Honda Odyssey Minivan Recall Due to Tailgate Problems

Honda has announced that it is recalling about 46,000 Odyssey minivans due to problems with the power tailgates, which could close unexpectedly and injury consumers. 

The Honda Odyssey minivan recall was issued late last month, affecting vehicles from model year 2008 and 2009, which may have defective struts in the tailgate that may fail, causing the rear door to fall suddenly.

At least two reports of injuries have been linked to the Honda Odyssey tailgate problems. If the tailgate closes unexpectedly, it could strike an adult or child standing beneath it, potentially causing a traumatic head injury or other injury.

The recall includes about 45,800 Odyssey Ex-L and Touring minivans from the 2008 and early 2009 models sold in the United States.

This is the second recall involving the Odyssey in less than three months. In early December, Honda Motor Co. announced that it was recalling 304,000 vehicles, including some 2001 to 2003 model year Odyssey minivans, due to problems with the airbags. In that recall, which also included some Acura, Civic and CR-V models, the airbags were deploying with too much pressure, sometimes blasting pieces of metal and plastic into the passenger compartment like shrapnel. One person was killed by a similar problem with a Honda airbag in 2009.

The company says that registered owners will begin receiving notifications in the mail regarding whether their vehicle is affected by the recall in mid-March. Odyssey owners can also go to the company’s recall website at www.recalls.honda.com and determine whether their vehicle is affected. They can also call the company at (800) 999-1009 and select option 4.

Owners of vehicles affected by the recall will be able to take their vehicle to an authorized dealer for free replacement of the two power tailgate struts.

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