Honda to Recall 222,674 Accord Models in China Over Engine Problems

resource from: Reuters   

A Honda Accord sedan at the booth of Guangzhou Automobile Group during the Auto China 2016 auto show in Beijing.

BEIJING (Reuters) - The Honda Motor Co joint venture with Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group Co Ltd (GAIC) is recalling 222,674 Accord sedans in China, market regulators said on Thursday, after complaints began circulating on social media about the car engine's quality.

The recall is linked to a problem caused by the intercooler of the car's 1.5 liter turbocharged engine. In certain situations, the engine lost speed to protect the vehicle, according to a document on China's State Administration for Market Regulation.

Some owners of the Japanese carmaker's flagship model have posted videos that showed their cars losing speed on the popular social media platform Weibo over the past weeks. Many of them have demanded for a recall of the model.

The Guangzhou-based venture will install devices that optimize the air flow rate at the engine intercooler, according to the document.

"When you look at the reliability of Honda and Acura, they have slid over the last several years," said Jake Fisher to Automotive News in March. Fisher is the director of auto testing at Consumer Reports.

"That is a concern for a manufacturer that has a reputation for bulletproof reliability. Traditionally, Toyota and Honda have been known as the best reliable vehicles. I think Honda has gone off course a bit." Fisher added.

Honda also has had complaints about stalling and reduced power output for 2017 and 2018 CR-Vs with the 1.5-liter turbo engine because of fuel improperly mixing with oil, a problem numerous owners reported to Consumer Reports. 

Honda said the problem appeared when the CR-Vs are driven for short distances during extreme cold weather, which could cause an abnormal level of oil dilution which results in unburned fuel mixing with engine oil, increasing the oil level. In extreme cases, Honda said the excessive oil levels could result in an engine misfire.

Total vehicle sales in China, the world's largest auto market, fell for a 12th straight month in June, and top industry body has predicted them to fall for the second year running.

However, Honda's sales in China outperformed the overall market. In the first seven months of the year, its local ventures reported a 20.5% rise in sales due to newly redesigned models.

resource from: Reuters

FutureCar Staff