Founded in 1946 in Hamamatsu, Japan, Honda Motor Company, Ltd., is a multinational conglomerate that primarily manufactures automobiles, motorcycles, and combustion engines. The company has been the second largest car manufacturer in Japan since 2001 behind only Toyota and is regularly one of the top ten automobile sellers worldwide.
Honda was built in the aftermath of World War II by founder Soichiro Honda. After seeing his first manufacturing company literally crumble during U.S. bombing campaigns during the war, Honda started fresh with a new company focusing on manufacturing affordable motorcycles. Over time, Honda expanded into the automobile industry where it has a major multinational footprint.
Popular Honda Models
While Honda has over time expanded into most corners of the automobile market, the company is best known for its subcompact, compact, and midsize sedans. Their best-known model is likely the Honda Civic. The Civic has been in production for decades and is the second-longest continuously manufactured Japanese automobile still on the market. Originally released in 1972, this compact car is in its tenth generation. The Civic comes in gas or hybrid models and even comes with a hatchback version.
Another popular sedan offered by Honda is the Accord. First manufactured in 1976, the Accord has been offered in multiple iterations. At various points, the Accord coupe, wagon, hatchback, and even crossover versions were available for purchase. Currently, the Accord is Honda's most popular mid-size sedan.
Honda may be best known for their sedans, but they have had plenty of success in the SUV market. Of all their SUV models, the Honda CR-V has arguably been their most popular. The CR-V was first introduced in 1995 and is slotted directly below the larger Honda Pilot in size.
Honda Safety Ratings and Concerns
Over the years, Honda has developed a reputation for their vehicle's strong performance during safety testing. Many of their models receive high marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). That is certainly the case for the 2019 Honda Pilot. The IIHS awarded the 2019 Pilot a 2019 Top Safety Pick. The SUV received an excellent rating from IIHS, netting a perfect score on every metric other than passenger-side crashworthiness and the ease of use for child safety latches.
Another Honda that was awarded the 2019 Top Safety Pick award is the 2019 Accord. While the Accord did receive a “Marginal” rating for its headlights, the 2019 model earned an otherwise perfect score across the board.
It is worth mentioning that the majority of Honda offerings for model year 2019 earned some sort of Top Safety Pick award from IIHS. This also includes the crew cab pickup named the Honda Ridgeline as well as the popular minivan known as the Honda Odyssey.
Honda Recalls, Defects, and Safety Issues
Behind the safety accolades, the reality for many Honda vehicles isn't as pretty. Over the years, millions of Honda vehicles have experienced malfunctions and safety issues. While some of those issues have been addressed through a manufacturer recall, there are a variety of defects with Honda models that the manufacturer has yet to formally address. If you are curious if your Honda vehicle is subject to a recall, you can search its official site using your VIN to determine if a recent recall affects your vehicle. Below are some of the most common issues that have affected Honda vehicles in recent years.
Sudden Airbag Deployment
Multiple injuries attributed to sudden airbag deployment in more than 137,000 Honda models led to a large-scale recall in May of 2019. The recall, which exclusively affects 2019 CR-V models, has resulted in three injuries and a total of six reports of sudden airbag deployment.
In the recall notice, Honda points to metal burrs in the interior surface of the steering wheel as the culprit. The manufacturer claims steering wheel's wire harnesses were damage due to the metal burrs, which ultimately led to the short-circuit that caused the airbags to deploy.
Engine Stall
A manufacturing defect in the timing belt for more than 94,000 Honda automobiles led to a company recall in March of 2019. The recall, which affected 2018-2019 model year Honda Pilot, Odyssey, and Ridgeline vehicles, was due to deterioration of the timing belt. In certain models, a design flaw led caused the timing belt to wear prematurely. This defect could ultimately cause affected engines to stall.
According to the recall notice, Honda agreed to replace each vehicle's faulty timing belt at no cost. Despite the effort, there are concerns by some that additional models could be affected. Additionally, some affected vehicle owners report parts unavailability or long waits for warranty repair.
Airbag Failure
For years, there have been reports of airbags failing to deploy upon impact in a number of Honda models. Although these reports first began to surface in 2009, Honda did not officially announce a recall until May of 2019.
The faulty airbags affected 19,000 vehicles from model years 2009 through 2015. The defect was present in a wide array of Honda models including the Accord, Civic, CR-V, Fit, and Pilot. This problem stems from the improperly installed inflator in the front passenger-side airbag. Due to the faulty inflator malfunctioning, the front passenger airbag could potentially fail to fully inflate. This failure could lead to serious injury during a crash.
Honda Problems? Discuss Your Options With an Attorney and Get the Help You Need.
High sales figures and Top Safety Pick awards may look great on the surface, but the reality is many Honda owners are plagued with safety issues and mechanical defects. While Honda has made efforts to address some complaints through the recall process over the years, many issues have taken an unreasonably long time or a number of warranty repair attempts to resolve.
The good news is that you don't have to rely on Honda to do the right thing on its own. If you are experiencing issues with your Honda, you may have a claim for compensation under the California Lemon Law. To learn more, contact The Lemon Lawyer today.