Honda is adding another recall to the recent and ongoing stream of automotive recalls making headlines. This follows recalls from Toyota Motor Corporation and the Ford Motor Company, reported BizJournals.
Honda just announced it will be issuing a massive recall of over 410,000 Odyssey minivans and Elements due to braking problems that could create stopping problems, said BizJournals. The recall included 2007 and 2008 model year Odyssey minivans and Elements, noted BizJournals. In 2009, said BizJournals, the Odyssey was rated as the best-selling minivan in California, citing the California New Car Dealers Association in Sacramento. Honda is only second to Toyota in California, added BizJournals.
Honda’s braking system problem is linked to its electronic stability control system, said BizJournals. The system brakes all of the vehicle’s wheels in an emergency and some air does enter the hydraulic brake line, which can create an air bubble that will cause the operator to push the brake pedal deeper that what is needed in a normal stop, explained BizJournals. Three reported crashes have been linked to the problem, said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), wrote BizJournals.
Honda said it will be contacting Element and Odyssey owners by letter at the end of next month before repair scheduling, while parts become available; after April 19, owners can access the recall list at www.recalls.honda.com or call Honda, toll-free, at 1-800-999-1009 (select option “four”) to confirm if their vehicles are involved in the recall, said BizJournals.
Last month, we wrote that Honda Motor Company expanded its international recall for faulty air bags. That recall followed Toyota’s highly publicized, multiple vehicle recalls over faulty brakes and related accidents and fatalities.
Honda increasing its prior recall, said the Chicago Tribune previously, is likely indicating a shift in how automakers are handling safety issues. In light of the massive Toyota debacle, Honda recalled 437,000 vehicles, which, at that time, brought its total recalls over the past 15 months to close to one million vehicles, explained the Chicago Tribune. Those figures do not include the Odyssey and Element recall.
Meanwhile, Ford also just issued a recall for its Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrid models for similar braking problems, said BizJournals, which added that about 17,600 vehicles will be involved.
March 18th, 2010 at 7:03 am
No offense but I can’t believe anyone is crazy enough to buy a new car from a dealer right now. Considering that a healthy chunk of 2010 Cash 4 Clunkers cars have already been repossessed (i.e. http://repofinder.com) why not just go to local banks and credit unions and buy these repo cars back for half the retail price? If you’re going to buy junk at least don’t over pay.
March 21st, 2010 at 6:55 pm
If you were to look up all the recalls this year, its crazy. This is just… I can’t think of the word for it but they need to just slow down, make cars reliable and not just throw them together and try to get them on the lot.