Customer Letter
Customer Letter for Owners In Areas of Heavy Road Salt UseApril, 1992
RECALL: 1982-85 Accord Fuel Filler Pipe
Dear Accord Owner:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Honda Motor Co., Ltd, has determined that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists in the fuel filler pipe of certain 1982-85 Accords. Our records indicate you may own one of the affected cars. The potential problem is limited to cars which have been driven in a specific geographical area where corrosive road salt is used extensively to aid in snow and ice control. If the protective coating of the fuel filler and/or breather pipe is damaged, salt water may accumulate between the coating and the steel filler and/or breather pipes. This accumulation could cause corrosion which could eventually rust through the breather pipe or fuel filler pipe. This problem shows up when you are filling the tank. Fuel will leak from the rusted pipe's perforations and drip behind the left rear wheel. Fuel could also leak if your car were to overturn in an accident. Fuel leakage creates the potential for a fire that could result in burns to the car's occupants and others. If your car is experiencing this problem, please contact your Honda dealer to arrange for replacement of the fuel filler pipe. This work will be done free of charge. Although it takes approximately one hour, please plan to leave your car with the Honda dealer all day to allow the dealer some flexibility. All owners of 1982-85 Accords are being contacted about this recall. However, the current supply of replacement parts is not adequate to repair all these vehicles immediately. Please do not contact your dealer if your car is not experiencing this problem. We will send another letter, sometime between the first part of May and the end of August, informing you when parts are readily available. You should contact the dealer at that time. Of course, if your car develops this problem before you receive that letter, please do not hesitate to make repair arrangements. You are eligible for reimbursement if your car had this problem and you paid to have the filler pipe replaced. Reimbursement is subject to the eligibility requirements given on the enclosed "Request for Reimbursement" form included for your convenience. It you are not satisfied with the service you receive from your Honda dealer, you may write to:
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Consumer Affairs
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746
If you believe that American Honda or the dealer has failed or is unable to remedy the defect in your car, without charge, within a reasonable period of time (when you receive the letter notifying you that parts are available, 60 days from the date you first contact the dealer for the repair appointment), you may submit a complaint to:
Administrator
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Or call the toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at (800) 424-9393 (residents of Washington D.C. should call 366-0123). We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.
Customer Letter for Owners Outside Areas of Heavy Road Salt Use
April, 1992
RECALL: 1982-85 Accord Fuel Filler Pipe
Dear Accord Owner:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has determined that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists in the fuel filler pipe of certain 1982-85 Accords. Our records indicate you may own one of the affected cars.
The potential problem is limited to cars which have been driven in a specific geographical area where corrosive road salt is used extensively to aid in snow and ice control. If the protective coating of the fuel filler and/or breather pipe is damaged, salt water may accumulate between the coating and the steel filler and/or breather pipes. This accumulation could cause corrosion which could eventually rust through the breather pipe or fuel filler pipe.
This problem shows up when you are filling the tank. Fuel will leak from the rusted pipe's perforations and drip behind the left rear wheel. Fuel could also leak if your car were to overturn in an accident. Fuel leakage creates the potential for a fire that could result in burns to the car's occupants and others.
Your car should not develop this problem if it was not driven in areas where corrosive road salt is used extensively. For that reason, you should respond to this letter in one of the following ways:
1. If you believe your car has this problem, or are unsure of your car's history, contact a Honda dealer and make arrangements to have it inspected and repaired.
2. If you are sure your car was often driven in areas where road salt is used extensively, contact a Honda dealer and make arrangements to have your car inspected. The dealer will inspect the fuel filler pipe and replace it if necessary.
3. If you are certain your car was not driven in road salt and does not need inspection at this time, please return the enclosed "Recall Response" card. If you relocate to an area of heavy road salt use sometime in the future and suspect that the exposure has caused your car to develop this problem, you may still take it to a dealer for repair at no cost.
All inspection and repair will be done free of charge. Although it takes approximately one hour, please plan to leave your car with the Honda dealer all day to allow the dealer some flexibility.
You are eligible for reimbursement if your car had this problem and you paid to have the filler pipe replaced. Reimbursement is subject to the eligibility requirements given on the enclosed "Request for Reimbursement" form included for your convenience.
If you are not satisfied with the service you receive from your Honda dealer, you may write to:
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Consumer Affairs
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746
If you believe that American Honda or the dealer has failed or is unable to remedy the defect in your car, without charge, within a reasonable period of time (60 days from the date you first contact the dealer for the repair appointment), you may submit a complaint to:
Administrator
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Or call the toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at (800) 424-9393 (residents of Washington D.C. should call 366-0123).
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.