Honda Motor Co. is recalling the popular Civic Agreement and coaches to address the problems with a switch that could allow key to be removed without moving the transmission in park, its third recall by the problem since 2003. Honda said the recall is the latest of 384 220 vehicles and 2003 model year includes Accord and Civics and 2003-2004 versions of the Honda Element. Honda told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the defect with the automatic transmission could lead to a vehicle roll and increase the risk of a crash.
The Japanese automaker said in a statement the withdrawal would mean 197,000 Accords, Civics and Elements 117 000 69 000. The company said it has received several complaints about the interruption of power and “is aware of a small number of incidents, including one that causes a minor injury.”
Honda said the ignition lock mechanism may be damaged or worn during use and “may be possible to remove the ignition key when the shift lever is not in the park.” Unless the parking brake is activated, the vehicle may roll away, in these circumstances and lead to an accident.
The three have involved the withdrawal of about 1.4 million vehicles since 2003. Honda recalled more than 560,000 minivans and sedans, including the Agreement of 1998-1999, to correct the defect displacement ignition lock park in October 2003. In January 2005, Honda recalled nearly 490,000 passenger vehicles, including several agreements of 1999-2002, which caused by the ignition switch.
NHTSA said in a statement that the latter problem differs from previous recalls that Honda held locks on, but the “potential security risk is the same.” The 2003 report points to a lack of quality that could lead to excessive wear on the locking lever and 2005; the recall involved a lock lever that could move out of position.
The last memory the result of an investigation by the NHTSA in January 2009 after the government received 16 complaints about the fact that the ignition lock in 2002 and 2003 Agreements. Eleven of the complaints that the failure of the locks leading to an extra shock.
The recall of the Accord, Civic and Element are expected to begin in late September. Dealers plan to remove a locking pin and the lever on the switch and replace them at no cost.