Honda Recalls 725,000 Models for Hoods Flying Open

American Honda Motor is recalling 725,000 2019 Passport, 2016-2019 Pilot, and 2017-2020 Ridgeline vehicles because the hood can fly open while driving. The hood latch striker can become damaged and separate from the hood. Honda has known about the problem for more than five years.* Honda said in the required NHTSA filing that there are no reports of accidents or injuries due to this safety defect.

Dealers will either repair the hood latch striker, or replace the hood if necessary, free of charge as is required by US regulations. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 17, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda’s number for this recall is PBV. 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.nhtsa.gov.

*Chronology

July 2016

• Stress fractures were found on the hood latch striker during durability testing of a prototype Ridgeline. After adhesive was applied to a prototype vehicle’s hood latch striker, the vehicle passed durability testing; thereafter, adhesive was applied to the hood latch striker in mass production of similarly designed vehicles as a quality improvement effort. No quality investigations were initiated as there were no market concerns of hood latch striker durability from similarly designed vehicles.

April 2017

• After receiving some non-safety related market concerns, Honda launched an investigation for hood vibration/noises and/or loose hood.

December 2017

• A technical service bulletin (17-083) was launched to address hood vibration and/or loose hood by adjusting the hood alignment.

February 2019

• Corrosion was found in the engine compartment during corrosion testing of the upcoming Passport. Salt water intrusion indicated gaps between the hood and grill.

April 2019

• On-line checks and adjustments were implemented to Passport and Pilot mass production to ensure hood latch height and that the front seal between hood and grill was set to specification.

August 2019

• Online checks and adjustments were implemented to Ridgeline mass production to ensure hood latch height and that the front seal between hood and grill was set to specification.

September 2019

• Honda initiated another investigation into hood vibration/noises due to stress fractures in hood latch strikers.

March 2021

• Honda confirmed complete hood latch striker separation in the field.

August 2021

• Re-creation testing confirmed progressive stress fractures in the hood latch striker can result in separation from the hood.

October 2021

• Review of previous mass production quality improvement efforts (adhesive application in July 2016 and checks/adjustments of the hood latch height and front seal in April – August 2019) judged enough toughness to prevent separation of the hood latch striker from stress fractures. Vehicles built prior to the implementation of both these mass production quality improvement efforts may not have enough toughness to prevent hood latch striker separation.

November 19, 2021

• Honda determined that a defect related to motor vehicle safety existed and decided to conduct a safety recall.
• As of November 19, 2021, Honda has received 116 warranty claims and no reports of crashes or injuries related to this issue.