Honda recalls 52,000 Canadian SUVs, minivans
Honda is recalling more than 52,000 vehicles in Canada because the vehicles are in danger of rolling away even after the driver has removed the keys.
The company says 23,300 Odyssey minivans and 12,400 Pilot SUVs from the 2003-04 model years are affected because of a potential malfunction of the vehicle's ignition interlock system. That's the system that doesn't let you remove the keys unless the vehicle is properly in park.
The company says the mechanism that locks the key in the ignition while the vehicles are in gear can wear out, especially if the parking brake isn't engaged. Honda says it has heard of several instances of that happening, but has received no reports of accidents or injuries related to the issue.
Approximately 16,600 Acura MDX crossovers vehicles from the 2003-06 model years are also affected.
In all cases, the vehicles have automatic transmissions. Honda dealers will repair the ignition interlock system free of charge. Owners of affected vehicles will get notices starting in February.
The Canadian recall is part of a larger effort to bring in 870,000 affected cars worldwide to fix them. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has heard of 43 complaints about the issue, which led to at least 16 crashes.
In one U.S. case, a driver got a broken leg after being run over by a 2003 Odyssey which he had parked in a sloping driveway. He slipped while trying to stop the van after it started rolling.
