American Honda Motor has issued a massive safety recall affecting nearly 1.7 million vehicles in the United States. The recall centers around a faulty steering gearbox manufactured by Hitachi Astemo Americas. The supplier is a joint venture between Honda and Hitachi, with Hitachi holding a majority stake.
According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the steering gearbox worm wheel may swell over time, leading to reduced grease film thickness and increased friction between the wheel and gear. Additionally, the worm gear spring preload was set too high, further exacerbating the issue.
This can result in increased steering effort, potentially compromising driver control. Honda has identified insufficient annealing and high load single unit break in as the root causes of the defect. To address these problems, the company has revised the worm wheel pressure angle control value, spring load specification, and worm gear meshing area application process.
Revised steering gearboxes were introduced into vehicle production on August 30, 2024. Honda has issued a recall for a range of vehicles due to a potential issue with the transmission. The recall affects models from the 2022 to 2025 model years, including the Acura Integra, Acura Integra Type S, Honda Civic, HR-V, CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V Fuel Cell EV, and Civic Hybrid.
The issue involves a worm gear spring that could become worn over time, leading to potential transmission problems. Honda has received 10,328 warranty complaints related to the issue and is replacing the faulty part at no cost to owners. The recall is expected to begin in November 2024.
Owners of affected vehicles will receive a notification letter from Honda with instructions on how to schedule a service appointment. While there have been no reported accidents related to the issue, Honda is taking proactive steps to address it.
The recall is a reminder of the importance of regular vehicle maintenance and the need for manufacturers to be vigilant in identifying and addressing potential safety issues.
