The defect
HONDA IS RECALLING 351,000 MY 2003 ACCORD 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 CAN 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 COVER WILL BE INSTALLED OVER THE WIPER MOTOR TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING THE WIPER MOTOR HOUSING. IF SIGNS OF CORROSION DAMAGE ARE OBSERVED ON THE WIPER MOTOR, THE MOTOR WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Honda Accord | 2003 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Accord | 2003 | 1,987 | 13 |
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