Honda has expanded a fuel injection system recall from last year to include 628,000 vehicles across 25 model lines because the vehicles can suddenly stall. The estimated date to start notifications to owners is May 18, 2021. Affected vehicles – now all 628,000 – may be equipped with a fuel pump module manufactured with low density impellers from the supplier Denso. If the surface of a lower density impeller is exposed to production solvent drying for longer periods of time, higher levels of surface cracking may occur.
“These cracks may lead to excessive fuel absorption, resulting in impeller deformation. Over time, if an impeller deforms to a point that it creates sufficient interference with the fuel pump body, the fuel pump becomes inoperative, which may cause illumination of the Malfunction Indicator Lamp in the instrument panel. Fuel pump inoperability could prevent an engine from starting or stall an engine while driving, increasing the risk of a crash,” Honda said in its revised NHTSA filing.
Chronology
- May 21, 2020: Honda determined that a defect related to motor vehicle safety existed and decided to conduct a small safety recall (NHTSA ID no. 20V-314).
- September – October 2020:The primary contributor to impeller swelling was the development of surface cracks on low density impellers exposed to production solvent drying for longer periods of time, Honda conducted further analysis on impeller density to improve accuracy of the criteria used to determine part toughness. (Trying to limit the scope of the recall – editor) Honda found that the composition of non-resin material (glass fiber and calcium carbonate) in the impeller was highly variable, which led to high variance in impeller density measurements. To minimize variation, the non-resin material was removed with heat application, and the remaining resin material was measured to determine resin density. When applying resin density instead of the overall density to the criteria used to determine part toughness in failed returned field parts, resin density provided increased accuracy in predicting part failure. The updated criteria were then applied to all fuel pump manufacturing lots built during the suspect period to determine the likelihood of part failure.
- March 19, 2021: Honda determined that a defect related to motor vehicle safety existed and decided to conduct a safety recall to include additional vehicles. As of March 19, 2021, Honda has received 583 warranty claims, 166 field reports, and no reports of injuries or crashes related to this issue.
Fix for Fuel Pump Safety Defect
Registered owners of all affected vehicles will be contacted by mail and asked to take their vehicle to an Acura or Honda dealer. The dealer will replace the fuel pump assembly for free. Owners who have paid to have these repairs completed at their own expense will be eligible for reimbursement, in accord with the recall reimbursement plan on file with NHTSA.
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.
Honda, Acura Recall 628,000 Vehicles for Fuel Pump Failures
Honda has expanded a fuel injection system recall from last year to include 628,000 vehicles across 25 model lines because the vehicles can suddenly stall. The estimated date to start notifications to owners is May 18, 2021. Affected vehicles – now all 628,000 – may be equipped with a fuel pump module manufactured with low density impellers from the supplier Denso. If the surface of a lower density impeller is exposed to production solvent drying for longer periods of time, higher levels of surface cracking may occur.
“These cracks may lead to excessive fuel absorption, resulting in impeller deformation. Over time, if an impeller deforms to a point that it creates sufficient interference with the fuel pump body, the fuel pump becomes inoperative, which may cause illumination of the Malfunction Indicator Lamp in the instrument panel. Fuel pump inoperability could prevent an engine from starting or stall an engine while driving, increasing the risk of a crash,” Honda said in its revised NHTSA filing.
Chronology
Fix for Fuel Pump Safety Defect
Registered owners of all affected vehicles will be contacted by mail and asked to take their vehicle to an Acura or Honda dealer. The dealer will replace the fuel pump assembly for free. Owners who have paid to have these repairs completed at their own expense will be eligible for reimbursement, in accord with the recall reimbursement plan on file with NHTSA.
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.