This has not been a good month for Honda for safety recalls. With the addition of 268,655 Honda CR-V from model years 2002-2006 that have a possible defective driver-side power window switch that may fail and cause a fire, Honda now has just under 1,715,000 vehicles being recalled for safety defects.
These CR-V models are in addition to 626,000 Accord and Acura TL models under recall for possible defective hydraulic hoses that may leak and cause a fire in the engine compartment and, 820,000 Honda Civic model years 2002-2003 and Honda Pilot SUV model years 2004-2005 that have a defect in the wiring and switch for the headlights that can melt and knock out the low beam headlights.
If the sheer number of vehicles being recalled were not bad enough, Honda does not have the parts available to immediately repair about half of the cars involved.
As we reported before, the expanded recall for the hydraulic hoses on the Honda Accord and Acura TL models is now 626,000 vehicles. When the initial recall for the 53,000 Acura TL models was announced, Honda had parts enough to handle those vehicles. Honda advises that parts will not be available until Spring 2013 to repair the approximately 573,000 Honda Accord vehicles that have the same problem.
Since there is an engine compartment fire risk involved if the hoses on the Accord leak, consumers should call Honda at 1-800-999-1009 or talk to their dealer for further information or direction on what to do until parts are available.
The recall on the Honda CR-V still presents a risk for owners even though parts will be available when the recall begins. Honda advises that they will not begin to notify owners until about Nov. 2 to return their vehicles to dealers for inspection and repair of the switches as necessary, free of charge.
Because there is the possibility of a fire starting even if the vehicle is not operating, Honda recommends those CR-V owners to not park their vehicles inside structures until the inspection and repair has been accomplished.
To make it even worse for Honda, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced it is conducting an investigation of another 577,000 Pilot SUV and Odyssey minivans from 2003-2004 that have a transmission problem with the interlock mechanism that may allow the vehicle to roll away even if it is in PARK according to the transmission selector. The investigation is ongoing and there is no indication that this investigation will result in a vehicle safety recall when it is completed.
Consumers are urged to call Honda directly for more information or instructions if they are in possession of the recalled model years of any of these vehicles. Because these vehicles are from older model years, most of them are not in the possession of the original owner.
There is a high certainty that any recall notices sent out from Honda, will not reach a current owner.
