Honda Orders Dealers to Halt Sales of Certain Used Models until Airbag Problem is Solved

An airbag-related issue has made Honda tell its dealers to stop sales of certain used cars until a recall campaign to fix the defect is carried out.

Honda took the decision in spite of the fact that federal law requires automakers only to stop selling new cars when a recall campaign is issued, as it does not demand the same for used vehicles.

As reported by The New York Times, the defect airbag has been linked to two deaths and 18 injuries so far. The problem is that the driver’s airbag may deploy with so much force that it can send metal shards into the drivers.

In a service bulletin sent to Honda and Acura dealers about the recall, the automaker said: “Some vehicles affected by this campaign may be in your used vehicle inventory. These vehicles must be repaired before they are sold.”

Last month, Honda announced that its most recent airbag-related recall, the fourth since 2008 on the same problem, applied to the 2001-2002MY Honda Accord, 2001-2003MY Honda Civic and Odyssey, 2003 MY Honda Pilot, 2002-2003 MY Honda CR-V and the 2002-2003 MY Acura 3.2 TL and 2003 MY Acura 3.2 CL.

 

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Honda Issues a Single Number Recall on 2012MY Odyssey Minivan

If you happen to follow the automaker recall notes, you may notice that quite often they involve a specific batch of models, be that for a parts defect or an error during the assembly of a car.

In Honda's case, the safety recall involves only nine Odyssey minivans from the 2012 model year, built from October 31, 2011, through November 30, 2011.

The reason why the Japanese automaker issued this recall is that the retention nut for the front right lower suspension damper bolt may not have been tightened to the proper torque, which could allow the nut to loosen.

Honda says that if that were to occur, the front hub assembly would only be attached by one bolt, allowing the wheel assembly to shift to an extreme inward angle resulting in a loss of steering – and that's something you don't want to happen on the road…

The Japanese company says it contacted all nine owners by phone on December 19. Nevertheless, if you own one of the affected models and have more questions, you can contact the company directly at 1-800-999-1009.

 

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2012 Chevrolet Sonic Recalled as Some Cars May be Missing a Brake Pad

General Motors has found itself in a somewhat embarrassing situation as the Detroit-based automaker revealed that some examples of its newly launched 2012 Chevrolet Sonic subcompact model might be missing an inner or outer front brake pad.

The automaker said it became aware of the problem on November 29 when a customer brought a 2012 Sonic into a dealership complaining about noises coming from the brakes. The company noted that here are no known crashes or injuries related to the issue.

GM has now issued a formal recall that involves 4,873 Sonic models built from June 2, 2011, through November 21, 2011, of which 4,296 were sold to U.S. customers and 577 to Canadian buyers.

In a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), GM said that a missing pad could result in reduced brake system performance, increasing the risk of a crash.

The company will notify owners and have its dealers inspect the front brakes for a missing inner or outer pad.

"If a brake pad is missing, dealers will install new inner and outer pads, a new brake caliper, and a new rotor. This service will be performed free of charge," GM said in a statement.

The safety recall on the 2012 Sonic is expected to begin on or before January 14, 2012.

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Nissan Recalling Near 34,000 Sentra Sedans over Engine Stalling Issue

Nissan has issued a new recall on certain 2010-2011 model year Sentra compact cars because of a battery cable problem that could potentially cause the engines to stall.

In a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Nissan explained that the zinc coating applied to the terminal stud bolt may be too thick and as a result, it could lead to a voltage drop the can damage the engine control module (ECM).

The documents say the problem can cause the engine to stall while the vehicle is in motion and it may not be possible to restart the engine after it stopped.

The recall affects Sentra sedans equipped with MR20 engines, built from May 11-22, 2010, and July 8-October 25, 2010.

The Japanese company said it will notify Sentra owners and replace the positive battery terminal and cover, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before January 23, 2012.

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Cadillac recalling 50,000 CTS models worldwide over potential handling fault

General Motors and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration have announced a recall of certain 2009 and 2010 model-year Cadillac CTS models. The notice covers around 50,000 units worldwide, 11,147 of which were sold in the States.

According to NHTSA, jam nuts on the vehicles’ suspension could come loose over time, eventually allowing the toe link to completely separate from the vehicle. If this happens, the rear wheel could turn in or out, making the vehicle difficult to steer. GM says that owners may hear a metallic clanking noise in the rear of the vehicle as a warning before this happens.

So far, no accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of the defect, though NHTSA warns that if left untreated, owners could experience a loss of control.

GM says that it will install new jam nuts free of charge and replace the rear suspension toe link as necessary. A recall schedule hasn’t been established yet, but owners should hear something soon. Hit the jump for the full recall notice.

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