Just today, after Toyota’s massive and unprecedented recall of millions of its vehicles, Honda has announced that it is now going to recall 646,000 units of the Fit/Jazz and City models globally. This recall includes 140,000 units that are currently in the Unites States. A spokeswoman from Honda announced that the recall covers the models sold across the globe, with the exception of models sold in Japan.
According to Honda, the recall is aimed at fixing a defective master switch, which may cause water to enter the power window switch and in some cases lead to a fire. “Under some severe operating conditions, water, rain, or other liquid may enter the driver’s window and reach the master power window switch, resulting in impaired function of the switch,” the Japanese car maker said in a statement. “If the master power window switch is damaged as a result of the liquid intrusion, it may result in failure of the switch and overheating. An overheating switch may cause smoke, melting or, potentially, fire,” according to Honda.
In the United States, there are two reported cases of fires starting in Honda models due to this particular defect. There is also a reported case in South Africa. The Honda recall is the second major car manufacturer defect in the news this week, following Toyota halting the sale of popular models in the US due to a tendency for accelerator pedals to stick.