Case Files

Honda Recalls Over 485,000 vehicles

Under pressure from the National Highway Transportation Administration to re-investigate and expand a recall from 2003, Honda issues a recall on certain 1999-2002 Honda Accords, 1997-2001 Honda Preludes and 1999-2000 Acura TLs.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, 2005

As a result of a defect petition prepared by the Center for Legal & Responsible Commerce and filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, American Honda Motor Co. recently agreed to recall an additional 486,659 vehicles manufactured for model years 1997-2002. The models affected by the recall are 1999-2002 Honda Accords, 1997-2001 Honda Preludes and 1999-2000 Acura TLs, with automatic transmissions. Federal law requires that vehicles with automatic transmissions have a safety interlock which prevents the key from being removed from the ignition if the car is not securely in Park. See Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114 (49 CFR § 571.114). If the driver does not shift to park before removing the key and fails to engage the parking brake, the vehicle could roll and a crash could occur. The new recall number is 05V025000, and expands the previously issued recall 03V423000, which recalled 563,861 vehicles. The recall is expected to begin during February 2005.

The Center for Legal and Responsible Commerce prepared the defect petition on behalf of a consumer who owned a vehicle that experienced the problems described in the 2003 recall, but that Honda refused to fix. Action by the CLRC was necessitated by Honda's refusal to even examine the consumer's vehicle because it was outside of the original recall's scope. The original recall's scope was limited due to Honda's faulty analysis of the complaint data it received regarding the defect from consumers, dealers and NHTSA. Consumers who believe they may be affected by this recall should contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009 or Acura at 1-800-382-2238. If consumers have any problems or need further information, they should contact NHTSA's auto safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

For more information about the Center for Legal & Responsible Commerce, click here.