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Why are Honda recalling their minivans?
In a March 13th filing with the NHTSA, Honda stated that they were recalling around 886,815 Odyssey minivans from the model years 2005-2010 which were built in their Lincoln, Alabama assembly plant from June 23rd 2004 to September 4th 2010. This is due to the concern that a fuel pump part could crack and cause a fuel leak, increasing the risk of fire.
The fuel pump modules were made in the United States by Japanese supplier Denso, according to Honda Motor Co and the company claims to have investigated several possible causes of the cracks in the fuel pump strainer cover, including acid from chemicals found in car washes and low PH materials used in fertilizer and dust control agents. According to their report, the cover for the fuel pump did show signs of deterioration and cracking under such exposure.
Despite the vehicles being recalled for safety reasons, Honda have stated that there have been no reports of fire or injuries related to the problem.
What will happen during the recall and when will it happen?
To deal with the safety concerns, the proper precaution would be to replace the fuel pump rather than risk the potential of further cracks or leaks. Due to the sheer size of the recall and the fact that these vehicles are no longer in production, Honda said that the proper repair parts won't be available until summer, though in the meantime the company plan to provide “interim” parts to customers who will be notified in the beginning of April. The manufacturers have not announced whether the replacement fuel pumps would be provided by the same company or a different manufacturer.
These repairs will be undertaken by Honda for no charge and will notify all affected owners when the replacement parts become available. Alongside the change of the fuel pump, the company's diagnostic team will check the fuse and relays related to the fuel pump and follow that up with a check of the electrical connections. The process could also include the fuel tank being drained and removed along with other parts for the workers to gain access to the pump. Once the new pump is installed and the fuel tank restored, the vehicle will then need test driving.
This is not the first problem Honda has had with it's Odyssey minivans, having had to recall the vehicles three times in less than a year.