In the US and several other nations. Honda Motor Co Ltd. has recalled 250,000 sedans, SUVs, and minivans over a possible brake-related defect. Domestically, there are 183,000 autos affected, including the:
• 60,000 Acura MDX crossover SUVs (2005 model)
• 21,000 Acura RL sedans (2005 and 2006 models)
• 101,000 Honda Pilot SUVs (2005 model)
The problem was reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last year. A woman told the federal agency that while she was riding in her 2005 Pilot, which was moving at about 45 mph, it started braking on its own and she was forced to get off the road. Thinking this was a one-time glitch, the woman and her boyfriend got back on the road and the brake problem happened again.
The safety issue seems to involve the stability assist system malfunctioning, causing the brake to activate without the pressing down on the pedal. The stability control system is what allowed the motorist to stay in control of the vehicle. The brake assist is what reduces stopping distances when emergency braking has to happen. So far, no injuries or accidents related to this problem have been reported. However, in October, NHTSA said that it knew of 185 examples of unexpected braking incidents involving Honda vehicles. Some reports noted that there was a rapid decline at highway speeds to near stops on freeway lanes.
At The Gilbert Law Group®, our auto defects lawyers represent clients that have sustained serious injuries or lost loved one because of vehicle safety flaws and failures. Please contact our brake defect lawyers to ask for your free case evaluation.
In a USAToday.com article, Sean Kane, a safety advocate with Safety Research and Strategies, talks about how this recall alludes to a greater issue involving auto electronics and their accompanying problems. He believes that what is missing is an underlying safety requirement for electronic systems. He says that it shouldn’t be up to the driver to be the fail-safe.
In other Honda-related news, the NHTSA is reporting that Southern Honda Powersports has consented to pay $125,000 over the claim that the Tennessee-located dealership allowed about 329 recalled, unrepaired motorcycles to be sold between 2007 and 2012. Per federal law, vehicle dealers are legally obligated to refrain from selling a new motor vehicle if they know it has been recalled until the problem or safety violation is fixed.
Auto defects can prove catastrophic, causing serious injuries not just to the vehicle occupants but also to the people riding in other vehicles and any pedestrians involved in a resulting car collision. It is important that safety issues are identified and remedied immediately to keep consumers safe. Even if your vehicle has not been recalled, a defective auto part may have been the cause of your car accident.
Our auto products liability law firm is not afraid to go after large automakers to make sure that our clients obtain the personal injury and wrongful death compensation that they are owed.
