The count for Honda CR-V fires is now up to 60. How many more have to burn
before Honda issues a recall ?

USA Today
Sept. 9, 2004 08:23 AM


Honda, which has reports of 60 fires from oil-filter leaks in some CR-V
sport-utility vehicles, plans to step up communication with its dealers and
remind all oil-change shops of proper service procedures.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closed a preliminary
investigation July 1 despite 22 reports of fires after oil changes in 2003
CR-Vs. Honda said at the time it was notifying dealers that the oil filters
could stick and oil drips could cause a fire if the work wasn't done
properly.

Since then, the agency and automaker have become aware of 38 more fires. All
but 10 of the incidents occurred before mid-July, and all but one were in
'03 and '04 models. The exception was a single fire in a 2002 model, the
year the vehicle was redesigned.

Spokesman Andy Boyd says Honda did not change manufacturing or repair
procedures for the '03 and '04 models and is looking into whether there were
flaws with the filters or how they were installed. The fires have occurred
only when original filters were in place.

It has no explanation for why repair work could suddenly go so wrong for the
more recent versions of the redesigned CR-V. Says Bill Willen, Honda's
managing counsel: "It 'is' unusual."

NHTSA says that if service technicians failed to remove the old seals when
changing oil filters, oil leaks from stacked or otherwise damaged seals
could cause exhaust-system fires. The CR-V's exhaust manifold is positioned
in a way that makes it easier for leaking oil to hit it, Honda says.

There are about 290,000 2003-04 CR-Vs on the road. Honda recommends oil and
oil-filter changes every 10,000 miles, but Boyd says some customers have the
work done at about 5,000 miles.

NHTSA is monitoring Honda's response to the problem and could reopen the
investigation or negotiate a recall. But the agency believes it is a
technician error.

The Washington Post has reported that several CR-V owners had narrow escapes
from fiery vehicles, although, Boyd says, smoke should provide enough
warning for people to get away from vehicles safely. No injuries have been
reported, though at least two owners have filed lawsuits against Honda over
the problem.

Before its decision this week to notify all independent lube shops and
increase communication with dealers, Honda had notified all of its dealers
and included information in its quarterly publication for independent shops,
which will be distributed next month.

"We're not looking to downplay customer concerns, but in a certain sense,
this is a self-curing issue," says Boyd. "Looking underneath and making sure
there's nothing stuck underneath the (engine) block is standard operating
procedure, and with very few exceptions, dealers are doing it."