Honda to recall 45,747 Odyssey minivans over rear door defect
23 Feb 2012
Japanese carmaker Honda is recalling 45,747 Odyssey minivans because the rear doors can fall on people unexpectedly, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) yesterday said.
The road safety regulator said that the gas filled struts that help to raise and support the lift gate of vehicles equipped with a power lift gate system may be prone to early life failure due to a manufacturing defect.
The defect can result in a leak of the pressurised gas, leading to reduced strut performance. As a result, the doors could close unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injuries, said the NTHSA.
The problem affects Odyssey EX-L and Touring vans from the 2008 and 2009 model years that have power lift gates.
The vans were made at Honda's manufacturing plant in Lincoln, Alabama, which also makes Honda's Pilot SUVs and Ridgeline pickup trucks.
Honda said that the problem has caused two minor injuries.
The carmaker is expected to begin the recall next month, and its dealers will replace both power lift gate gas struts for free.
This is the third recall of Honda Odyssey minivans in recent years. In 2010, the Minato, Tokyo-based carmaker had recalled 344,000 of the 2007-08 minivans due to a braking problem and recalled another 33,341 in 2011 over Odysseys faulty windshield wipers.