(Reuters) - Honda Motor Co will recall 871,000 vehicles that could roll away after the ignition key has been removed, including 807,000 in the United States, the company said on Wednesday.
The automaker said a part in the ignition interlock
could become damaged or worn, enabling the key to be removed even if
the vehicle's transmission lever has not been shifted into park.
"If the
transmission is not in park and the parking brake is not set, the
vehicle could roll away and a crash could occur," the company said in a
statement.
Honda said the
recall affects 318,000 Odyssey minivans and 259,000 Pilot crossovers
from model years 2003-2004, and 230,000 Acura MDX crossovers from model
years 2003-2006. The recall also includes 64,000 Honda vehicles outside the United States.
U.S. safety investigators in October opened a probe
into the 2003-2004 Odyssey and Pilot after receiving 43 consumer
complaints, including several reports of injuries, related to the
ignition switch.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
said it had received complaints alleging some Honda vehicles had rolled
away and stopped only after hitting objects such as parked cars,
fences, a tree and a mailbox.
One consumer reported being knocked down and run over,
sustaining a fractured fibula, while trying to stop a 2003 Odyssey from
rolling away, NHTSA said in its initial notice of the defect
investigation.
American Honda said it will begin sending recall notices to owners in February. LINK
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