NEWS:
Honda recalling 86,000 vehicles in U.S. for
fire, rollaway concerns
DETROIT NEWS --
September 4, 2011 – Honda Motor Co.
said early Sunday it is recalling nearly
86,000 vehicles in two separate campaigns —
including one to address possible fire
concerns.
With the new
recalls, Honda has now called back more
vehicles than it did in all of 2010.
Honda said
it is recalling 80,111 2006 CR-V vehicles to
replace the power window master switch —
after the U.S. government said it had
reports of five fires.
The design of
the power window master switch can allow
residue from interior cleaners to
accumulate, which can, over time with switch
use, cause the electrical contacts to
degrade and lead to a fire in the switch,
the Japanese automaker said.
Honda said no
injuries or deaths have been reported in
connection with the CR-V issue.
In April, the
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration upgraded an investigation
into the 2006 CR-V after the agency had
received five reports alleging smoke and
fire occurred inside the driver's door. It
received another 24 complains that didn't
include fires.
Separately, Honda will voluntarily recall
5,626 2011 CR-Z in the United States
equipped with manual transmissions to update
the software that controls the hybrid
electric motor.
Honda said
when the gasoline engine has stalled with
the battery in a very low state of charge
and the transmission in gear, it is possible
for the electric motor to rotate in the
direction opposite to that selected by the
transmission. If this occurs and the driver
has not engaged the brakes, the vehicle
might slowly roll in an unexpected
direction. Honda said it could roll
backwards when the transmission is in a
forward gear — potentially leading to a
crash.
Honda will
upgrade the software to correct the problem.
No injuries or deaths have been reported
related to this condition.
Honda will
begin notifying customers in September.
The automaker
has reported two large recalls recently.
Honda said
last month it was recalling 1.51 million
vehicles in the United States to address
complaints of engine stalls and vehicles
shifting out of park — part of a worldwide
recall of 2.5 million vehicles.
In May, Honda
boosted a recall of vehicles for air bags
that can deploy with too much pressure by
833,000. The recall was expanded to 2001-03
Honda and Acura models that might have the
original driver's air bag module replaced
with an affected service part. Honda has now
called back 1.6 million vehicles over the
issue since 2008. At least 12 incidents and
one death are linked to the issue since
2010.
Honda
recalled 2.4 million vehicles in the United
States in 2010 — the third highest number —
behind Toyota Motor Corp. and General Motors
Co
MORE RECALL INFO:
SEPTEMBER 2011
-- Honda is recalling certain model year 2011 CR-Z passenger cars with manual
transmissions, manufactured from January 8, 2010, through June 27, 2011. Should
the engine stall while the brake pedal is not pressed, there is a possibility
that the engine control unit (ECU) software may cause the electric motor of the
hybrid system to move the vehicle unexpectedly in the opposite direction of the
selected gear. Unexpected vehicle movement could increase the risk of a crash or
personal injury to the persons in the path of the moving vehicle. Honda will
notify owners, and dealers will update the ECU software, free of charge. The
safety recall began on September 26, 2011. 11V-458
