Headlight failures weren't a planned part of the debut of the sub-compact Honda Fit.
American Honda Motor Company will recall approximately 143,083 model year 2007 and 2008 Honda Fit vehicles because of a bad headlight switch, which can case the low-beams to fail and possibly start a fire.
The problem derives from the routing of the wiring harness to the headlight switch, causing, according to Honda, wear on the plating of the wiring harness connectors. This results in corrosion and causes the connector to overheat and fail. The high-beam headlight circuit is not affected.
No accidents or injuries have been reported related to this issue.
Owners of model-year 2007 and 2008 Honda Fit vehicles will receive notification to bring the vehicle to a Honda dealer for inspection. If needed, the dealer will replace the wiring harness terminal, and the wiring harness connector will be secured in place. If any signs of damage in the connector exist, the dealer will replace the headlight switch.
Honda wants all owners of affected vehicles to take their vehicle to an authorized dealer as soon as they receive notification from Honda that their vehicle requires repair. Notification to customers will start in January 2011.
Honda owners can go to www.recalls.honda.com or call (800) 999-1009, then option 4.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
