As an owner of a Honda Civic, I was concerned with the car maker’s latest round of recalls. My 2004 Honda Civic manual transmission LX sedan was not affected by the recall, but it wasn’t too long ago that both Honda and Toyota were issuing recalls. At the time, I reacted by buying shares in Toyota, thinking I could take advantage of a good company’s bad news. The investment saw some upside for a short period of time, but since I didn’t sell, it’s back to where it started.
The Toyota recalls were so hyped by the media, I thought it was a great opportunity. The recent Honda recalls seem to be attracting less attention, but even if they were, I don’t think I’d jump in with an investment in Honda. Here’s the information on the latest Honda recall:
- 930,000 Fits and CR-Vs will be recalled for a potential problem with the power window switch.
- 26,000 CR-Zs will be recalled due to the possibility of the car rolling backwards when the transmission is not engaged in reverse.
For the most part, recalls involve nothing more than taking a car into the dealership for a quick repair. Lives are rarely on the line.
For me, since I am not affected by the recall, I have bigger concerns; it seems the latest edition of my mainstay for the last decade, the Honda Civic, was panned by Consumer Reports. A friend of mine who has been a loyal Ford owner for the last decade has expressed his pleasure in the news and perhaps vindication. My current car and my previous car, a 1997 Honda Civic LX, ran beautifully as long they have been in my hands. I only replaced the older car after I received it back after lending it to a relative for a year while I was not driving and there was an unidentifiable problem. The 2004 recently passed 140,000 miles and should last many more.
When the car finally reaches the point where the cost to maintain its operation is higher than the remnant value of the car, I’ll need to look at my options. If the recent crop of Honda Civic editions is not reliable and recommended, I’ll look for a change. By the time I buy a new car, a sedan might not be at the top of my list, anyway, depending on my needs and perhaps desires. I may ot be looking for a Civic or an comparable sedan.
Here’s Honda’s statement about the recalls:
Honda will voluntarily recall 80,111 CR-V vehicles from the 2006 model year in the U.S. to replace the power window master switch. The design of the power window master switch can allow residue from interior cleaners to accumulate, which can, over time with switch use, cause the electrical contacts to degrade and may lead to a fire in the switch. No injuries or deaths have been reported related to this condition.
Additionally, Honda will voluntarily recall 5,626 CR-Z vehicles from the 2011 model year in the U.S. that are equipped with manual transmissions to update the software that controls the hybrid electric motor. In the affected vehicles… it is possible for the electric motor to rotate in the direction opposite to that selected by the transmission. If this occurs and the driver has not engaged the brakes, the vehicle may slowly roll in an unexpected direction…
Which automobile maker delivers the highest-quality vehicles today?
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Although it had a rebuilt motor, the Celica was unreliable. Before it was completely undrivable, I used it to trade in for a slightly used car, a Honda Civic, and a three-year loan to make the purchase more affordable for me. I might have changed my driving habits, or the car might not have attracted police as much, but I was pulled over less frequently for speeding. But I continued to ignore the tickets.
Twix is the only candy with the cookie crunch — at least it was when George Costanza said it. Twix was first produced in the United Kingdom in 1967 but didn’t find its way to the United States until 1979. The Twix bar was known internationally as “Raider” until 1991 when the brand was changed worldwide. 
