Toyota has an almost faultless reputation for quality and dependability that has been earned after decades of building reliable, long-lasting vehicles. But not to be outdone, Honda is also world famous for making cars that are nearly bulletproof. When it comes to the embodiment of quality, both these Japanese automakers are often mentioned in the same breath. Despite their well-earned reputations, nothing is perfect; even these two companies make the occasional mistake, as evidenced by a recently announced Acura recall.
Exterior Lights Are, You Know, Kind Of Important
On April 23, Honda’s luxury division announced that nearly 153,000 vehicles are being voluntarily called back for a lighting issue. This action applies to 2014 to 2020 model year MDX utility vehicles in the U.S. The problem here is that moisture can cause the “tailgate lights and/or exterior position lights to become inoperative,” which is, obviously, a safety issue.
- Acura is recalling nearly 153,000 MDX utility vehicles
- This action applies to SUVs from the 2014 to 2020 model years
- An issue could allow moisture to enter the hatch, leading to electrical issues
- If that happens, some exterior lights may stop working, a serious safety problem
Going into more detail, the automaker explains that an uneven sealing surface can allow moisture to enter the hatch assembly. If this happens, water can contact various electrical components, which could damage them or lead to a short circuit. Either way, there’s a chance the exterior lamps may become inoperable and, if a related fuse blows because of this problem, some interior lights may stop working as well. Obviously, if exterior lamps aren’t working, this could cause a crash, especially while driving at night.
Good News: The Fix Is In
Acura has devised a repair for this potential issue. Dealers will inspect affected vehicles and install a new fuse harness. If necessary, they will also replace certain lighting assemblies and repair the relevant seal, so water cannot intrude going forward. Naturally, this work will be completed free of charge.
Previously, the automaker had issued a recall for this very issue, one that applied to 2014 to 2019 MDX SUVs, but it’s been found that this repair may not have been sufficient to keep moisture out. “As a result,” Acura shared in a media release, “some vehicles that were previously repaired require the updated repair procedure and are included in the new recall population. Additionally, 2014 to 2019 Acura MDX vehicles included in the previous recall that have not yet been repaired are superseded into this new recall population.”
Driving around without some exterior lights is far from ideal, but there is a bit of good news. Reportedly, there have not been any crashes or injuries caused by this safety issue.
If you own an MDX that is impacted by this recall, Acura is mailing out notifications soon, likely in late May, so keep an eye on your mailbox for updates. Additionally, if there are any questions or concerns about this callback, you can contact the automaker at 1-888-234-2138 or visit Recalls.Acura.com for additional information.
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