Honda is recalling 430,000 vehicles in the United States over reports of salt-corroded driveshafts. The models affected include the 2007-2014 Fit, 2012 Civic Hybrid, 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2013-2015 Acura ILX, and the 2013-2015 Accord.
According to the automaker, affected vehicles (across 22 states) will be checked to determine whether there’s a need to replace the left and/or right front driveshafts.
The issue, Honda said, is “a combination of potentially damaged or incorrectly cured protective coatings during driveshaft assembly and long-term exposure to road salt primarily used in the northeastern United States.”
If the driveshaft breaks, there is a possibility for the vehicle to lose motive power or roll away even when set in park mode, particularly when the parking brake is not in use. Honda, however, clarified there have been no reports of accidents or injuries relating to the issue.
On top of the driveshaft recall, a spokesperson for Honda also told online publication Car and Driver that the Accord is getting a separate recall because the problems in the model are different.
“While the ultimate end result may be the same—a corroded and potentially broken driveshaft— the root causes or identified defects behind the corrosion are a bit different, prompting two different recalls,” the spokesperson said. “The recall affecting certain 2013-2015 Honda Accords involves chemical damage to the protective coating during driveshaft assembly caused by a lubricant.”
He continued: “The recall affecting the other listed models is related to an improper heating process during application of the protective coating, possibly leading to chipping of the paint, which may, over a long period, cause rust and lead to breakage of the driveshaft.”
The states covered by the recall are Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginian, Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia.
Honda will begin sending out recall notifications to customers in February, but owners of the affected vehicles may have to wait for parts to become available.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
