A FURIOUS driver has been waiting months to get her car fixed, after getting a recall notice back in February.
Charlotte Shocki learned her Honda SUV had a fuel pump issue six months ago, but the company still doesn’t have a repair for it.
Charlotte Shocki has been left with a car that desperately needs repairs[/caption]
She has been waiting six months for a new part for her Honda[/caption]
Charlotte says she’s been left in a ‘Catch-22’[/caption]
The letter in February told Charlotte the issue could “prevent an engine from starting,” or even cause it to “stall while driving.”
Now, the driver from Lancaster, South Carolina, says she faces a “Catch-22” – either drive a potentially unsafe car or wait until whenever the new part is ready.
“Not happy,” she told ABC affiliate WSOC-TV. “It sounded like a serious recall.”
She added that the fuel pump issue “Could cause an accident, cause serious injury, not only endanger the person driving the car but, as far as I’m concerned, also endanger others on the road.”
The most frustrating part of the letter was that it said even though her car had a potentially deadly fault, there was no timescale for when the fix would be ready.
“What am I supposed to do?” she said. “Not drive the car from February until they get the part?
“It’s really a Catch-22.”
Under federal law, car companies have five days to report safety issues to drivers.
But this doesn’t mean the repairs are on the same scale.
Charlotte says she received a second letter a few months ago.
That letter implied the remedy was now available but on a limited basis.
Charlotte is hoping for a third letter telling her it’s her turn for a repair will arrive soon.
In a statement, Honda said, “American Honda is working to resolve all replacement part backorders as soon as possible, and we regret any inconvenience that our customers may experience due to these delays.
“Since each delayed replacement part may face different supply challenges, we recommend working directly with local authorized Acura and Honda dealers to ensure that appropriate priority is placed on critical part orders.
If a customer has concerns beyond the dealer’s immediate ability to respond, then customers are encouraged to contact Acura Client Relations (for Acura owners) or Honda Automobile Customer Service (for Honda owners) to determine if any additional assistance is possible.
“Each customer inquiry will be addressed by our customer service professionals on a case-by-case basis appropriate to the circumstances.”
How can I check if my car is part of a recall?
If you own a car that’s been recently recalled, you can easily check your VIN.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) makes it incredibly quick and easy for drivers to check and see if their vehicle is part of a recent (or past) recall.
The VIN checking tool also allows drivers to see whether or not the repair was completed within the last 15 years, making it an incredible tool for buyers of used cars.
All recalls initiated by the NHTSA mean free repairs for drivers, even if it’s an engine or a transmission replacement. If your VIN shows an active recall that has not been repaired, it’s important to make an appointment at your nearest dealership.
Here’s how to make an appointment for a recall:
- Look up your VIN using the NHTSA tool.
- Find out the recall number/ID from the manufacturer.
- Call your nearest dealership’s service center with the ID number handy, and mention you’d like to schedule an appointment to repair the recall. The repair can only be done at a dealership, as they’re authorized by the manufacturer to conduct the repair free of cost using genuine parts.
- Try to make the appointment as soon as possible.
- Once the repair is completed, the dealership will update the information associated with the VIN to reflect it’s been completed.
Source: NHTSA
Altogether, 2.6 million vehicles were affected by the Honda recall.
That includes 21 different models made between 2017 and 2020.
Even if your vehicle isn’t listed, drivers should be checking their VIN on-site to see if there are any recalls on it.
Speaking to CBS affiliate WFMY, Patrick Olsen of Carfax explained why he believes drivers should stay on the road until the new parts are in.
“If you’re driving your Honda and you’ve not had problems with stalling or not getting enough fuel to your engine, for me I’d keep driving it,” he said.
“I wouldn’t let the concept of potential failure years from now keep you from driving today.”
