Honda is experiencing something similar to Toyota’s well publicized quality meltdown. During the past year or so, Honda has issued more than 26 public statements about various defects and recalls.
Honda is recalling more than 48,000 Odyssey minivans and almost 9,000 Pilot and Acura MDX SUVs in its latest quality gaffs. The latest Honda safety recalls cover model-year 2008 and early-2009 Odyssey EX-L and Touring vehicles in the United States to replace the two power tailgate struts, which can fail unexpectedly sending the rear opening down, guillotine like. Two injuries have been reported because of this safety defect, Honda said in a required filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The other Honda safety defect involves leaking fuel tanks on Pilot and Acura MDX sport utility vehicles caused by a defective component from Toyoda Gosei North American. The leaking tanks pose in theory a fire risk. No fires or injuries have been reported, though, according to Honda’s filing with NHTSA.
These recalls were in process as the parent company in Japan proposed Tetsuo Iwamura, now President of American Honda Motor Company, to the second highest position at the struggling automaker whose American market is its largest and most profitable – Executive Vice President and Executive Officer – effective 1 April. Iwamura will also join Honda’s board in June, if shareholder approval – almost certain – is given at the annual meeting. Iwamura will remain as President and retain all his responsibilities as head of American Honda and Honda’s North American Region.
Honda is experiencing something similar to Toyota’s well publicized quality meltdown. During the past year or so, Honda has issued more than 26 public statements about various safety defects and recalls in the U.S.
The question remains will NHTSA fine Honda, absent the high profile, highly critical Congressional hearings that Toyota and NHTSA endured, or the egregious behavior of BMW that NHTSA just called out? Last week NHTSA fined BMW of North America and its German parent company $3 million for not reporting safety defects promptly. It was the second highest fine in history after Toyota paid almost $50 million in 2010 for not disclosing safety defects promptly.
