To avoid possible risks, Honda has started a recall exercise, especially for safety issues affecting 205,760 Pilot and Passport SUVs for model years 2023-2025. This precautionary measure follows a production defect that produces an incomplete sealing of the fuel filler neck tube and pipe. In fact, owing to this rather feeble link, the two aforementioned parts may become disconnected in the event of a collision, which in turn can lead to fuel leakage.
Honda’s investigation showed that the problem is that one or several steps in the assembly chain are out of order: both parts are melded together before one should have been fused to another part; this not only results in an incomplete connection but also a lack of a tight seal between these two parts. In response, the automaker put into practice improved assembly processes on October 18.
The automaker said it first learned of the possible issue on May 13, 2024, when it received the first warranty claim complaint. This was reported to Honda through a dealership which noticed the possible problem while conducting a pre-delivery inspection. A week later, Honda found six other vehicles with half-completed fuel pipe connections still on its lot as of May 20.
Based on further analysis over the subsequent months, Honda made the decision on November 21 to give a safety recall on this problem, despite having not received any reports of any deaths or injuries resulting from this problem.
Owners of about 200,000 affected vehicles will receive postcards from Honda, directing them to take their Pilot and Passport SUVs to an authorized dealer to check and fix the defect. Services technicians will carefully look at the connection, and they will calibrate the connection to be proper for the two parts to fit. Honda is hoping to start the notification process in early next year.
