Honda’s Week of Recalls and Watches

Honda Motor Company has just completed a week in which it recalled hundreds of thousands of motor vehicles it manufactured. In no particular order, here are the highlights of the Honda vehicles:

First, the 2002 through 2003 Honda Civics and 2004 through 2005 Honda Pilot SUV’s were recalled for faulty headlight wiring. Honda has reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it believes there is a defective headlight switch that causes the vehicles’ low-beam headlights to fail. There was a recall back in March 2012 that affected about 554,000 Honda CR-V’s from 2002 through 2004, as well as the 2003 Honda Pilots. Honda has not reported any related crashes or injuries, but the lack of low-beam headlights creates a dangerous condition.

Honda Pilots and Odyssey minivans for the year models 2003 through 2004 were reported to have their “park interlocks” fail, thus allowing those vehicles to roll away. The investigators reported that at least 42 complaints were made by owners who said they could remove the key from the ignition while the transmission was in the “park” position. Unlike the faulty wiring, there were in fact incidents with this defect, including the 26 vehicles that rolled away and the 16 vehicles that did not stop until they hit an object. One report indicated an injury of a broken leg after the person was run over by the van. The investigation is in the preliminary stages at this point in time and a recall may be forthcoming.

Honda also recalled 573,000 Honda Accords (model years 2003-2007) that are equipped with V-6 engines due to high temperatures in the engine compartment causing a power-steering hose to deteriorate and possibly leak. This recall was previously initiated by the Acura brand in the United States and the Honda brand affecting over 1.1 million vehicles. If the leaking power-steering fluid touches a hot surface, it can catch fire.

Finally, Honda is recalling CR-V crossovers from the 2002 to 2006 model years because an electrical switch in the driver’s side door can melt and cause a fire. The recall involves approximately 268,000 vehicles. Honda believes rain or other liquids could enter through a driver’s open window and damage the master power switch in the door. If this happens, the switch could overheat, melt and could cause a fire. With these cars, the NHTSA said owners should park CR-Vs from those model years outside until the recall is performed to avoid any property damage from a fire.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident by a recalled vehicle, contact the attorneys at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling (713) 222-7211 or 713-222-7211