Laguna Hills, Calif. – January 31, 2019 –  Honda is recalling 1,082 model-year 2017-2018 Clarity Fuel Cell vehicles, all located in California, and all part of a leasing program. The action affects some vehicles already listed under a previous recall.

The Defect

According to Consumer Affairs, the Fuel Cell Electronic Control Unit (ECU) responsible for monitoring voltage in the fuel cell stack can possibly misinterpret a minor voltage variance. In such cases, the ECO may erroneously shut down the fuel cell stack in response to the misinterpreted data. The shutdown of the fuel stack could result in an unexpected loss of motive power. Such a power loss, especially at high speeds, can significantly increase the risk of a crash and potentially cause harm to the vehicle’s driver or passengers.

Timeline of Events

According to Tire Meets Road, the Honda Clarity has been marketed as a “lease-only option” for drivers. Unlike a standard electric car which uses a battery to store electricity, the hydrogen fuel cell Clarity requires compressed hydrogen running constantly through a fuel cell, which produces electricity that powers the car’s electric motor. There have been online comments about loss of power and other issues with high parts costs and A1 service bills.

In 2017, a similar recall was issued for 2017 Honda Clarity models. Approximately 470 model-year 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell electric vehicles were recalled to service dealerships for a reset of ECO software to rectify power system problems, but lack of available parts has delayed resolving this issue for 2017 cars until mid-February 2019. The current recall for 2018 vehicles is expected to be similarly delayed.

The Solution

Honda will begin notifying owners in mid-February 2019. A dealership will update the ECU software for free. Owners can call the automaker at 888-234-2138. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

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Laguna Hills, CA – December 21, 2018 – Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Honda Ridgeline and Pilot vehicles due to an insecure center pillar which can interfere with airbag deployment. The potential number of units affected is 403.

The Defect

According to the NHTSA Recall Safety Report, supplier manufacturing records identified a specific production period of right front roof side rails affected by an improper manufacturing process. Affected vehicles may have larger-than-specified mounting holes for the clip that secures the right center pillar garnish. In the event of a crash necessitating right side curtain airbag deployment, the clip may not hold the center pillar garnish in position and may potentially interfere with curtain airbag deployment. In the event of a crash, if the curtain air bag does not deploy as intended, it can increase the risk of injury.

Timeline of Events

On October 23, 2018, a loose right center pillar garnish was discovered during vehicle assembly, prompting a hold and stop shipment to be placed on all vehicles while an inquiry was made to the supplier. The supplier informed Honda that a recent repair to the die mold that punches the mounting hole for the right center pillar garnish clip was inappropriate, resulting in burrs in the sheet metal. These burrs were removed with grinding tools, which inadvertently increased the diameter of the mounting hole.

On October 24, 2018, with the suspect range of parts identified and manufacturing errors corrected by the supplier, Honda measured the retention force of all suspect right center pillar garnish clips. The vehicles with right center pillar garnish clips that met the retention force specification were released from hold. Honda investigated the potential consequences of a loose right center pillar garnish clip, and on November 20, 2018, Honda determined that the potential for FMVSS noncompliance existed and decided to conduct a safety recall.

As of November 20, 2018 Honda had not received any warranty claims, field reports, nor reports of crashes or injuries related to this issue.

The Solution

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket on the right center pillar that will securely hold the center pillar trim clip, free of charge. Because the limited new vehicle warranty on all affected vehicles would have provided a free repair for the problem addressed by this recall, without any payment by the owner, reimbursement for pre-notification repairs will not be offered. The recall is expected to begin January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda’s number for this recall is D3D. Owners may also call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153). The NHTSA Campaign Number for this recall is 18V-848.

• 2003-2012 Honda Accord sedans produced between Aug. 30, 2002, and Oct. 27, 2011.
• 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour crossovers produced between Feb. 17, 2010, and April 16, 2010.
• 2001-2011 Honda Civic sedans produced between March 15, 2001, and March 14, 2011.
• 2002-2011 Honda CR-V sport utility vehicles produced between April 24, 2002, and Oct. 5, 2011.
• 2003-2004 Honda Element sport utility vehicles produced between June 27, 2003, and Aug. 25, 2004.
• 2006-2008 Honda Element sport utility vehicles produced between Dec. 13, 2005, and Dec. 4, 2007.
• 2011 Honda Element sport utility vehicles produced Oct. 22, 2010.
• 2007 Honda Fit hatchbacks produced Jan. 23, 2007.
• 2009-2013 Honda Fit hatchbacks produced between Aug. 27, 2008, and Aug. 7, 2013.
• 2010-2012 Honda Insight hybrid hatchbacks produced between March 26, 2009, and April 18, 2012.
• 2002-2004 Honda Odyssey minivans produced between July 26, 2002, and June 25, 2004.
• 2003-2012 Honda Pilot sport utility vehicles produced between July 11, 2002, and May 17, 2012.
• 2012 Honda Ridgeline pickup trucks produced May 17, 2012.

Torrance, California – Jan. 8, 2018 – The American Honda Motor Co. recently announced a recall of 20 of its 2010, 2016 and 2017 model year Honda Fury motorcycles, due to concerns that some of their fuel tanks could leak, according to a defect report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

These fuel tanks could have come with the motorcycles as manufactured, or have been installed as replacement parts. These fuel tank parts went through “an improper manufacturing process” that could lead to a risk of fuel leakage.

There are only 20 such vehicles in the recall, of which only three are expected to have this defect. However, given the gravity of the risk involved, this could still be a significant issue for vehicle owners.

The Defect

The motorcycles listed in this small recall were determined based on sales records for parts, as the issue revolves around replacement parts for 2010 and 2016 bikes. For the 2017 models, the recall was for motorcycles that had the defective fuel tanks as original equipment.

Specifically, the manufacturing process in question did not provide the necessary welds around a bracket that holds the fuel tanks in place. As a consequence, natural road and engine vibrations could lead the tank to separate from the bracket, and potentially result in a fuel leak.

This increases the risk of fire because any leaked fuel in the presence of an ignition source may be set aflame, increasing risk of injury or damage to the vehicle.

Timeline of Events

On Sept. 22, 2017, Honda learned of the first occurrence of a fuel leak in the market, and another such issue arose slightly more than a month later on Oct. 24.

As a result, Honda launched an investigation into the cause of the leaks, spanning from November into December. That investigation found that a single day of fuel tank production saw a hiccup in the proper manufacturing process that led some tanks made that day to pass the final welding stage for stay brackets on affected tanks. As a result, they have a structural weakness which others do not possess.

The decision to push forward a formal recall was made Dec. 12, 2017, and as of that date, the company had already received two warranty claims for the defect. However, it had not received any field reports of injury or fire related to the issue.

The Solution

Owners of the affected vehicles will be contacted by Honda via both phone and mail and are asked to return their Fury motorcycles to a local authorized Honda Motorcycle dealer. There, the dealers will inspect the welding on the fuel tanks and determine whether the tanks need to be replaced. If so, that change will be conducted free of charge.

Notification of both owners and dealers began Dec. 14, 2017.

Torrance, Calif. – Nov. 30, 2017 – American Honda Motor Company has recalled more than 5,400 believed to contain defective right halfshafts, according to an internal defect information report submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2017 Honda Civic sedans produced between Aug. 30, 2017 and Sept. 30, 2017, as well as Honda Civic coupes that rolled off the assembly line between Aug. 10, 2017 and Oct. 3, 2017. The automaker is unsure how many of the vehicles referenced in the action are equipped with the defective parts.

The Defect

Affected models could be equipped with right halfshafts that did not receive proper heat treatment during production and are therefore not structurally sound. As a result, vehicle load and operational stress may fracture these components, leading to the immediate loss of motive power. Should this breakage occur while the vehicle is parked without the emergency brake engaged, it could roll away.

The defective halfshafts pose a serious hazard to owners. However, Honda has not received reports connecting the defect to any accidents or injuries as yet.

Timeline of Events

On Sept. 30, 2017, engineers at a Honda production facility conducted a post-assembly road test during which a new vehicle lost motive power due to the sudden fracture of the right halfshaft. The automaker immediately instituted a yard hold and launched an internal investigation into issue. Quality assurance personnel reviewed existing production processes and found that a parts supplier had used defective equipment to cool halfshafts following heat treatment. This oversight inhibited the parts’ structural integrity.

On Nov. 2, Honda decided to conduct a voluntary safety recall to address the issue. The vehicle manufacturer notified dealers Nov. 3.

The Solution

Honda has directed dealers to replace the halfshafts in affected models free of charge, according to an NHTSA recall acknowledgement document. The company intends to notify owners via first-class mail Dec. 15. Those in need of more immediate assistance can contact Honda customer service at (888) 234-2138. Callers should use the internal recall reference code K0E. Owners can also contact the NHTSA directly using its Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.