Honda Motor Co Ltd has recalled 1.2 million Accord vehicles over concerns on potentially fire-causing battery sensors.
The Japanese company announced Thursday, July 13, that the recall would cover Accord cars produced from 2013 to 2016.
Accord Recall Details
The recall was prompted by multiple reports of the vehicles’ battery sensors leading to fire in the engine. The sensors alert drivers to any problem with the battery, and Honda suspected that they may not be sealed properly against moisture.
This is why road salt as well as other substances could enter the sensor, causing it to short and create fire. Salt is used in certain states to clear roads during the winter.
“There have been no reported injuries related to these incidents,” the company noted in its statement.
Honda will begin to notify recall-affected Accord users by the end of the month. The 12-volt battery sensors will be replaced free of charge.
The auto maker also figured in the biggest car recall in the country’s history, where millions of its vehicles were pulled out of the market due to exploding Takata airbags. Even its luxury auto brand Acura was badly hit, CNN Money reported.
Early this week, Honda confirmed another exploding airbag-related death, bringing the number of fatalities to 12 in the United States and several more around the world.
Tough Times For The Sedan
On Friday, Honda is poised to unveil its newest-generation Accord, Reuters reported. It will be among the four re-engineered midsize sedans Asian carmakers are depending on to compete in a tough marketplace as Detroit manufacturers shift their attention to SUVs, crossovers, and pickup trucks.
The new Accord is anticipated to offer big changes in technology, fuel economy, style, and car safety. Honda, however, refused to discuss the model in greater detail ahead of the launch event to be held in Detroit.
The Accord, along with its rival Toyota’s Camry sedan, serve as the backbone of their manufacturers’ business in the United States, selling more than 300,000 units each year. For years, it has been Honda’s top-selling car in the country — a popularity eclipsed by its CR-V compact utility vehicle due to greater production capability.
Sales of passenger cars have dropped steadily since 2012, amid customers’ growing loyalty to SUVs and pickup trucks.
In June, Honda had to shut down its Japan-based Sayama plant after discovering that the WannaCry ransomware had affected its networks worldwide, including Japan, North America, China, Europe, and other regions. Rival companies Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co were also previously affected.
