Buying a car is obviously one of the most serious and difficult decisions that a person will make in a lifetime. Aside from buying a home and choosing a college, it could be the most important purchase that you’ll ever make, because, despite not having a specific number, the average person will purchase and own multiple cars, unless they’re incredibly good at upkeep and maintenance, which most people simply aren’t. But for as much time as we spend in a car – driving to work and school, taking vacations, and visiting friends and family – we need to know that they’re safe.
Unfortunately, not all automobiles are manufactured to perfection, as we know from the numerous vehicle recalls this year alone. In fact, for the second time this year, Honda has announced the expansion of a major recall, and in light of recent events, many consumers may be wondering if the company’s reputation for producing two of the most popular cars in the world – the Accord and Civic – may be at risk.
Honda Motors Inc. announced this week that in addition to the 672,000 Accord and Acura sedans that it has previously recalled, it will also be recalling 820,000 2002 and 2003 Civic and Pilot sports utility vehicles. The reason for this latest recall is a manufacturing defect that can cause wires in the headlights to overheat and melt, leading to the malfunction of the vehicle’s low-beam headlights. While no accidents have been reported as of yet, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Honda is acting quickly to repair the headlights for consumers. The inability to use low-beams at night could lead to incredibly dangerous situations on roads and highways.
This latest recall adds the Civics and Pilots to the Accord recall that was first announced in March; however, that recall was just recently expanded by more than 572,000 vehicles. The most notable aspect of the Accord recall, though, is that it has been delayed, because Honda has admitted to not having enough parts to replace the affected vehicles. Those vehicles were manufactured in 2007 and 2008, and while Honda hasn’t suggested that the Civic recall could be delayed, the idea at least lingers.