToker and Honda Civic owner the fright of his life.

Tristan, the TikToker in question was driving on a normal day on a normal drive when his Tire-Pressure Monitoring System alert went off.

Butt because Honda changed his Civic’s alert system from direct to indirect, it caused some issues.

Direct TPMS sensors are used to measure air pressure, but indirect sensors are a little more vague, using the wheels’ rotation to monitor the wheel speed and estimate tire pressure. And a rise in hot weather set it off.

Direct or indirect TPMS, that is the question

“My tire light went off from my PSI going up from the hot weather. This gave me a heart attack for no reason.” Tristan wrote on his post on social media.

People in the comments tried to put the content creator’s mind at ease by explaining that indirect TPMS is cheaper for the person buying the car, but Tristan didn’t like that.

Although the change happened in 2013, some people might not have been driving in conditions to set off the TPMS, just like the TikToker.

“Everyone is talking about how indirect is cheaper, but I don’t care. I want to know my PSI at all times,” said Tristan.

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Daisy Edwards is a Content Writer at supercarblondie.com. Daisy has more than five years’ experience as a qualified journalist, having graduated with a History and Journalism degree from Goldsmiths, University of London and a dissertation in vintage electric vehicles. Daisy specializes in writing about cars, EVs, tech and luxury lifestyle. When she's not writing, she's at a country music concert or working on one of her many unfinished craft projects.