A Honda CRV recall will see the Japanese automaker request the return of some 204,500 SUVs and minivans in the US.

A faulty brake-shift interlock is being blamed for the latest Honda recall. The fault allows the transmission to shift away from Park without the driver pressing the brake.

The Honda CRV recall will include the 2012 and 2013 model Honda CR-V SUV and Odyssey minivan, as well as the 2013 RDX SUV from Honda’s Acura luxury division. In total, 128,000 CR-Vs, 59,000 Odysseys and 17,500 RDXs will be recalled. Some 14,000 CR-V’s, 4,500 Odysseys and 2,300 RDX’s are also being recalled in Canada.

An internal investigation at Honda unveiled the issue, which sees the automatic transmission on vehicles slip out of out of Park when temperatures dip below freezing. Honda adds that it has not been made aware of injuries or incidents caused by the fault.

Honda is due to send owners notification next month. Drivers of the listed vehicles will be encouraged to bring their cars to dealers.

For further information on the Honda CRV recall, owners are advised to visit www.recalls.honda.com or www.recalls.acura.com. Alternatively, Honda’s recall lines can be found at 800-999-1009 (Honda) or 800-382-2238 (Acura) and select option 4.

This is not the first time this year Honda has been forced to conduct a recall. In January, the company was forced to issue a recall for more than 748,000 of its vehicles, including Honda Pilots from 2009 through 2013 and Honda Odysseys between 2011 and 2013. The cause on that occasion was improperly assembled airbags.

And in March, Honda announced a global recall of roughly 250,000 vehicles worldwide due to a braking issue. More than 180,000 of the vehicles being recalled were in the United States.

Are you a Honda owner affected by this latest recall?

Honda CRV Recall: 204,500 Vehicles Affected By Shifter Problem is a post from: The Inquisitr

Honda has announced a global recall of roughly 250,000 vehicles worldwide due to a braking issue. More than 180,000 of the vehicles being recalled are in the United States.

On Thursday, the car manufacturing titan announced the recall of four vehicle models prompted by a possible malfunction of the stability assist system. While Honda claims that no injuries have been reported so far, the company did acknowledge that it’s received numerous consumer complaints regarding the issue.

Included in the domestic portion of the Honda recall are roughly 100,000 Pilot SUVs; 60,000 Acura MDX crossover SUVs; and just over 21,000 Acura RL sedans. All of the affected models were manufactured between 2004 and 2005.

The Honda recall also includes roughly 800 of its 2006 Acura MDX vehicles in the United States. Japan has also been affected by the recall with several thousand Honda Odyssey minivans distributed in the country added to the list.

According to Honda, an electrical capacitor on the vehicle’s stability assist system could malfunction. If that happens, the system could apply a quick amount of brake force without any input from the driver.

If the brakes are manually applied during a system malfunction, the resulting force could be greater than what the driver intended. Either of the malfunctions could result in unexpected brake activation, increasing crash risk.

Honda claims that the recall was not prompted by any specific incident. The car company contends that it’s been monitoring the issue for few years after receiving complaints from consumers. However, media sources have speculated that the recall might be traced to one particular driver.

Carrie Carvalho of Arlington, Massachusetts, filed a formal defect petition with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in April 2012. She expressed concerns regarding braking issues with her Honda vehicle and cited 38 complaints to Honda from other owners and requested a review into the matter.

Carvalho claims to have encountered personal experience with the malfunction addressed in the Honda recall. On two occasions in 2010, the brakes on her 2005 model Pilot activated on their own causing the vehicle to veer off course. She further claims that contacting Honda directly did nothing to resolve the matter.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration responded to Carvalho’s complaint in October by conducting a preliminary investigation into the Honda situation. In February, it stepped up the inquiry, launching an in-depth analysis into the engineering malfunction.

Honda is now encouraging owners of the recalled vehicles to visit an authorized dealer for repair. The company plans to inform affected consumers through a mailing scheduled to begin next month. Once a notification has been received, customers can have their vehicles repaired by Honda and Acura dealerships at no cost.

Will you be affected by the new Honda recall?

Honda Recall Issued Over Brake Problems is a post from: The Inquisitr

Honda has issued a recall for more than 748,000 of its vehicles. Honda Pilots from 2009 through 2013 and Honda Odysseys between 2011 and 2013 have been recalled due to improperly assembled airbags.

Honda said that some airbags may have been installed without rivets to secure the plastic cover. This could cause the airbag to deploy incorrectly and may result in an injury. Honda said that it was not away of any injuries related to the issue.

Honda said in a statement:

“Driver’s-side airbags in these vehicles potentially were assembled without some of the rivets that secure the airbag’s plastic cover. If the rivets are missing, the airbag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. No crashes or injuries have been reported related to this issue.”

According to NBC News, recalled vehicles will be inspected by Honda and any defective parts will be replaced. The company said that it will start contacting Honda owners next month. If you believe you have a vehicle that has been recalled you can look up the VIN number at www.recalls.honda.com or you can call (800) 999-1009.

This is Honda’s second major recall in the last few months. Last December, Honda recalled nearly 800,000 vehicles because of a problem with the ignition key.

Honda Recall: 750,000 Pilots, Odysseys Recalled For Air Bag Defect is a post from: The Inquisitr

Automotive giant Honda announced it is recalling more than 800,000 of its family-minded SUVs and minivans because of a defect in vehicles’ ignition system.

Honda Motor Company, Ltd., which has its North American headquarters in Torrance, said Wednesday that the latest recall covers 318,000 Honda Odyssey minivans and 259,000 Honda Pilot crossovers sold during the 2003 and 2004 model-years, while 230,000 Acura MDX crossovers sold between 2003 and 2006 were also added to the service action.

On top of those 807,000 vehicles marketed in the United States, Honda will recall another 63,000 vehicles sold in 28 other countries.

Per Honda’s recall announcement, the issue involves the ignition interlock, a device intended to ensure that the key can only be removed when a vehicle is firmly shifted into Park.

Due to the defect, the mechanism in the vehicles included in the recall could wear over time and allow the key to be removed when the transmission is in Neutral or some other gear, allowing the vehicle to roll away and a crash could occur.

Honda said it has received “several complaints” and is aware of a “small number of related incidents,” including two that allegedly resulted in minor injuries.

According to the recall notice, Honda will notify owners of affected vehicles in early February and ask them to take their vehicles to a dealer to have the problem fixed at no charge.

At that time, Honda owners will also be able to find out if their vehicle is involved in the recall by calling 800-999-1009. Acura owners will be able to call 800-382-2238 for information.

For more information on the 2012 Honda Odyssey, Honda Pilot, and Acura MDX recalls, head over to www.recalls.honda.com and www.recalls.acura.com.

Honda Recall 2012: Automaker Recalling Over 800K Minivans, SUVs For Faulty Ignition Switch is a post from: The Inquisitr

A total of 268,000 Honda CR-V vehicles have been recalled following concerns that the power window master switch could cause a fire.

Honda models from 2002 through 2006 are being recalled, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Fires are believed to have started when rain water entered the driver’s side window. That rain water then managed to trickle down to the master power switch, which caused shorts in the power switch.

In a statement released on Saturday, Honda said such exposure to liquids can cause electrical resistance in the switch, causing it to overheat, smoke, and start a fire.

So far, there have been four switch fires reported by Honda CR-V owners. No injuries or crash reports have been filed at this time.

The NHTSA said that “owners are advised to park outside until the recall repair has been performed.” Indoor parking is not recommended because the company says fires can start even when the vehicles are left in the off position.

Honda will offer a free repair for the switch problem if vehicle owners take their CR-V to an authorized deal to be inspected and repaired. In some cases, the master switch will be replaced all together.

Honda has recalled over one million vehicles in 2012 with issues ranging from broken lift gates to headlight issues. In each case, a routine fix has been offered at no cost to Honda customers.

Do you plan to bring your Honda CR-V into an authorized dealer for repair?

Honda CR-V Recall After Power Window Master Switch Causes Fires is a post from: The Inquisitr

Honda has expanded a recall originally announced in March to include an extra 820,000 cars across the United States. The automaker is now recalling all model-year 2002-2003 Civic sedans and model-year 2004-2005 Pilot sport-utility vehicles, due to a faulty headlight wiring system.

In a statement released Thursday, Honda revealed a fault with the wiring of the headlight switch could result in low-beam headlights failing to work. Though a loss of headlights could obviously restrict a driver’s ability to see the road and potential hazards, Honda added that no crashes or injuries have been reported that have been linked to the problem.

If you’re the proud owner of a 2002-2003 Civic or 2004-2005 Pilot, Honda dealers will inspect your vehicle and, if required, swap out the necessary components of the headlight wiring system.

This is not the first time a Honda recall has been made over headlight issues. Back in March, Honda recalled 550,000 CR-V small SUVs from the 2002 through 2004 model years, as well as Pilots from 2003 – all because of the same flaw.

Indeed, this isn’t Honda’s first recall of this week – on Monday, the company announced it would expand a recall of Acura TL sedans to include 572,000 model-year 2003-2007 Accord V-6 vehicles in the United States. That particular recall was to fix leaking power steering hoses, though it will be delayed, according to Honda.

Are you affected by the latest Honda recall, and have you experienced any headlight issues yourself?

Finally, because we all love them, here’s a nifty Honda ad from a few years back:

Honda Recalls Another 850,000 Cars Over Headlight Issue is a post from: The Inquisitr

Driving around in a 1994 Honda Accord not only means you take really good care of your vehicles for 18 years; it also means you somehow managed not to get it stolen. A new report finds that the 1994 Honda Accord is the most stolen vehicle in America.

Surely the vehicle is not stolen because of its sporty look or luxury ride? Actually it comes down to the simplicity of the theft. The Honda Accord from that particular year lacks the security features found on later models; hence, thieves realize that its a simple ride to steal.

In comparison, Honda models that came out in 1997 featured security measures that made them harder to hot wire.

While better security measures were eventually implemented by Honda, the second car on the top 10 list is the 1998 Honda Civic.

The first American made vehicle to appear on the list is the 2006 Ford F-150 pickup, which happens to be the highest spot a truck has ever appeared on the most stolen list.

Curious to know if your own vehicle is likely to be stolen? Here is the top 10 most stolen vehicles list as researched by the National Insurance Crime Bureau:

1. 1994 Honda Accord
2. 1998 Honda Civic
3. 2006 Ford F-150 Pickup
4. 1991 Toyota Camry
5. 2000 Dodge Caravan
6. 1994 Acura Integra
7. 1999 Chevy Pickup
8. 2004 Dodge Pickup
9. 2002 Ford Explorer
10. 1994 Nissan Sentra

Do any of the vehicles on the top 10 most stolen vehicles list surprise you? I have to admit I just can’t see a car thief specialist driving around in a 2000 Dodge Caravan while keeping their street cred in check.

1994 Honda Accord Is Most Stolen Vehicle In America: Here Are The Top 10 is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Honda Fit EV was intended to be the car manufacturer’s answer to the Nissan Leaf and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, but it looks like the Fit EV just might come out ahead of its competition–by quite a long shot, too.

The 2013 Honda Fit EV has earned a 118 MPGe fuel efficiency rating, making it the highest Environmental Protection Agency rated vehicle in the U.S. and putting it ahead of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and Nissan Leaf’s 112 MPGe and 99MPGe ratings, respectively.

Not only does the Honda Fit EV win out in the EPA’s combined fuel efficiency ratings, it also takes the lead in range. The EPA estimates that the Honda Fit EV has a range of 82 miles on one charge, which is nine miles more than the Leaf and 20 miles ahead the i-MiEV.

“Just as important as the industry-leading fuel-efficiency and fast recharging time, as a Honda, the 2013 Fit EV will be an absolute kick to drive,” said Steve Center, vice president of the American Honda Environmental Business Development Office.

The Honda Fit EV is expected to go on sale in California and Oregon at some point this summer, with a release on the East Coast expected to begin early next year.

What do you think of the Honda Fit EV?

Honda Fit EV Earns EPA’s Highest Fuel-Efficiency Rating at 118 MPGe is a post from: The Inquisitr

California Honda Civic Hybrid owner Heather Peters chose to opt-out of a class action lawsuit and now she’s $9,867 dollars richer.

The original class-action lawsuit was filed when Honda Civic Hybrid owners realized that their vehicles were not receiving the 50 miles per gallon promised to them by Honda.

Peters was informed by the judged decision by the Associated Press for which she responded:

“I am absolutely thrilled. Sometimes big justice comes in small packages,” she said. “This is a victory for Honda Civic owners everywhere.”

Peters won nearly $10,000 by taking the company to small claims court after she decided not to be included in a class action lawsuit that would have paid her just $100 to $200.

According to estimates if Honda was forced to pay out $9,867 to every single customer involved in the class action lawsuit they would  lose nearly $2 billion.

In the meantime Peters has launched DontSettleWithHonda.org which helps other Honda Civic Hybrid owners understand the steps needed to sue the company outside of the class action lawsuit.

While small claims court means more time spent battling against the company there are no court fees and cases are quickly decided.

Honda for its part stands behind the 50 miles per gallon sticker found on new cars, according to the company they are required by federal guidelines to post the highest possible mileage possible with the vehicle. The company notes that certain driving conditions can change that MPG value.

Peters and others however claim they never saw better then 30 miles per gallon with their vehicles, 40% lower then Honda’s “maximum” mileage.

Would you rather take a few hundred dollars or spend some time in court for the chance at nearly $10,000?

Woman Wins Lawsuit Over Honda’s 50 Mile Per Gallon Gas Claims is a post from: The Inquisitr

A Honda driving customer in California has filed a lawsuit against the automobile manufacturer and the method she used has allowed her to avoid fighting against lawyers all together.

Under California state law the driver was able to file a small-claims lawsuit over her 2006 Civic hybrid and because of the nature of the claim Honda must send a company representative to court rather than a high-profile team of lawyers who are capable of scaring off potential lawsuits.

According to the Los Angeles Times the case has the potential to become a “small-claims flash mob.”

What may be worse for the car manufacturer and other companies is the fact that other small-claims lawsuits may soon follow suit as Heather Peters has started a website (Here) which shows potential lawsuit seekers how to file a small claims lawsuit of their own.

Under a proposed class-action deal Honda would pay ’03-’09  Civic hybrid owners $100 each and give them rebate vouchers for a new vehicle purchase, Honda would also pay lawyer fees totaling $8.5 million. Peters is asking Honda owners to reject the deal and instead take the company to small claims court where a stronger message can be sent as the company deals with hundreds and potentially thousands of small claims lawsuits.

[Image via Darren Brode / Shutterstock.com]

Honda Car Owner Sues Company, Manages To Avoid Lawyers is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Acura division at car manufacturer Honda is set to unveil a revised version of its former NSX supercar, a high-tech model that will be small and eco-friendly.

‘Small’ and ‘eco-friendly’ are not two words you’d use to describe the monstrous V10-powered Acura Advance Sports Car Concept (pictured above looking silver and mean) that appeared at major auto shows in 2007.

Cars to emerge from under Honda’s Acura division, the company’s luxury motors arm, have not always sold that well.

Honda bigwigs hope to change this, by giving Acura cars more of an identity. That’s not empty corporate speak, however: in the past, Acuras have been models adapted from existing Hondas sold in Europe or other markets. When the new NSX rolls out at the Detroit Auto Show in January, it will be its own design. And part of this will involve placing greater importance on affordability and sustainability, rather than features and horsepower alone. Jeff Conrad, Honda sales VP, says:

“That doesn’t mean we won’t create high-performance vehicles, but the way we do it will be unique to Acura.”

So what can we expect from the new NSX? A mid-engine two-seater, it’ll be a V6 gas-electric hybrid with multiple electric motors to improve the all-wheel-drive system. Said motors will be independently controlled by the car’s computer.

The revised NSX will succeed the $90,000 NSX original that was manufactured from 1990 to 2005, a 175-miles-per-hour beast. This new NSX is performing quite the U-turn in many aspects of its design – but can it keep the fans happy?

Honda Acura Division to Reveal New NSX Supercar is a post from: The Inquisitr

“Affected driver’s airbag inflators may deploy with too much pressure, which can cause the inflator casing to rupture and send metal and plastic pieces flying, causing injuries or even death,” Chris Martin, a Honda spokesman told the LA Times.

Martin added that the company was currently aware of 20 injuries and two deaths in connection with the faulty airbags.

According to a statement posted on the company’s website, the latest recall – the sixth since 2008 for the same problem – affects certain Honda and Acura models from 2001 to 2003, including 2001 and 2002 Honda Accords, 2001 to 2003 Civics and Odysseys , and 2003 CR-Vs and Pilots.

Acura models affected include the 2003 Acura 3.2 TL and 3.2 CL, Honda’s statement added.

For more information on the Honda/Acura airbag recall, Honda vehicle owners can visit www.recalls.honda.com or call (800) 999-1009 and select option 4; Acura owners can go to www.recalls.acura.com or call (800) 382-2238 and select option 4.

via ABCNews

Honda Announces Global Recall for Airbag Problems is a post from: The Inquisitr

Joe LoCicero’s 1990 Honda Accord may not look impressive despite its remarkably good condition, but the vehicle has brought the Maine resident good luck as it rolled over the one million mile mark on the odometer.

LoCicero had an advantage in keeping up with the clearly reliable million mile Honda, as he’d worked as a mechanic for years and knew how to take care of it. But his advice for vehicle longevity- good parts, regular services and careful operation- are within the abilities of most car owners. Luckily for Honda, not many people are up to the challenge of keeping a car in good nick for the long haul. Local car dealer Ron Russell commented:

“Joe is a testament to what you can do if you maintain your car. Thankfully, not many people do it, or we’d be out of business.”

Honda was in on the celebrations for LoCicero’s million mile Honda- including a parade and a new 2012 Honda Accord for the diligent driver- and became aware of the unusually healthy, two-decades-old vehicle back when it hit around the 950,000 mile mark. And LoCicero says he’s happy with the new car, but tells a local paper he doesn’t know what to do with the old one now:

LoCicero said he’s not sure what he’ll do with the 1990 Accord now that he has a new model, also made in Ohio.

He’s tried to sell the older model to a few car dealers recently for $1 million, hoping they’d want to display it to advertise the longevity of Honda vehicles.

“A buck a mile. That’s fair,” LoCicero said. “I didn’t get any bites.”

What’s the highest mileage you’ve gotten out of a vehicle? Would you be proud to own the million mile Honda?

Million Mile Honda Gets Man Parade, 2012 Accord is a post from: The Inquisitr

Honda Announces Recall For 962,000 Vehicles, Will Fix Power And Computer Systems is a post from: The Inquisitr

I have never ridden a motorcycle but I have friends who have, everything from Yamaha Shadows to custom Harley’s, and through them I have a real love of a finely crafted machinery.

Now I’ve posted some images of pretty sweet looking motorcycles here before but when I saw this beauty it dwarfed everything else I have posted but I’ll let the images speak for themselves and let you decide.

Splendid reinterpretation of bagger by designer Erik Dunshee on behalf of Honda Americas, a small return on this very exclusive Honda 1300 Slammer, a superb preparation produced on the basis of the already generous 1300 Honda Stateline. Lowered, widened and lengthened by the standards of the bagger, the 1300 Honda Slammer is also equipped with air suspension, a new body incorporating the luggage bags and beautiful 23-inch rims. And for lovers of good sound, we also note the presence of a hifi system board including three speakers and a subwoofer 10 inch powered amplifier not a 500w. Discovery of this motorcycle except in pictures afterwards!

via TrendsNow

There is motorcycle sweetness and then there is this awesomeness is a post from: The Inquisitr

Honda took some of the heat off Toyota for their constant cycle of recalls with a braking-related recall of their own yesterday.

The automaker recalled 470,000 2005-07 Acura RL and 2005-07 Honda Odyssey vehicles in the US, a total of 528,000 of the cars worldwide. The brake fluid leak concerns stem from when fluid other than the original kind is used, posing a risk to the seal on the master cylinder. Honda says it will replace the master brake seal on all affected vehicles, as well as the brake cylinder if leaking has already occurred.

Spokeswoman Christine Ra says the flaw does not pose very much risk to consumers, but that Honda is taking the issue seriously:

Honda recalls 470K vehicles for brake fluid issue is a post from: The Inquisitr

Honda is voluntarily recalling 646,000 compact cars worldwide- the Fit or Jazz models specifically- due to a window switch defect that could lead to fire in “severe” weather conditions.

Honda released a statement describing the defect:

“Under some severe operating conditions, water, rain, or other liquid may enter the driver’s window and reach the master power window switch, resulting in impaired function of the switch,” the Japanese car maker said in a statement. “If the master power window switch is damaged as a result of the liquid intrusion, it may result in failure of the switch and overheating.

“An overheating switch may cause smoke, melting or, potentially, fire,” it added.

171,372 units of the car are being recalled in the UK, where the model is known as the Honda Jazz. 229,000 units are being recalled in Latin America, and 141,140 are affected in the US. The Honda recall is the second major car manufacturer defect in the news this week, following Toyota halting the sale of popular models in the US due to a tendency for accelerator pedals to stick.

[WSJ]

Honda set to recall Fit over fire hazard is a post from: The Inquisitr

Carmaker, Honda, is recalling more than 440,000 vehicles because of a potentially fatal airbag problem.

Takata stocks plumeted after yesterday’s recall of over 440,000 vehicles by Honda. Takata, the auto parts manufacturer who supplied the faulty airbags to Honda, said that the airbags made for Honda vehicles are different than the ones they make for other vehicles, so no other carmakers have been affected by the recall. About 285,000 units of the models have been recalled in the U.S. and more worldwide, with over 440,000 units affected in all, Honda spokeswoman Yasuko Matsuura said.

So far, the airbag defect has resulted in one death in the U.S.

From a press release from Honda:

07/31/2009 – TORRANCE, Calif. -

An existing safety recall of the driver’s airbag in certain 2001 Honda Accords and Civics due to a potential defect in the airbag’s inflation system is being expanded to include more vehicles, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. Originally initiated in November 2008, approximately 440,000 additional vehicles are included in the expanded recall, which will require the replacement of the driver’s steering-wheel-mounted airbag inflator.

In some vehicles, airbag inflators can produce over-pressurization of the driver’s (front) airbag inflator mechanism during airbag deployment. If an affected inflator deploys, the increased internal pressure may cause the inflator casing to rupture. Metal fragments could pass through the cloth airbag cushion material, possibly causing an injury or fatality to vehicle occupants.

Registered owners of vehicles that potentially contain affected inflators will receive a recall notice in the mail over the next few months, with the owners of vehicles most likely to include a problem airbag being contacted first. The recall notice will include further instructions to help schedule a repair to each vehicle. Interested owners may confirm their vehicle’s recall status by visiting the Honda “Owner Link” website at www.owners.honda.com/recalls or the Acura “My Acura” website at www.owners.acura.com/recalls. Only certain vehicles are affected, and concerned owners of 2001-2002 Accords, 2001 Civics and 2002-2003 Acura TLs are encouraged to wait to receive a recall notice in the mail before scheduling an appointment with their local dealer.

For more information and downloadable high-resolution images of Honda and Acura vehicles, please visit www.hondanews.com and www.acuranews.com. Consumers can verify their vehicle’s recall status by visiting www.owners.honda.com/recalls for Honda vehicles and www.owners.acura.com/recalls for Acura vehicles.

Honda recalling 440,000 cars due to potentially fatal airbag defect is a post from: The Inquisitr

Yes folks that is one hot looking sports car but what is even hotter is that it is hydrogen powered. Ya I know it’s only a concept from Honda but still doesn’t it just make you drool.

The FC Sport was unveiled last week at the L.A. Auto Show by Honda as part of their on-going research into hydrogen power for vehicles. The car was designed to show that the new green technologies can compete against any gas guzzler thrown at it. The ultimate goal for Honda with the FC Sport was to develop a lightweight vehicle with a low center of gravity and a high performance electric powertrain.

Now if you’ll excuse me I need to go find my drool towel.

[many props to Inhabitat for the pics]

Damn this is hot! is a post from: The Inquisitr