Honda Calls For Compliance From Consumers Regarding Recalls
Just as the federal government wants Honda and Takata to fix the airbags in the former’s vehicles, Honda would like consumers to bring in said vehicles for repair.
Even if it means involving the government.
Bloomberg reports Honda is asking for “some support on the state level” to make consumers comply with recall orders, per Honda North America executive vice president Rick Schostek in testimony before Congress last week. One of his suggestions would be to decline registration of a vehicle under recall until the defects were repaired, in a manner similar to emissions testing.
Schostek’s suggestions have found support from the likes of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the Center for Auto Safety, with Nissan stating it was too early to comment, and General Motors, Toyota and Ford remaining silent thus far.
At present, automakers are required to notify the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of any problems a model may be experiencing, while owners aren’t required to do anything.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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I don't like to drive around with a potential bomb right in front of my face. Just be honest and let me know if my car is under recall, and I'll be dropping it off the next morning.
Honda's attitude seems to be, "Regulate our customers but not us." I can see several problems with tieing registration to recall repairs. The simplest one is that the recall may be for something less than urgent. For example, GM's ignition switch fiasco only affects people who attach all their worldly possessions to their car keys. Take the crap off the ignition key and you can get by until your next routine service. On the other hand, I would want a Takata air bag (Claymore mine aimed at my chest) replaced immediately. What happens if your registration expires next month but there is a 6 month backlog on parts? Will second and third owners even receive recall notices? It would be a bummer not to be able to renew your registration because of a recall you didn't know exists.
Is Honda going to pay for customers to drive rentals for several months while they wait for parts?
Did we all forget that not all cars are driven by their owners? I wasn't thrilled to find I was in a loaner that had been purchased with a special cost cutting deletion of standard safety equipment. How is this different? Honda isn't asking to be let off the hook on fixing the cars, they need help increasing the percentage of affected vehicles successfully recalled. Lots of users are just not going to pay attention to media, letters or ad campaigns. If a dmv is on the ball the notice that registration is due can include the warning that the required repairs must be done before new tags wil be issued.