Honda is recalling an additional 384,000 2003-4 models after a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation into whether two earlier recalls for the same problem covered all the defective vehicles.
The new recall covers some 2003 Accords and Civics as well as some 2003-4 Elements. The problem is that a defect in the shift interlock system could allow the vehicle to be turned off and the key removed without the vehicle’s automatic transmission being in Park. That could allow the vehicle to roll away.
Two previous recalls, in 2003 and 2005, were for the same problem. The 2003 recall covered 570,000 vehicles and included the 1998–99 Honda Accord, the 1999 Odyssey and Acura TL as well as the 1997-99 Acura CL. The 2005 recall covered almost 487,000 vehicles and included the 1999-2002 Accord, the 1997–2001 Prelude and 1999–2000 Acura TL.
The total number of vehicles in the recall for the defect is 1.4 million. A Honda spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
Late in 2008, the safety agency opened a “recall query” to determine whether the earlier recalls covered all the vehicles with the shift interlock problem, because consumers whose vehicles were not covered by the 2003 and 2005 recalls complained about the problem.
The agency said “one owner alleged that she was almost into her house when she noticed the car rolling out of the garage and down the driveway and that when she tried to stop the car it almost ran over her before crashing into a cable box at the end of the driveway.”
The agency said it had 17 reports of crashes, but no reports of injuries.
Early in 2009, the agency said there was enough evidence to warrant a more serious investigation and upgraded the recall query to an engineering analysis. That led to the current recall. Last Thursday Honda informed N.H.T.S.A. of the recall.
The latest recall also marks the second time within a year that the automaker has greatly increased the number of vehicles it is recalling, as the safety agency has investigated the adequacy of its actions.
The other case involved a problem with driver’s side air bags. In November 2008, Honda recalled 3,900 vehicles because the driver’s side air bag might deploy too forcefully, causing an injury or death. Then in July 2009, Honda told the safety agency it was expanding the air bag recall to cover an additional 440,000 vehicles. Honda said additional “unusual” air bag deployments prompted further investigation and the larger recall.
Such a huge increase prompted an investigation by the safety agency, which wondered why so few vehicles were recalled initially.
N.H.T.S.A. told Honda it was evaluating the “timeliness” of Honda’s recalls. The agency noted that “failure to respond promptly, truthfully and completely” could subject Honda to significant civil penalties.
Then, last February Honda said it was recalling an additional 378,000 vehicles for the same air bag problem.
At that time John Mendel, executive vice president for sales at Honda, said that the automaker had not delayed, but that it took time to figure out the extent of the problem.
The safety agency never took any action against Honda.