Lettuce recalls, while common as a passing breeze these days, aren’t really that big of a deal for the general consumer unless you’ve already gobbled up a bed of contaminated romaine.
Massive auto recalls are another dilemma entirely: If you’re affected by one, you’ve likely paid thousands, or signed on to a long-term lease for a car that can potentially put you or others in danger.
Unfortunately for 1.4 million Honda owners in the United States, that’s exactly what’s happening.
The automaker announced that it’s recalling 1.4 million vehicles for various mechanical and software issues, encompassing vehicles manufactured over an 18-year period, from 2002 to 2020.
The announcement makes for especially poor timing, as the country still grapples with the economic consequences of a rampant pandemic and winter weather threatens to make driving conditions more treacherous on a national level.
Here’s what you need to know about the vehicles affected, and what you should do if you drive one.
What’s being recalled
The recall encompasses a sprawling list of Honda models. Here’s the number of each specific model recalled for various issues, according to a report in the
Associated Press.
737,000 Accords from 2018 to 2020 have been recalled concerning a “programming flaw in a control computer can cause the rear camera, turn signals and windshield wipers to malfunction.”
430,000 Honda Civic Hybrids from 2012, the 2007 through 2014 Honda Fit, the 2013 through 2015 Acura ILX and the 2013 through 2015 Honda Accord. These recalls concern a faulty drive shaft that’s prone to breaking due to corrosion—an issue that can bode disastrous no matter the conditions on a road.
268,000 CR-Vs from 2002 through 2006 have been recalled due to a power window switch issue that can potentially lead to a fire.
As the AP writes: “Water can get into an open driver’s window and cause an electrical short, possibly touching off a fire. It’s the second recall for the same issue. The cars were recalled starting in October of 2012, but the repairs didn’t work. Honda says it has reports of 16 fires but no injuries.”
What you should do
First, an easy way to find out if you’re caught up in this mess is by consulting Honda’s recall website. By inputting your Vehicle Identification Number and model, you’ll be able to quickly see if your car is one of the 1.4 million dangerous automobiles cruising American highways.
Apart from that, there’s a bit of a waiting period, which only agonizingly stretches the problem. Owners will receive notifications in January and February, alerting them that their cars are ready to be serviced at their local Honda dealerships. January notifications will be mailed for owners of the 2018-2020 Accords, 2019 and 2020 Insights, and the 2002-2006 CRVs.
Owners of cars affected by the drive shaft issues will have to wait until February to receive the official word from Honda.
Fortunately, all recall maintenance is free of charge, but it doesn’t take away the initial sting of worrying about a car that might not be all that safe for the road.
www.autocar.co.uk
www.telegraph.co.uk
www.caranddriver.com
www.carmag.co.za
www.autoblog.com
jalopnik.com
lifehacker.com
www.cnet.com
