When it comes to recalls they can generally come about in one of two ways: the government requires a company to recall a car due to a number of safety complaints or the auto manufacturer voluntarily makes a recall announcement. Obviously, the second situation is the more desirable because it can be perceived as the automaker looking out for their customers. Honda made a statement last week recalling 1,156 U.S. market 2012 Civic models for a faulty fuel system O-ring that could cause leaking. In the statement Honda said, “When Honda identifies concerns of this nature, nothing is more important to the company than fulfilling our obligation and responsibility to alert our customers.”

According to Honda 17% of the Civics to be sold in the U.S. contain the defect, while there are 377 Civics in the Canadian market that will also be recalled. The majority of the affected Civics have not been sold to consumers yet and will be , though Automotive News reports that two were sold to consumers in Canada. There hasn’t been a sales number for affected vehicles in the U.S., but Honda isn’t taking any chances and will notify consumers starting May 27, 2011. 

How did Honda discover the O-ring issue? According to Honda, the issue was discovered on April 29, 2011 when a Honda production worker noticed a fuel smell on a new Civic. According to company records a Honda supplier made the fuel line at the heart of the recall.

 

For more information look for a notice on your 2012 Honda Civic starting May 27, 2011 or check the Honda recall information site.

 

 

[Source: Honda & Automotive News]