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UPDATE: Honda has responded to the Public Citizen column published below:
Tim Warren doesn’t want it. Neither does his wife, nor their daughter. And I suspect any Honda Canada executive wouldn’t feel safe in their 2010 Odyssey minivan, either, as it caught fire three weeks ago.
Honda recalled almost 900,000 2005-2010 Odyssey vans in Canada and the United States in March over concerns a cover on a fuel-line assembly could deteriorate and cause fuel odours to permeate the cabin and, in extreme cases, result in a gas leak that could lead to fire. In a March 17 news release, Honda Canada says it “is not aware of any incident related to this issue in Canada, which was identified from repairs in other countries.” Honda says there are 63,628 affected Odysseys in Canada, but none can be fixed until the part is made available, likely in the coming weeks.
But Warren says Honda insists the engine fire in his minivan May 7 was not related to the vehicle’s fuel-line assembly. Warren says Honda Canada examined the van last week and told him a report from their investigator concludes the fire was likely caused by an “unidentified foreign object” — such as flying debris from the road. He says the company told him to have his insurer take care of repairs because Honda wasn’t at fault. He says he asked to see the report, but was brushed off.
The Odyssey caught fire just minutes after daughter, Erika, picked up the vehicle at a west-end Honda dealership where it had been serviced for an unrelated recall repair to the power-steering unit. There was a burning odour almost as soon as Erika started the vehicle, but the young woman and her friend, Janet Vu, thought it would pass. At a red light at Greenbank and Iris Street, smoke suddenly started billowing from under the hood. She drove the van to a bus stop on the other side of the intersection then lifted the hood. She saw flames. She called to Janet to get out. Passersby and Erika called 911.
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Firefighters told the two they were lucky to have escaped unharmed because of a risk that the electric locks would not have opened had circuits been damaged. Erika says she has had trouble sleeping since the incident as the thought of being trapped in a burning vehicle plays over and over in her mind.
Her father found out about the fuel-line assembly recall after the fire-damaged Odyssey was towed back to Ottawa Honda on Richmond Road. Warren also got ahold of a Honda Canada memo to dealers dated April 23, which warns them not to sell any 2005-2010 Odysseys from their used-car inventory until the fuel-filter assembly is replaced. In the memo, Honda says: “Should a dealership sell an unrepaired vehicle that subsequently causes an injury or damage because of the recall issue, the dealership will be solely responsible to the damaged party and will be required to defend and indemnify Honda Canada for any resulting claims.”
Warren’s insurer, Travelers, does not believe the fire was caused by a foreign object. It had independent experts examine the vehicle Tuesday. Warren says his insurer informed him a defective part was found in the engine, which its experts believe was the likely source of the fire. They also found a fuel leak, which, Warren says he was told, could have fed the fire.
Given the insurer’s findings, Honda’s explanation that Warren doesn’t find plausible and the outstanding issue with the fuel-line assembly, the high-school teacher from Barrhaven says Honda should replace the vehicle. He bought it used for about $30,000 a year ago, and repairs could easily top $20,000. He’s been told the van, even after it is fixed, will depreciate by about half of what he paid for it, because of the fire.
“Honda Canada should have recognized the danger (to Erika and her friend), accepted responsibility for the damage, declared the vehicle a writeoff, and fairly compensated us for our loss.”
He is perfectly fine with Honda products and says his family and friends have been customers at Ottawa Honda for more than 25 years. But the 2010 Odyssey needs to go.
Warren says his wife worries the van “may catch fire again, or if in a collision, some safety features might not work properly.”
Is something bothering you? Please contact: thepubliccitizen@ottawacitizen.com
查看原文...
Honda Canada says it “is sorry” about Tim Warren’s situation with his 2010 Odyssey, described in the column below, and is “working directly” with him and Ottawa Honda to find a resolution.
The company says “findings from our inspection of the vehicle … indicate that the thermal event” experienced by the vehicle was not the result of a manufacturing and/or design defect.
“The fuel sending unit is located on top of the fuel tank. The fuel tank, which is undamaged, is located underneath the vehicle below the second and third row seats. The damage to Mr. Warren’s vehicle originated and is confined to the front of the engine compartment. Honda Canada has concluded this incident could not be related to the fuel sending unit cover recall.”
It also says repairs to the power-steering unit were covered under the vehicle’s warranty extension and were not part of a “safety recall.”
Honda Canada is also taking issue with comments “reported to have been made by the firefighters regarding vehicle entrapment” (if the electrical system short-circuited during a fire). “Please be advised that door locks can be operated manually from within the vehicle at any time, even if electrical power is not available.”
Tim Warren doesn’t want it. Neither does his wife, nor their daughter. And I suspect any Honda Canada executive wouldn’t feel safe in their 2010 Odyssey minivan, either, as it caught fire three weeks ago.
Honda recalled almost 900,000 2005-2010 Odyssey vans in Canada and the United States in March over concerns a cover on a fuel-line assembly could deteriorate and cause fuel odours to permeate the cabin and, in extreme cases, result in a gas leak that could lead to fire. In a March 17 news release, Honda Canada says it “is not aware of any incident related to this issue in Canada, which was identified from repairs in other countries.” Honda says there are 63,628 affected Odysseys in Canada, but none can be fixed until the part is made available, likely in the coming weeks.
But Warren says Honda insists the engine fire in his minivan May 7 was not related to the vehicle’s fuel-line assembly. Warren says Honda Canada examined the van last week and told him a report from their investigator concludes the fire was likely caused by an “unidentified foreign object” — such as flying debris from the road. He says the company told him to have his insurer take care of repairs because Honda wasn’t at fault. He says he asked to see the report, but was brushed off.
The Odyssey caught fire just minutes after daughter, Erika, picked up the vehicle at a west-end Honda dealership where it had been serviced for an unrelated recall repair to the power-steering unit. There was a burning odour almost as soon as Erika started the vehicle, but the young woman and her friend, Janet Vu, thought it would pass. At a red light at Greenbank and Iris Street, smoke suddenly started billowing from under the hood. She drove the van to a bus stop on the other side of the intersection then lifted the hood. She saw flames. She called to Janet to get out. Passersby and Erika called 911.
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Firefighters told the two they were lucky to have escaped unharmed because of a risk that the electric locks would not have opened had circuits been damaged. Erika says she has had trouble sleeping since the incident as the thought of being trapped in a burning vehicle plays over and over in her mind.
Her father found out about the fuel-line assembly recall after the fire-damaged Odyssey was towed back to Ottawa Honda on Richmond Road. Warren also got ahold of a Honda Canada memo to dealers dated April 23, which warns them not to sell any 2005-2010 Odysseys from their used-car inventory until the fuel-filter assembly is replaced. In the memo, Honda says: “Should a dealership sell an unrepaired vehicle that subsequently causes an injury or damage because of the recall issue, the dealership will be solely responsible to the damaged party and will be required to defend and indemnify Honda Canada for any resulting claims.”
Warren’s insurer, Travelers, does not believe the fire was caused by a foreign object. It had independent experts examine the vehicle Tuesday. Warren says his insurer informed him a defective part was found in the engine, which its experts believe was the likely source of the fire. They also found a fuel leak, which, Warren says he was told, could have fed the fire.
Given the insurer’s findings, Honda’s explanation that Warren doesn’t find plausible and the outstanding issue with the fuel-line assembly, the high-school teacher from Barrhaven says Honda should replace the vehicle. He bought it used for about $30,000 a year ago, and repairs could easily top $20,000. He’s been told the van, even after it is fixed, will depreciate by about half of what he paid for it, because of the fire.
“Honda Canada should have recognized the danger (to Erika and her friend), accepted responsibility for the damage, declared the vehicle a writeoff, and fairly compensated us for our loss.”
He is perfectly fine with Honda products and says his family and friends have been customers at Ottawa Honda for more than 25 years. But the 2010 Odyssey needs to go.
Warren says his wife worries the van “may catch fire again, or if in a collision, some safety features might not work properly.”
Is something bothering you? Please contact: thepubliccitizen@ottawacitizen.com
查看原文...
