Honda Ridgeline Pickups are Latest Cars Recalled Over Fire Risks

Another day, another major auto manufacturer recalling vehicles because they are at risk of going up in flames. This time, it is Honda.

The Japanese carmaker recently told federal regulators that it is calling back some 110,000 older Ridgeline pickups. Corrosion can cause gas tank leaks, leading to engine fires, the company said in a defect notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall is limited to a handful of states where salt used to de-ice roads in the winter can lead to corrosion. It covers certain Ridgeline pickups from model years 2006 through 2014, the company said.

“Over time, the accumulated de-icing agents/mud/dirt mixture could cause the frame mounting surface, where the fuel tank mounting bands are attached, to corrode and possibly separate from the frame,” Honda told NHTSA in a public filing. “If this occurs, an unsecured fuel tank can become damaged from undercarriage impact, which can possibly result in fuel leakage.”

“Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.”

The company is asking owners of recalled pickups to bring them to local dealers to be inspected for corrosion. Honda said it will cover repairs on trucks when needed or, in some cases, offer to buy back the vehicles.

Honda Defects Pose Safety Risks

This is not the only safety issue facing Honda and people who drive its cars.

Federal investigators are currently looking into complaints that Honda Pilot sport utility vehicles will not restart at traffic lights or intersections. The probe covers nearly 200,000 SUVs, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The company is also the subject of a separate federal investigation into a slew of owner complaints about malfunctioning automatic braking systems. That probe involves roughly 1.7 million CR-V sport utility vehicles and Accord sedans.

California Lemon Law Rights for Honda Owners

Fortunately, Honda owners in California do not need to wait for a recall of a federal safety investigation in order to get malfunctioning vehicles fixed.

The California lemon law requires automakers to do a variety of repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. Formally known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, the state law also forces the companies to buy back or replace cars that they cannot or simply refuse to fix.

Honda and other manufacturers are additionally forced to pick up the tab for any legal fees that owners incur while enforcing their lemon law rights. An experienced lemon law attorney can help you understand your rights under the law and explore your options for taking action.

Speak with a Lemon Law Lawyer Today

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle or are haggling with a car manufacturer over repairs, the lawyers at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with an attorney at our firm.