The defect
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 HONDA ACCORD, CIVIC TWO AND FOUR DOOR, AND MODEL YEAR 2003-2004 HONDA ELEMENT VEHICLES. THE INTERLOCK LEVER OF THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY UNEXPECTEDLY DEFORM, WHICH CAN ALLOW THE INTERLOCK FUNCTION OF A VEHICLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO BE DEFEATED.
The risk
REMOVAL OF THE IGNITION KEY WHEN THE GEAR SELECTOR OF A VEHICLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN SHIFTED TO THE PARK POSITION CAN ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE ORIGINAL INTERLOCK PIN AND LEVER WITHIN THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND REPLACE THEM WITH NEW, DESIGNED COMPONENTS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 7, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Honda Accord | 2003 |
| Honda Civic | 2003 |
| Honda Element | 2003, 2004 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
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 |
| Honda Civic | 2003 | 499 | 11 |
| Honda Element | 2003 | 423 | 10 |
| Honda Element | 2004 | 281 | 9 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2010
41 of the 647 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2010 concerned the electrical system; HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) filed 96 campaigns in all.
| 10V658000 24 Dec 2010 | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC |
| 10V606000 1 Dec 2010 | KEYSTONE RV COMPANY |
| 10V594000 23 Nov 2010 | KEYSTONE RV COMPANY |
| 10V582000 18 Nov 2010 | ALL AMERICAN SPECIALTY VEHICLES, LLC |
| 10V589000 17 Nov 2010 | DUTCHMEN MANUFACTURING, INC. |
| 10V555000 12 Nov 2010 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 10V553000 5 Nov 2010 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 10V536000 27 Oct 2010 | MACK TRUCKS, INC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2010