Honda is recalling about 880,514 vehicles in parts of the United States after corrosion at rear suspension mounting points could lead to suspension failure and raise the risk of a crash. The automaker said the problem can affect vehicles sold or registered in 23 states and Washington, D.C., where road salt and other de-icing agents are used heavily.
The timing matters because dealers are scheduled to be notified beginning June 5, with owner letters expected to start going out July 7. For drivers who have been searching for whether their vehicle is included in the latest Honda recalls, the company said owners can check by entering a vehicle identification number or license plate on the NHTSA website.
Honda said the issue stems from improper coating specifications that can cause paint to peel away near weld areas and expose metal to corrosion. As that corrosion worsens, the affected mounting points can thin and eventually fracture. If rear control arm or lower arm mounting points break, the rear wheels could become misaligned or inadequately retained, which could hurt handling, stability and braking performance before ending in a crash or injury.
Drivers may notice abnormal noises or vibrations from the rear suspension, or changes in how the vehicle handles, before a failure occurs. Honda said the risk is tied to states where salt is commonly used during winter months, but it also said there have been no reports of the issue in vehicles sold outside the affected regions, even though the recall covers more than 880,000 vehicles in those salt-usage states.
Honda and Acura dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a reinforcement kit free of charge. Depending on what they find, dealers may also repair or replace affected rear subframe components. The company did not identify the specific Honda and Acura models in the recall notice, leaving owners to look up their vehicles directly as the mailing dates approach.
The recall covers vehicles sold or registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. That narrow geographic pattern suggests the corrosion problem is being treated as a winter-road-maintenance issue, not a nationwide defect, but the size of the recall means thousands of owners will still need to check their vehicles and wait for dealer instructions.
