Honda is investigated over non-starting engines

Honda is investigated over non-starting engines

June 11, 2022 Bojan Popic

Washington, D.C. – June 11, 2022 – The U.S. government’s auto safety regulator is investigating Honda (NYSE:HMC) cars  whose engines may refuse to start after being shut down briefly. This can make the vehicles immobile, increasing the risk of a crash and injury. 

If this Honda engine issues lead to a recall, it could affect an estimated 194,731 of the following crossover SUVs:

  • 2016 Honda Pilot
  • 2017 Honda Pilot
  • 2018 Honda Pilot
  • 2019 Honda Pilot
  • 2020 Honda Pilot 

Investigation summary  

The regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), opened an investigation on June 3, 2022 following a total of at least 221 complaints regarding engines that would fail to start. 

The affected vehicles are equipped with an engine auto start-stop system, which automatically shuts down the 3.5 L-engine when the car comes to a halt, such as at a traffic light or a stop sign. The purpose of this feature is to save fuel and consequently lower emissions.  

Based on the complaints, the engine would not restart after being shut down by the start-stop system. 

Risks

A stopped car can be hit by other vehicles, especially if this happens in dense traffic or busy junctions, increasing the risk of an injury. 

Other Honda recalls and investigations

This is not the only investigation this Japanese manufacturer has been facing lately. In March of this year, NHTSA started investigating Accord and CR-V models were investigated over phantom braking, as reported. The investigation could lead to a recall of 1.7 million vehicles.

As far as Honda Pilot recalls go, there was one in December of last year due to hoods that may potentially fly open while driving, obstructing the driver’s view. The recall also included Passport and Ridgeline cars.

Could your vehicle be a part of the potential recall?

This investigation may eventually lead to a Honda Pilot start-stop recall, possibly affecting almost 200,000 vehicles.  To do a Honda recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicHonda is investigated over non-starting engines
Honda recalls over 700,000 cars whose hoods may fly open

Honda recalls over 700,000 cars whose hoods may fly open

December 11, 2021 Rebecca Rand

Torrance, CA – December 11, 2021 – Honda (NYSE:HMC) has recalled 724,826 vehicles whose hoods may become damaged and fly open while driving, blocking the driver’s view of the road. This increases the risk of a crash and subsequent injury to the occupants of the car and other motorists.

The component in question is the hood, whose part number is  60100-TG7-A91.

The recall includes the following SUVs and pickups:

  • 2019 Honda Passport
  • 2016 – 2019 Honda Pilot
  • 2017 – 2020 Honda Ridgeline

Recall summary  

The recall stems from a gap in the seal between the Honda’s hood and grill, which allows air to get inside while driving. The aerodynamics of this gap cause the hood to vibrate when the car drives at high speeds, which could eventually cause a stress fracture in the hood’s latch. If this occurs, nothing is holding the hood shut and it could fly open while driving, blocking the driver’s view.

Recall risks

Driving with an obstructed view is extremely dangerous and could quickly cause the driver to crash. 

Warning signs

Drivers may be able to hear the hood vibrating and should also keep an eye on the hood to see if it seems loose. 

Other Honda recalls

The manufacturer was recently affected by a Honda Insight, Honda Accord, Honda CR-V and Honda Ridgeline recall over issues with securing child safety seats. 

The repair

Depending on the condition of the hood latch, Honda dealers will either repair the hood by adding a striker support plate or will replace the hood entirely. All repairs will be free of charge for Honda owners. Honda will notify owners about the recall by mail starting on January 17, 2022. Owners who had to repair this issue on their own dime before the recall was announced will be eligible for reimbursement.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 700,000 vehicles are included in this Honda recall. To see if your car is one of them, do a Honda recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandHonda recalls over 700,000 cars whose hoods may fly open
Honda recalls over 600,000 cars that may stall

Honda recalls over 600,000 cars that may stall

April 6, 2021 Rebecca Rand ,

Torrance, CA – April 6, 2021 – Honda (NYSE:HMC) has expanded a previous recall to include 628,124 of additional vehicles with faulty fuel pumps that may cause the car to stall. The pumps are manufactured by Denso, (OTCMKTS:DNZOY) – an auto parts maker that forms part of the Toyota Group – that is behind this and other recalls by major car manufacturers starting last summer.

 This recall includes:

  • 2019 Acura ILX 
  • 2019 – 2020 Acura MDX
  • 2019 – 2020 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid
  • 2019 – 2020 Acura RDX
  • 2019 – 2020 Acura TLX
  • 2019 – 2020 Honda Accord
  • 2019 Honda Accord Hybrid
  • 2019 – 2020 Honda Civic
  • 2019 – 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback
  • 2019 Honda Civic Type-R
  • 2018 – 2019 Honda CR-V
  • 2019 Honda Fit
  • 2019 Honda HR-V 
  • 2019 – 2020 Honda Insight
  • 2019 Honda Odyssey
  • 2019 Honda Passport 
  • 2019 Honda Pilot
  • 2019 Honda Ridgeline

Recall summary  

The Denso fuel pumps at the center of the recall have a small plastic component, called an impeller, that sucks gas from a car’s fuel tank to pump it into the engine. Some of the impellers were manufactured in a way that can cause the plastic to weaken and become misshapen, causing the whole fuel pump to malfunction. Without a pump moving fuel into the engine, the car might not start or could stall while driving.

Background of the recall

The original Honda recall was announced in May of last year and included some of the model and model years listed above. Overall, Denso had manufactured over two million defective pumps which has caused Toyota. Honda and Subaru to recall their cars starting last summer.

Warning signs

The driver may be alerted to the fuel pump malfunction if he or she notices that the malfunction indicator light (MIL) or the master warning indicator come on. Additionally, the engine may run “rough” when the car is started or idled. This means that you may hear weird noises or feel the car vibrate or shake. Take the car in for repair as soon as you notice these signs to keep the situation from getting worse.

Risks

You can read more about the risks posed by these faulty fuel pumps in our article about Toyota’s Denso fuel pump recall.

The repair

Honda and Acura dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly for free. Notifications with more information about when and how to seek repairs will be sent to owners starting on May 18.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 628,000 vehicles are included in this Honda and Acura recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandHonda recalls over 600,000 cars that may stall
Honda Recalls Over 1,350,000 Vehicles Due to Air Bag Defect

Honda Recalls Over 1,350,000 Vehicles Due to Air Bag Defect

September 26, 2018 Sean Reyes ,

Lilburn, Georgia – September 26, 2018 – Honda (NYSE:HMC) is recalling over 1,350,000 vehicles due to the passenger frontal air bag inflator being at risk of exploding. The recall includes:

  • 2011- 2014 Honda Insight
  • 2010-2014 Acura TSX
  • 2011-2014 Acura TSX Wagon
  • 2010-2011 Acura ZDX
  • 2010-2015 Honda Crosstour
  • 2011-2015 Honda Pilot
  • 2014 Honda FCX Clarity
  • 2010-2013 Honda Fit EV
  • 2011-2014 Honda Fit EV
  • 2010-2012 Honda Accord
  • 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV
  • 2010-2011 Honda Civic
  • 2010-2011 Honda Civic Hybrid
  • 2010-2011 Honda CR-V

Recall summary

The massive recall is part of a previous recall, but the schedule is being accelerated because the risk was determined to be more severe than previously thought. There are also enough replacement airbags to finish the whole recall ahead of schedule.

According to the NHTSA Safety Recall Report, all these vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules.

The specific defective modules may explode due to propellant degradation, which can occur after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature, and temperature cycling.

In the case of an inflator rupture, the force of inflation may cause metal fragments to pass through the air bag and into the vehicle interior at high speed.

Contact with such high speed, flying pieces of metal, should the inflation occur and metal pieces be fragmented, may result in serious injury or death to vehicle driver and/or occupants.

The repair

The registered owners of all affected vehicles will be contacted by mail by Honda. Honda will request all owners asked to take their vehicles to a Honda or Acura automobile dealer.

The dealer will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator with a new inflator, at no cost to the vehicle owner. The recall is expected to begin November 13, 2018.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 1.34 million vehicles were originally part of this recall. As of April 9, 2021, – the last date for which information was available – 1,104,463 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

Sean ReyesHonda Recalls Over 1,350,000 Vehicles Due to Air Bag Defect
Honda recalls vehicles with defective seat features

Honda recalls vehicles with defective seat features

April 19, 2018 Sean Reyes ,

Torrance, Calif. – April 19, 2018 – American Honda Motor Company has recalled more than 5,800 vehicles potentially equipped with defective seat features, according to documentation submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects multiple models across two brands, including:

  • 2018 Acura MDX sport utility vehicles produced Jan. 10, 2018.
  • 2018 Honda Pilot sport utility vehicles produced between Jan. 2, 2018, and Jan. 20, 2018.
  • 2018 Honda Ridgeline pickup trucks produced between Jan. 12, 2018, and Jan. 19, 2018.

The Japanese automaker is unsure exactly how many of the vehicles referenced in the action contain the defective parts.

The defect

Affected vehicles driver and front passenger with improperly machined rivets connecting the seat slide rails to the seat feet. These fixtures could brake in the event of an accident, allowing the front driver and passenger seats to separate from the vehicle floor.

The defective rivets not only pose a serious safety hazard to occupants but also violate Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 207 and 210. The former requires vehicle manufacturers to install secure seating systems, while the latter mandates the use of fixed restraint assemblies.

Honda has not received reports connecting the defective rivet to any injuries. However, the connectors were involved in one accident.

Timeline of events

A tier-one vendor contacted the car company Jan. 11, 2018, after learning of an accident, during which the rivets holding the front seat side rails in place in a Honda vehicle, failed. The automaker launched an internal investigation in response.

Engineering personnel concluded this inquiry Feb. 6, 2018, finding that AKKO Fastener, the supplier responsible for producing the rivets used within Honda front seat assemblies, had improperly machined the connective fixtures.

Specifically, AKKO had deployed out-of-specification production tools, used too much material, and relied upon deficient quality controls. Honda then embarked on an administrative review to understand the breadth of the impact of the production error.

On Feb. 21, 2018, AKKO completed an internal investigation into the mis-machined rivets, while Honda and its other suppliers launched new downstream inquires.

The automaker reviewed the matter in its entirety March 29, 2018, and determined that a voluntary safety recall was required. Honda notified dealers of the forthcoming action April 6, 2018.

The solution

Honda has directed dealers to replace the driver seat frame assemblies in affected Acura MDX SUVs and swap out both the driver and passenger seat assemblies in recalled Honda Pilot SUVs and Ridgeline pickup trucks, according to an NHTSA recall acknowledgement document. Dealership technicians are to make these repairs free of charge.

The automotive company intends to notify owners via first-class mail May 18, 2018.

Check your car’s recall status using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Sean ReyesHonda recalls vehicles with defective seat features
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