Torrance, California—July 14, 2017—In certain Honda vehicles, an issue with the battery sensor could lead to a risk of fire as the result of an electrical short. According to a Part 573 Safety Recall Report from Honda, submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration July 12, more than 1.1 million vehicles are potentially involved.
The Defect
The risk comes from the chance of moisture coming into contact with the affected vehicle batteries. If this happens, the battery could short out and subsequently cause a fire. The moisture could potentially enter the batteries, the report said, because of spaces in the battery sensor casing. All of the vehicles in this recall are Honda Accord types, with the model years ranging from 2013 to 2016.
Timeline of Events
- March to August, 2015: A chronology document, also filed with the NHTSA, said that the first claim related to this issue (a “thermal event” from under the car hood) surfaced in Canada on March 3, 2015. The following months saw the manufacturer attempt to counter the problem through temporary checks.
- June to July, 2016: The summer months of this year saw Honda implement a new design while also receiving reports of the defect in the U.S. for the first time, after previously hearing a claim from China.
- June 2017: The company decided to initiate a recall at this time. Though there have been no injuries or accidents associated with the issue to date, the car company has recorded four “thermal events” in the U.S. alone and several more worldwide.
The Resolution
The original dealer notification date was June 30, and owner notification will begin on July 31, as the report said. Depending on the condition of the battery sensor, the dealer may do a temporary or more final repair.
