The Center for Auto Safety is urging Honda to issue a recall on certain 1999-2002 Honda Accords after an exclusive 5 On Your Side investigation exposed a potential safety issue. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) there have been 11 complaints since 2009 of sub frame rust that have left owners with vehicles that are unsafe to drive. The complaints allege that water from the air conditioning drain hose dips down onto the passenger side sub frame rusting it so badly that the frame can separate from the vehicle. The above video shows that while the passenger side disintegrated from rust, the driver side is often rust free.

A spokesperson for Honda confirmed that the company has also received similar complaints, but said they do not believe the defect warrants a safety bulletin or recall. In 2003 Honda changed the location of the drain hose, but said that the design change is unrelated to the problem. If the investigation should lead to a recall, approximately 1.5 million vehicles could be affected.

A recall of certain Honda vehicles has been expanded to cover over one million automobiles, including certain 2002-2003 Honda Civic and 2004-2005 Honda Pilots. In April of this year, Honda announced that they had found a problem in certain 2002-2004 CRV and 2003 Pilots, where tension on the headlight wiring harness could cause excessive wear on the terminals of the high/low beam headlight switch increasing the electrical resistance of the terminals. The terminal ends could melt leaving the driver without headlights. Honda said that they will inspect and replace the harness and lighting switch as necessary. Owners wanting more information on the problem can contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

Honda will be contacting owners of certain 2002-2006 Honda CR-V crossover SUV’s because of a problem with the driver side power window switch. Honda said that moisture getting in to the drivers door could cause damage to the master power switch causing it to overheat and possibly ignite. There have not been any accidents or injuries related to the problem, but five inside door fires have already been reported. Honda is asking owners to park their vehicles outside until the problem is fixed, because a fire could start even when the ignition is off. Owners wanting more information may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.

Honda has announced problems with two of their popular vehicle models, the 2012 Ridgeline and 2007-2011 Element, that will have owners bringing their vehicles to their nearest dealership for repairs.

According to Honda, certain Ridgeline trucks built on April 18, 2012, may have an incorrect passenger airbag status indicator. Without the proper indicator, the vehicle occupants may not be aware that the front passenger airbag is off and will not deploy in a crash. Honda will replace the incorrect indicator free of charge.

Honda will also be asking the owners of certain Elements to bring in their vehicles equipped with an accessory trailer hitch. The turn signal and brake light wiring may have been inadvertently switched during manufacturing giving inaccurate braking and turning signals when pulling a trailer.

Owners can expect to receive notices about the problems starting at the end of September or early October. For more information about the problem contact Honda Automobile Customer services at 1-800-999-1009

Honda is recalling certain 2012 Honda CR-V and 2013 Acura ILX vehicles for a problem that could lead to the doors not fully latching. If the manual or power door lock is activated at the same time the interior front door handle is being operated, the cable connecting the interior door handle to the door latch mechanism could become loose and move out of position. The door may not fully latch and could open while driving. Honda will replace the front door latch assemblies and the interior front door handles. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.


Automobile manufacturers reported strong vehicle sales in June despite analysts predictions that the automobile economy is likely to slow for the summer. The average increase for dealership sales was 22% with Toyota and Honda showing the strongest gains. Consumer interest in larger vehicles, such as pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) is being attributed to a sudden drop in the price of fuel, and low interest rates and the release of new models is bringing in consumers who have been delaying purchasing a new vehicle because of lack of confidence in the economy.