Honda Recalls 1.8 Million Vehicles Due to Safety Problems, Fire Risks

Honda has announced four separate recalls, impacting nearly two million vehicles worldwide, due to a variety of safety problems, which may cause software malfunctions, loss of steering control, and overheating power window switches that pose a vehicle fire risk.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the series of Honda recalls on December 10, including a CR-V SUV recall issued after at least 16 vehicle cabin fires were reported.

According to the recall documents, an estimated 268,655 Honda CR-V vehicles from model years 2002 through 2006 may experience fires if moisture enters the driver side power window master switch, which could allow damage to the wiring harness. This moisture could result in the electrical components failing, overheating or catching on fire.

Owners will be notified of the recall by mail with instructions on how to schedule a free repair at their local dealer, where dealers will replace the power window master switch and inspect the wiring harness for damage, and replace if necessary.

Honda has also issued a recall of approximately 737,233 model year 2018 through 2020 Honda Accord and Accord Hybrid vehicles, as well as 2019 through 2020 Honda Insight sedans, which contain software errors that may produce intermittent or continuous disruptions in communication between the Body Control Module (BCM) and the rearview camera, windshield wipers and defroster, exterior lights, audible warning of a stopped vehicle, and power window operation.

Honda has not received any crash or injury reports related to this specific recall, but has issued a warning for customers indicating failure of the BCM may cause critical functionality loss that could increase the risk of a crash.

The recall repair will consist of a BCM software update, which will be available by January 18. Customers will receive a mailed notice of the recall with instructions on when to schedule a free repair at their local dealer.

The manufacturer also issued two driveshaft recalls impacting approximately 210,000 model year 2013 through 2015 Acura ILX, 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid, and 2007 through 2008 Honda Fit vehicles with a manual transmission, and 2099 through 2014 Honda Fit vehicles.

According to the recall documents, the vehicles’ drive shafts may not have received the proper protective coating during manufacturing, making it more susceptible to damage from road salt, or other contaminants, potentially causing it to break. In the event of a drive shaft breaking, drivers will have diminished control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

The drive-shaft related recall covers vehicles originally sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, which may be more susceptible to road salt and contaminate exposure.

Registered owners in these impacted states will receive a recall notification by mail with instructions on how to schedule a free repair at their local dealer, where dealers will be instructed to inspect the drive shafts and replace them if necessary, free of charge. Honda announced the repair remedy is expected to begin February 1, 2021, when repair parts become available.

Customers impacted by each of the recalls are encouraged to contact Honda Customer Service at 1-888-234-2138 and reference the associated recall campaign number.