RECALL: Honda Odyssey Minivans (Fire Risk)

Each time a person picks up the newspaper there seems to be an article about a motor vehicle recall. Sometimes the issue is minor, but quite frequently it is a serious issue of safety. Automobile manufacturers have an obligation to the public to make sure the vehicles they are driving are free from manufacturing defects, or at least to notify the public of any defects of which they become aware. This is the case of a recall that currently faces Honda Motor Company.

The Facts

Honda Motor Company is forced to recall nearly 900,000 Odyssey minivans that have to potential to catch on fire according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. On March 13 of this year Honda filed a notification with NHTSA indicating that 2005-2010 Odysseys that were built in Alabama include a part within the fuel pump that can possibly crack and cause fuel leakage. If this occurs, it would increase the risk of fire. At the present time, the company has not received any notifications of fires or injuries related to this particular problem.
 
While Honda dealers will make the repairs free of charge, unfortunately, because of the extent of the recall, Honda will not have the repair parts necessary for the 886,815 Odyssey vans until the summer. Until these parts are available to Odyssey owners, the company will provide “interim” parts. Those owners will begin receiving notifications in April.

Early Indications

Honda said the first indications of the problem came to its attention in 2012. At that time it began an investigation. What its investigation showed was that being exposed to high temperatures and acidic chemicals such as those commonly found in car washes, fertilizers, and agents for controlling dust, can cause the cover to deteriorate prematurely.
The fuel pump modules that are involved in the recall were manufactured in the United States and distributed by a Japanese supplier, Denso according to the auto manufacturer.

Other Odyssey Recalls

What may be of concern to Odyssey and potential Odyssey customers is that this is the third recall in less than a year involving this model. In November 2013, the manufacturer recalled 344,000 2007 & 2008 Odyssey models because there was a computer malfunction that could potentially lead to “heavy and unexpected braking.” Two months prior to that, Honda had recalled 318,000 2003 & 2004 Odysseys because of the possibility the air bag could activate without any type of impact being involved.
Vehicle recalls are a major problem in today’s society; some issues are minor while others such as this one can be potentially dangerous. If you have been injured in a car accident or due to a defective automobile, speak to our legal team today (for free) by calling (214) 651-6100.