Honda Recalls Over 600,000 Vehicles for Faulty Fuel Pump

American Honda Motor Company has announced that it is recalling 628,124 vehicles for a faulty fuel pump issue.  The fuel pump is located in the fuel tanks of the recalled vehicles.  The problem with the fuel pumps is that the impellers can break and stop sending fuel to the engine.  Engines will stall and possibly cause the vehicle to crash.  The recall is expected to begin on May 18, 2021.  Honda will replace the fuel assembly free of charge.  The following vehicles are part of this recall: 2019-2021 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot, Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V.  The current NHTSA campaign number assigned to this recall is 21V215000.  This recall is an extension of recall 20V-314.  For additional information, owners can contact Honda by calling 1-888-234-2138.

Wet Weather and Engine Damage

The recent rain storms in the southeast have been causing drivers a lot of trouble.  In addition to the flooding, the rain has been causing vehicle engines to stall.  It’s easy to see how water might be getting into engines and causing damage to pistons, rods, crankshafts, and bearings.  When such a claim is encountered, one of the first things to be done is to obtain an oil sample.  When water mixes with oil, the tendency is for the water to separate from the oil.  Water is naturally heavier.  Its density is 62.4 pounds per cubic foot.  Motor oil, on the other hand, has a density of approximately 55 pounds per cubic foot (depending on the weight of the oil).  After the sample has been obtained, if the oil appears to fill the entire occupied space, then no water most likely entered the engine.  However, if the oil appears to be “floating”, then water has most likely entered the engine.  Examples of oil in both states are shown below.

Uncontaminated motor oil sample

 

Motor oil suspended in water

WARNING:  if you know that your engine is about to fail and you are going to have to pay for a new engine, don’t try pouring water into the engine and claiming to your insurance carrier that it was flooded.  First, a wear metals analysis will indicate the condition of your engine.  Second, the vehicle better have been in a flood and even then, the entry point of the water into the engine will have to be established.  Third, the damage to the engine has to be consistent with that caused by water.

Toyota Recalls Hybrids

Toyota Motor Corporation has announced the recall of approximately 2.4 million vehicles.  It is estimated that 830,000 vehicles were sold in North America.  These vehicles are gasoline engine hybrids that can stall as a result of a problem with the “failsafe” switch over driving mode.  When the vehicles fail to switch driving modes, a loss of power can occur resulting in a stalled condition.  Although Toyota is not aware of any crashes, an unexpected stall could cause the driver to lose control and crash.  The affected vehicles apply to Prius and Auris models manufactured between October 2008 and November 2014.  For additional information, consumers can contact Toyota by calling 1-800-331-4331.