Headlight failures and melting window switches, among other Honda quality gaffs, weren’t part of the subcompact Honda Fit debut.
Honda is re-recalling 2007-2008 Fit subcompacts that were covered under previous recall for fires, 10V-033, because the fix did not work. The repair in this earlier recall “may have been insufficient,” Honda said in an embarrassing NHTSA filing just made public. In the Fit models affected, over time, the plastic cover installed during the first recall may separate from the master power-window switch allowing water to enter the driver’s window and reach the switch. Water damage causes an overheated switch that can cause smoke, melting and fires.
Honda has had trouble with burning switches before. In an unusual statement issued Sunday over the 2011 Labor Day Weekend holiday, American Honda said the latest global Honda recalls affected 80,111 CR-V vehicles from the 2006 model year in the U.S. to replace the power-window master switch, which can catch fire. The Thailand-made switch is defective, which triggered the global recall. The recall was forced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which had opened an engineering analysis in the smoking switch problem after receiving customer complaints. (Read AutoInformed on Honda Recalls a Million Vehicles for Fires, Software Problems)
In the latest fire recall, Honda will notify owners during late July 2013 telling them to take their vehicles to dealers to have an inspection. If the switch is damaged, it will be replaced free of charge as required by U.S. safety regulations. If the switch is not damaged, the owner will have to wait for a second notification that will instruct them to return to the dealer to have a replacement switch installed free of charge.
Honda anticipates it will have sufficient parts inventory to notify owners of vehicles with undamaged switches to return to dealers for replacement switches in sometime during the fall 2013.
Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda’s recall number is JA6. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
See also:
- Honda Recalls 1.5 Million Accord, CR-V and Element for Software Problem that Leads to Failed Auto Transmissions,
- Honda Recalls New Civic for Fuel Leaks in Latest Quality Gaffe,
- Honda Expands Airbag Recall to 833,000 Honda, Acura Models,
- Honda Recalls 2011 Odyssey Again. Window Glass Can Shatter,
- Honda Recalls Odyssey Minivan for Bad Windshield Wipers,
- Honda Recalls Civic Hybrid Models for Electrical Failures,
- American Honda Recalls 2009-2010 Fit Models for Stalling,
- American Honda Recalls 2010 Accord, CR-V Models for Stalling,
- Honda Recalls Accord, Pilot Models for Suspension Failures,
- Honda Passport SUVs Recalled for Wheels Falling Off,
- American Honda Recalls Fit for Headlight Failures
