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Another week, another recall: Honda recalls more than 200,000 vehicles for brake-shift interlock failure

Posted in Accident & Injury on April 19, 2013

Earlier this week, we told you how Honda was one of four Japanese car makers forced to recall thousands of vehicles for an air bag problem. Now the company has another issue to deal with.

Honda has recalled more than 200,000 vehicles because brake-shift interlocks can fail and cause the shifter to be moved without depressing the brake, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The 2012-2013 CR-V, Odyssey and the 2013 Acura RDX have interlock system parts that can contract in “subfreezing temperatures” and “become slow to return to its proper position,” Honda said in a statement. That means the shifter could be moved out of park without pressing the brake pedal, as is required on all vehicles to prevent unintended acceleration.

Dealers will install a new brake shift interlock system in mid-May. Affected owners can visit the official recall websites (www.recalls.honda.co​m and www.recalls.acura.co​m) or call the company at 1-800-999-1009.

Interlock failures have been a chronic problem for Honda, particularly on its ignition systems. The system is supposed to keep the key locked into the ignition slot until the car is put into park. Most recently, in December, Honda recalled 870,000 vehicles for ignition interlocks that could allow the driver to pull the key out of the ignition when the vehicle is not in park.

In 2003, Honda recalled more than 563,000 vehicles for ignition interlock failures. The same problem resurfaced in a 2005 recall of more than 483,000 Accords, Preludes and Acura TLs. In 2010, Honda recalled more than 384,000 Accords, Civics and Elements from the 2003 and 2004 model years, again for the same problem. NHTSA had collected reports of 18 alleged crashes and one injury due to the 2010 recall.

If you or a loved one have been injured by a recalled vehicle, contact the personal injury attorneys of Elk & Elk. Call 1-800-ELK-OHIO today or fill out our free, no-obligation, online consultation form.