Lemon Law News – Honda Seat Belt Mix-Up Ends with Recall
Honda is recalling almost 4,000 vehicles for seat belt issues, barely two months after production began.
American Honda Motor Company sent the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) a safety recall report on June 23, 2017 concerning 3,927 2018 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The recall involves Odyssey vehicles built between May 9 and June 1, 2017.
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The report states the third row seat belts use different seat belt tongues for the outer and center seating positions. Honda says their supplier, Autoliv Safety Technology, installed outer seat belt tongues onto center seat belt assemblies. If an outer seat belt tongue is inserted into a center seat belt buckle, the belt will not latch and won’t provide adequate crash protection, increasing injury risk.
Honda’s chronology shows they first learned of a center seat not buckling on May 31, 2017. They began investigating the issue in June 2017, later learning the supplier used outer seat tongues on center seat assemblies. The company concluded its investigation on June 22, 2017, determining the seat belts did not comply with federal safety regulations and issued a recall.
Honda will notify owners and dealers will inspect the third row center seat belt to make sure that it has the correct tongue. If needed they will replace the seat belt free of charge. The recall should begin July 24, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda’s number for this recall is KF7. Honda consumers can also visit the NHTSA’s website, and enter their VIN to see if their vehicle is included in any recalls.
Your vehicle’s manufacturer is legally required to fix any recalled problems for free. If the dealership refuses to fix the part or tries to charge you for the repair, contact the manufacturer immediately. The Highway Safety Act of 1970, which created the NHTSA, requires car manufacturers to pay for the recall and replacement of a defective part.
If the manufacturer fails to repair, replace, repurchase, or provide your recalled vehicle’s loss value, they are violating the warranty and a lawyer may be able to assist you. Lemon law attorneys help their clients by dealing directly with the manufacturer on the clients’ behalf, working to promptly resolve the issue and get their clients back on the road. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, attorneys can seek their fees directly from the manufacturer, meaning a client can obtain legal counsel without having to pay attorneys’ fees directly out of pocket.
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