By Zanub Saeed
Honda Motors announced on Wednesday that it will recall around 50,000 of its 2012 small car models due to a possible drive shaft assembly problem that could lead to a loss of engine power, said several reports, including Reuters. The recalls will begin sometime in late June, Honda stated.
Honda is doing the recall as part of an investigation to inspect what problems may arise from the left drive shaft, said the Los Angeles Times in a report on Wednesday. The issue at hand may be that some of the Honda Civics being checked, or set to be inspected, have side drive shafts that may not have been properly assembled, said Honda, and that this could cause a separation from a joint while the car is in use and running, with a drive and possible passengers.
The engine, if the shaft is faulty, sand Reuters, could lead to it no longer "propelling the vehicle in any gear," rendering the Honda Civics inoperable. The car, said Honda, could also roll away if the parking break has not been set, as reported by Reuters. If the cars cannot be placed in a parked position, this could increase the risk of a vehicular crash, resulting in possible injuries to its passengers.
At the present time, no injuries from the faulty drive shaft have been reported, said the Los Angeles Times.
The 2012 model Honda Civic, said the LA Times, had received mixed reviews from the press when it was released to the public, and was apparently given very poor reviews by Consumer Products. Despite the negative comments on the vehicle, the Civic model was one of the best selling cars in the United States this year, having sold about 33,490 models by May 2012, ranking it second in the nation behind the Toyota Camry.
Honda stated that it will make vast improvements for their 2013 Civic models, and, according to the Los Angeles Times, may consider some of the harsh criticisms received on the 2012 cars. This includes possible reverting back to the older Civic models' interior designs, which were, according to the Times, "better appointed."
