Honda recalls over 24,000 cars after manufacturing defect may cause risk of fuel leak

Honda has issued a voluntary recall for 24,000 cars over concerns that its fuel supply pipes may not be connected properly, or may come apart, and may therefore leak fuel; and pose a risk of fire.

The two models involved in the recall are:

If the pipes disconnect, flow of fuel could be disrupted, leading to the engine stalling and therefore increasing the risk of an accident. On top of that, as with any fuel leak, there is a risk of fire as well.

The problem has been identified as a ‘possible manufacturing mistake’ by a car parts supplier. Regulators are aware of the defect and reported the following:

“During manufacturing, the supplier may have used an incorrect die to create the end form on the fuel feed pipe, which is needed to secure the connection to the fuel feed hose. If the end form was not manufactured correctly, the feed pipe and the feed hose may not be completely connected or may disconnect once the fuel lines become pressurised, resulting in a fuel leak.”

It seems Honda may have issued the recall in good time as we have not seen any injuries, collisions or fires reported so far…

Customers being notified

Honda has begun notifying those affected for owners to bring in their vehicles for their fuel supply pipes to be inspected and replaced free of charge where necessary.

The car part manufacturer’s mistake in using the wrong die to cut the parts needed should not have gone undetected, perhaps. There is an argument that Honda themselves are equally to blame when taking in to account this viewpoint. Surely it’s down to them to ensure everything has been done correctly and their vehicles are safe to use.

News amidst the Takata airbag scandal

This recall is amidst the ongoing (and seemingly never-ending) recalls for the dangerous Takata airbags. The airbags in question are at risk of exploding and shooting shrapnel into the cabin of the vehicle.