Honda
Motor Co. has announced a voluntary recall of the all-new Fit Hybrid and Vezel
Hybrid produced in Japan from July 2013 through February 2014 due to a problem
with the software program controlling the 7-speed dual clutch transmission
(DCT) which could cause a delay in the ability to begin driving or the
inability to move at all. Honda has notified the Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of the recall with a total recall
population of 81,353 units.
Honda
conducted two recalls in October and December 2013 due to a defect with the
software program controlling the 7-speed DCT which could have caused a delay in
the ability to drive the vehicle or the inability to drive. This will be the
third recall related to the defect of the 7-speed DCT. (Each recall was due to
a different cause.)
“Honda
sincerely regrets causing this considerable inconvenience to its customers due
to the fact that the defect was not discovered during the development and
product quality verification processes prior to the introduction of a new
technology to the market and the defective product quickly came to market.
Moreover, despite the fact that all relevant divisions at Honda worked together
earnestly to solve this market quality defect, Honda deeply regrets that the
effectiveness of the countermeasures was not adequately verified,” Honda said
in a communication.
As
the remedy, Honda will first check each DCT’s gear change history. For vehicles
with a gear change history that indicates the non-engagement of gears, Honda
will replace the DCT component in order to mitigate against the possible damage
to internal parts of the DCT and then change the control software program.
Honda is planning to begin installing the new control program on February 21,
2014. For vehicles with a gear change history that does not indicate
non-engagement of gears, we will provide advice for the use of vehicles as an
interim step and begin changing the software control program (on February 21,
2104).
Honda
has suspended the delivery of all affected models, currently being produced at
Yorii Plant of Saitama Factory and Suzuka Factory, until the installation of
the new software program is completed. Moreover, Honda took the necessary
actions to suspended customer delivery of affected models that are already
located at Honda dealerships until the installation of the new program is
completed.