Rear doors may be defective, posing risk to passengers
A Honda recall is in effect, resulting from reports of struts failing and tailgates closing unexpectedly and falling on people. This has happened on at least two occasions. This problem affects Odyssey minivans from the 2008 and 2009 model years that have power lift gates.
Honda said it will recall nearly 46,000 2008 and 2009 Odyssey minivans to fix the problem.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website said that Honda is recalling 45,747 certain model year 2008-2009 Odyssey minivans due to “a manufacturing flaw” in the power liftgate system.
The company is recalling 51,633 of the vehicles worldwide, said a Honda spokesperson. The recall outside the US affects 5,586 vehicles mainly in Canada and Mexico, as well as in the Middle East and Germany, he said.
The NHTSA said the problem was in the pressurized gas-filled struts that help to raise and support the liftgate on vehicles equipped with a power liftgate system.
The flaw can result in a gas leak that could lead to an unexpected closure of the liftgate, “increasing the risk of personal injury,” said the NHTSA.
Honda will contact the US owners of the vehicles concerned, with the recall expected to begin on or about March 13. The company will replace both power liftgate struts for free
