Carmaker Honda to Recall 384,000 Autos for Roll-Away Problems

Today, Honda Motor Company announced that it is recalling 384,000 automobiles due to the possibility that the ignition interlock might fail, allowing the autos to roll away.

The recall of the 2003-2004 Honda Element and 2003 Honda Civic and Accord models arrives after an almost two-year National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation.

The NHTSA posted a notice of the recall on its Website Monday morning.

This ignition interlock problem is the latest major Honda recall concerning the issue. Honda has recalled over 1.4 million vehicles for the same problem since 2003, but the automaker has blamed different vehicle parts for the roll-away issue over time.

Honda claims that although defective ignition interlock devices contributed to all three recalls, different components are ultimately to blame.

“These are different parts. They are different issues that are causing this same sort of symptom,” said Honda spokesperson Chris Martin, pointing out that the 2003 Honda Accord was a total model change from the 2002 vehicle.

The NHTSA began the probe of Honda Accord models in September of 2008 after receiving 15 complaints claiming ten collisions.

One driver claimed she was nearly in her home when she saw her Honda vehicle rolling out of her garage and down her driveway. The woman was almost run over when she tried to stop the vehicle before it collided with a cable box. Another complainant said a Honda vehicle rolled down a driveway and struck a tree.

Today, Honda spokesperson Chris Martin said that one minor injury has resulted in connection with the recalled vehicles, as far as the automaker is aware.

NHTSA upgraded its investigation to an engineering analysis in January of 2009 after getting 36 complaints claiming 17 collisions.

NHTSA officials met with Honda on July 7 and again on July 29, and Honda conceded that a safety risk existed. Initially, Honda thought the failure rate was not sufficiently high to justify a recall, but the NHTSA felt “it was a serious enough issue” to issue a recall, so Honda agreed, according to Martin.

Honda dealers will take out the original interlock lever and pin and install redesigned components in their stead. Martin reported that the redesigned component will prevent the automobile from being shut off unless it is in park. Owners will begin receiving recall notifications from Honda in late September.