The defect
HONDA IS RECALLING 129,600 MY 2004-2005 ACURA TL VEHICLES. IF WATER ENTERS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR BREATHER PORT, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW THE MOTOR TO VENT WARM AIR DURING NORMAL OPERATION, IT CAN RESULT IN CORROSION INSIDE THE MOTOR HOUSING. THIS COULD CAUSE A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BREAKER INSIDE THE MOTOR HOUSING.
The risk
IF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER FAILS, IT WILL CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, WHICH CAN INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A CRASH IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FOR SIGNS OF CORROSION. IF NO SIGNS OF CORROSION ARE PRESENT, A SNORKEL TUBE WILL BE ADDED TO THE WIPER MOTOR BREATHER PORT TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING THE WIPER MOTOR HOUSING AND FOAM TAPE WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE COWL ABOVE THE WIPER MOTOR TO DIRECT WATER AWAY FROM THE WIPER MOTOR. IF SIGNS OF CORROSION DAMAGE ARE OBSERVED ON THE WIPER MOTOR, THE MOTOR WILL BE REPLACED, AND THE BREATHER TUBE AND FOAM TAPE WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED TO PREVENT WATER INTRUSION ON THE NEW WIPER MOTOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Acura TL | 2004, 2005 |
Components: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acura TL | 2004 | 551 | 4 |
| Acura TL | 2005 | 388 | 5 |
Other visibility recalls in 2008
14 of the 683 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2008 concerned the visibility; HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) filed 96 campaigns in all.
| 08V634000 2 Dec 2008 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 08V606000 18 Nov 2008 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 08V538000 14 Oct 2008 | BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO. |
| 08V455000 9 Sept 2008 | CHRYSLER LLC |
| 08V456000 9 Sept 2008 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 08V410000 14 Aug 2008 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 08V386000 6 Aug 2008 | MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES, INC |
| 08V237000 28 May 2008 | VAN HOOL N.V. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2008