A
A
A
Honda has issued a recall of 608,000 vans and SUVs due to malfunctioning software which has led to problems with the backup camera and driver display system. The recall specifies the 2018-2020 Odysseys, 2019-2021 Pilots and 2019-2020 Passports. The vehicles were equipped with incorrect control module software for their instrumentation panels which results in the display not showing critical information such as: gear selector position, speed and engine oil pressure. Failure of the display during operation could lead to the driver becoming unaware of the vehicle’s speed, thus causing the potential for speeding and result in the driver being stopped by law enforcement officials.
This error lasts until the vehicle is turned off and then restarted. The National Highway Traffic Safety administration has also found that the displays can randomly reboot during operation. Furthermore, the software malfunction can also result in the delay or prevention of the backup camera feed being visible to the driver. These issues have led the NHTSA to classify these vehicles as non-compliant with federal regulations, asserting that they can potentially pose a hazard for the vehicle operators.
Read More »
While there are, at present, no reported accidents as a result of the faulty systems, the company plans on notifying owners in late September 2020 via mail. Owners will be required to bring their vehicle into their local dealership for repairs. During the repair visit, the repair technicians will resolve the backup camera malfunction through the implementation of a new version of their camera software. Updated software will also be employed to resolve the problems experienced with the instrumentation panel.
Odyssey owners will also receive addition service to address vehicle specific issues related to the rear-view camera and sliding doors. The rear-view camera assemblies will be replaced to fix durability issues that the manufacturer reports could distort the image or prevent the rear-view camera from displaying an image when the vehicle is in reverse. The company also plans on updating the outer handle cables on the sliding glass doors. The company indicated that water is capable of entering the handles and dripping onto the cables for the door latch mechanism. In cold weather, this could lead to the formation of ice on the cable, thus possibly preventing the door’s ability to latch by hindering the cable movement. An unlatched door poses the potential of opening during operation, posing a significant risk to the driver and passengers.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time the manufacturer has issued recalls for its rear camera system software. In 2018, they recalled some 232,000 Agreements and Insights for a similar issue. Chrysler Fiat also recalled 365,000 cars earlier this year related issues with its backup cameras, however these issues were due to video feeds sticking and freezing.
Owners are encouraged to find out now if their vehicle is included in one of these recalls by visiting www.recalls.honda.com, or calling (888) 234-2138. Although 608,000 vehicles may seem like a big number, last year Honda was forced to recall some 1.1 million vehicles in the US resulting from faulty airbags in the Acura MDX, Accord, and CR-V.
