Honda Recall: 46,000 Honda Odyssey Minivans Promptly Recalled For Faulty Liftgates
World renown Japanese automobile manufacturer Honda Motor Company, Ltd. has promptly issued a recall on model year 2008-2009 Honda Odyssey minivans due to an issue with support power liftgates which can be found on the higher-end models. A document published on the official Honda website clearly states that the Odyssey EX-L as well as the Touring models contain a manufacturing flaw in the power liftgates which has allowed pressurized gas to escape from the struts. The unintended release of pressurized gas from the power liftgates results in an inability to control the liftgate’s movements, which in turn causes a loss of control over the rear door.
This most recent Honda recall of 46,000 Honda Odyssey minivans comes after an investigation was initiated by the N.H.T.S.A in September of 2011 after seven complaints were received by the agency. Of the seven complaints received at that time, two owners claimed that they were actually injured after their liftgates fell on top of them. In defiance to the N.H.T.S.A.’s request to recall 22,000 Odysseys from the 2005 model year, Honda conveyed by letter that it “respectfully declines the staff’s request for a safety recall of those vehicles.” Honda’s response was fueled by their belief that the strut failures was not a safety defect, but, rather an inconvenience.
Looking at all of the formal Honda recalls in recent times such as the Honda airbag recall, one might be inclined to question the overall safety and reliability of Honda’s automobiles.
As recalls require a significant allocation of resources in order to adequately provide the reports required by the N.H.T.S.A., automakers are not inclined to issue a recall unless they absolutely have to. Recalls are equivalent to an automaker’s admission of a safety issue.
If you own a 2008-09 Honda Odyssey minivan are interested in additional information regarding the recall of your vehicle, more information is available online at www.recalls.honda.com or you can reach the appropriate department by telephone at (800) 999-1009.