Why are all these Hondas being recalled?
We've reported three times on Honda's recent major recall that's affected vehicles sold in the U.S., China and Japan. Not being mechanics, we've done our best to relay what the actual issue is that's prompted the recalls, but most articles we've found on the topic stop after mentioning something about the fuel pump and engines that won't start. Fortunately, Honda noticed we were in the dark and shot us a quick email to explain exactly what the issue is, which we found interesting since the mainstream media's descriptions have been pretty vague and off the mark in comparison.
The issue involves not the fuel pump, but a fuel pump relay, which is like a fuse. During production of the relay, presumably by a supplier, sealer leaked inside and coated parts of the metal coil that transfers the electrical signal within the relay. As the relay activates during normal operation, it continually heats and cools. Because these particular relays may be coated with sealer, they cannot contract and expand properly, which could cause them to become brittle and break. If that happens, then the car will not start or may stall while driving. Fortunately, the relay is located right in the under dash fuse box, so repairing the problem is simply a matter of popping a new relay in.
This more detailed explanation certainly puts the severity of the recall in perspective, though unfortunately its scope, which now reaches over 1,000,000 vehicles sold around the world, cannot be denied.
[Source: Honda]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Josh Oliver 3:10PM (3/23/2007)
For the life of me, I cannot believe the response from the automaker in question is non-biased.
Of COURSE they are going to say the news articles are vague, because it makes their product look inferior, which it is being proven to be the case.
I loved the headline "Why are these Hondas being recalled?" Perhaps it's not only because yes, they are being recalled, but gasp....they are also receiving the attention from the media that the Big 3 automakers here in Detroit have had to deal with.
Honda, if you're reading this. The corporate spin is nice, but why not call a spade a spade.
Your product is not recalled over and over again totaling over 1,000,000 units because it is a great product.
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Jason 3:22PM (3/23/2007)
Unlike the news media, Honda can't come out and LIE about something. At least they took the time to reply and set the record straight.
Honda - if you're reading this, I enjoy my Honda (well, Acura) and all of the other Hondas I've ever owned. Unlike Josh (above) who is probably some stupid fanboy for , I can actually speak from experience having owned old AND new Hondas and Acuras, and I've never had a problem with the quality of the vehicles of the quality of service from authorized dealers.
Josh - you need to get real. I'm sure if Honda didn't care they'd do what I'd do if I were them and just ignore the fanboy riots that Autoblog has become known for, fix their cars, and be done with it. I'm sure they don't personally care when people who hate them just because they're Honda run their mouths on the Internet, because those people will probably never put up cash for a new Honda ever anyway.
On top of all that, the problem is because of a third party manufacturer. Instead of point fingers and sue them, like Ford did with the Firestone debacle, Honda is stepping up and fixing all the cars at their own cost with very few reported incidences so far. If my car is one of the affected ones, I'll take it in and get it fixed for free, and thank Honda for being proactive and professional about the situation.
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Dan Bach 3:24PM (3/23/2007)
How are they not calling a spade a spade? The recall is a recall for the relay not the fuel pump. They don't deny having a recall or anything of the sort.
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Mike 3:24PM (3/23/2007)
Josh, If it is the fuel pump or something more major, I can place blame on Honda. Faulty internals of a fuse (fuse, relay, whatever. same damned thing.) purchased by honda for use in their products should not reflect negatively on them and most consumers should overlook it.
Now, the transmission problems, sunroof problems, etc, THAT falls on honda. a relay? not at all.
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alan orne 2:09PM (1/21/2008)
Mike, I would be interested in the information relative to the failure of Honda transmissions. Especially in the Honda Odyssey. Al
rem83 3:26PM (3/23/2007)
Josh,
I don't believe Honda was the one calling the mainstream articles vague. They simply provided a detailed description of the problem, which did not seem to be available anywhere else. It was John's opinion that the mainstream media was not giving this adequate coverage. I personally would never buy a Honda car (or a Toyota either, for that matter), but come on, cut them a little slack here.
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felonious monk 3:25PM (3/23/2007)
"sealer was that leaked inside and coated parts"
Ummm.... what?
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owen 3:28PM (3/23/2007)
Very well said jason.
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bob 3:30PM (3/23/2007)
It's quite funny to read just how idiotic some of you are by blasting Honda over this. Honda unfortunately installed a faulty part they bought from a supplier. It will be rectified. No one has died or been injured from this. All will be fixed. You don't have to worry.
You should be more worried that Ford or Chrysler might no longer exist in a few years. Honda and Toyota will still be plugging away and producing innovative products that people want to buy and drive.
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Aetius 3:33PM (3/23/2007)
Mike, you're kidding me right? If the radio antenna on a GM stops functioning, people post half-page posts about how GM is crap. But in Honda's case, it's the suppliers? LMAO.
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$0.03 3:37PM (3/23/2007)
"Honda and Toyota will still be plugging away and producing innovative products that people want to buy and drive.
Posted at 3:30PM on Mar 23rd 2007 by bob"
What's so innovative? Camry? NO...Accord?...NO....Ridgeline?....hell NO...Tundra?...not even close
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Josh Oliver 5:06PM (3/23/2007)
Aetius - my point exactly. It's been said that GM, Ford & Chrysler are quick to place blame on their suppliers.
Now that the shoe is on the other foot, Honda didn't do it.
Also for the person who had to resort to name calling to help his "point" (whatever it is, I'm still trying to decipher.)
Because I own a Solstice and support General Motors, that does not make me a fan boy. That simply means I realize the importance of American automakers.
I'm curious if you do as well?
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Matt 3:39PM (3/23/2007)
I have always liked Honda and probably always will but lately it seems there quality has been slipping..
And I hate to see it because Honda in my opinion has some of the best cars on the road....
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bernie 3:41PM (3/23/2007)
I think we've reached a point where the level and severity of auto recalls are getting absurd.
Some are truly serious defects but most are nitpicking things that are the result of a handful of non-threatening incidents. The auto industry is going the route of the airlines, where opressive govt. oversight will run off all but the very strongest companies.
As companies try to keep prices at insanely low levels they're forced to source parts in third world companies, making it more and more common that sloppy craftsmanship will show up on all brands of vehicle.
What the government needs to do is assess if it's a problem that is likely to create an unsafe situation or if it's just another piece of beurocracy ensuring no company can make a profit.
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Jason 3:42PM (3/23/2007)
>> If the radio antenna on a GM stops functioning, people post half-page posts about how GM is crap.
Then those people are idiots too. They're just as stupid as the people that blame Honda for buying electronics from another company and having them fail - especially for something as stupid (yet vital) as a relay. It's literally a 2 dollar part that some electronics manufacturer screwed up. I hardly think Honda should be blasted as a "shitty car company" for something like that.
Along those same lines, if the power antenna on a Cobalt dies (just throwing out an example), GM fixed it for free and without a big fuss, and the car is fine besides that and runs for 200K miles without a problem, then good for GM and good for that car. Anyone who says otherwise is a fanboy, is retarded, or both. I don't know why every recall article on this site has to become a rabid fanboy bloodbath.
Props to John for posting the CORRECT information from Honda this time after having posted incorrect information about this same topic very recently.
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Mike 3:42PM (3/23/2007)
Aetius, My family has has 12, yes 12 chrysler caravans, 7 spirits, 3 stratus (I have an 04 currently), four jeeps (I am ready to trade the stratus on another jeep). I am a domestic fanboy, but I call a spade a spade. I am actually smart enout to 'call a spade a spade', unlike several others who have posted here. Surely you are not saying that I should pile on to honda over a suppliers mistake on a $.03 relay, simply because morons do the same to domestics?
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whofan 3:43PM (3/23/2007)
"It's quite funny to read just how idiotic some of you are by blasting Honda over this. Honda unfortunately installed a faulty part they bought from a supplier. It will be rectified. No one has died or been injured from this. All will be fixed. You don't have to worry.
You should be more worried that Ford or Chrysler might no longer exist in a few years. Honda and Toyota will still be plugging away and producing innovative products that people want to buy and drive."
These problems are the very same types GM and Ford get blasted over.
This finally shows that Honda and Toyota are no better than anyone else.
Shit happens.
I don`t dont deny Honda and Toyota build good cars. Guess what so does everyone else.
These companies get a free ride in the press even when they do have problems. Then those problems are down played, while GM or Ford have a problem it gets amplified.
I love pointing these thing out. Its called reality.
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Rick Lyon 6:21PM (3/23/2007)
Were the recalled vehicles made in Mexico? China? You wonder if quality will begin to suffer as they farm out cheap labor to meet capacity demands. cough *Toyota*
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Sid 5:25PM (3/23/2007)
Mike - I actually agree with you. But I was mainly referring to the bias shown by some of the import fans (and I say that as the owner of a 100% Japanese built Mazda3).
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Kamil 3:52PM (3/23/2007)
"not the fuel pump, but a fuel pump relay, which is like a fuse"
dude... calling a relay and fuse the same thing shows exactly how little or nothing you know about cars. Quit blogging and continue to post on forums along with your 16 year old friends.
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