Honda Odyssey Recall Affects Nearly 900K Minivans Due to Fire Risk

American Honda Motor Co. is recalling nearly 900,000 Odyssey minivans made in the United States, which may catch fire due to a cracked fuel pump.  

The Honda Odyssey recall (PDF) was announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on March 14, impacting 886,815 minivans from the 2005 through 2010 model years, which were manufactured between June 23, 2004 and September 4, 2010 in Alabama.

The problem is linked to a fuel pump strainer cover, which was made by the Japanese parts supplier Denso. According to the NHTSA, the strainer may deteriorate, allowing fuel to leak out, which could lead to a minivan fire. There are no known reports of fires or injuries linked to the defective fuel pump.

Honda has been unsuccessful in narrowing down the cause of the strainer cover’s degradation. The company has investigated whether acid from chemicals in car washes could have damaged the strainers, and if the problem could have been caused by fertilizer and dust control chemicals.

The auto maker says that parts to make repairs to affected vehicles will not be available until summer. In the meantime, affected owners will be notified of the recall in April, and interim parts will be made available to dealers to fix the vans at no charge.

This is the third major Honda Odyssey minivan recall in a little more than a year. In December 2012, Honda recalled 318,000 Odyssey minivans, among other vehicles, because the ignition system was prone to wear down, allowing the key to be removed without putting the vehicle in park. This posed a risk that minivans may roll away and colliding with another vehicle. The auto maker reported several crashes related to that problem.

Another recall involving 748,000 Honda Odyssey minivans and Honda Pilot SUVs was issued in January 2013, due to air bag problems.

Owners of affected vehicles with questions on the latest recall can contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline by calling (888) 327-4236.

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