Fire danger: 936 000 Hondas recalled

Published Sep 5, 2011

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Honda is recalling 936 000 cars around the globe, mostly its popular Jazz hatchback, due to defective power window switches.

In the worst-case scenario, the switch could partially melt and its cover could catch fire, although no one has been injured because of the defect, a company spokeswoman said.

However, despite this sounding a lot like the scenario in which a South African toddler, Vanilla Nurse, died in a previous generation Honda Jazz after it caught fire and she could not be removed from the car in time, Honda South Africa states that this new recall has no relation to that incident.

Honda SA already issued a safety recall last year following an investigation in which it said that although the cause of the fire remains indeterminable, in some cases the power window switches may short circuit as a result of water intrusion into the housing.

In the latest recall, Honda will recall 216 193 Fit (Jazz) hatchbacks and other models in Japan due to the defective switches on the drivers side. Of these 203 777 units are the Jazz produced between October 2005 and October 2007. Another 255 766 vehicles are being recalled in China, 297 000 elsewhere in Asia, and 103 000 units in North America.

Models subject to the global recall also include the City car and CR-V sport utility vehicle, Honda said. 

Around the world a total of 936 000 units are being recalled but Honda's local spokesperson said South Africa is not affected as it involves a different parts supplier. -Sapa-AFP & IOL

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