Recalls: Honda, General Motors, Ford

Honda Recalls Minivans & SUVs Honda is recalling approximately 650,000
of its minivans and SUVs sold in the United States and Canada to fix a potential problem
with the transmission. The gear teeth in the transmission could chip or break, resulting in
abnormal noise or, in certain instances, possible locking of the transmission, creating a
potential safety hazard. The recall affects 2002 to early 2004 Honda Odyssey minivans, 2003
and early 2004 Honda Pilot SUVs, and 2001 and 2002 Acura MDX SUVs; all are equipped with
V-6 engines and five-speed automatic transmissions. Free repairs will begin in May.
GM Recalling SUVs Certain 2001 and 2002 Olds Bravada, Chevy TrailBlazer
and GMC Envoy SUVs are being recalled because their seat belts were damaged during
shipping. The seat belts’ retractors may be damaged and might fail, according to the
National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). Owners should contact their
dealers for more information and repairs. Ford Recalls Escape Ford has
announced a major recall for its compact Escape SUV. The automaker is notifying owners of
363,440 Escapes (including 322,000 in the United States), with the 3.0-liter V-6, of a
possible intermittent stalling problem when decelerating below 40 mph. Tribute, the
Mazda-badged version of Ford’s Escape with V-6s, will add another 106,000 vehicles to the
recall. The recalled vehicles were made from 2001 through early 2003. Reportedly, there
have been eight minor accidents possibly linked to the stalling, but no fatalities have
been linked to the problem. Ford says it poses “…no unreasonable risk of accident or
injury,” and claims that in most cases the driver can restart the engine immediately.