Honda to recall 384,000 vehicles
It's the Japanese automaker's third recall to address the issue in recent years.
Monday's recall of 2003 Honda Accord and Civic models and 2003-2004 Element vehicles follows a nearly two-year investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall includes 197,000 Accord and 117,000 Civic vehicles and about 69,000 Element vehicles.
Honda spokesman Chris Martin said a small number of crashes and one minor injury have been reported in connection with the recalled vehicles.
Although faulty ignition interlocks are common to all three recalls — the others were in 2003 and 2005 — different problems are to blame, he said.
"These are different parts. They are different issues that are causing this same sort of symptom," he said, noting that the 2003 Accord was a complete model change from the 2002 version.
NHTSA said in a statement that Honda was right that the "underlying defect differs from previous recalls," but the agency warned that "the potential safety risk is the same."
Honda will remove the original interlock pin and lever and replace them with redesigned components. Martin said the reshaped components will prevent the vehicle from being turned off without being in park.
Honda will begin notifying owners in late September.