2014 ACURA RLX HYBRID Recalls, Complaints & Safety

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: CRASH IMMINENT BRAKING

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Acura MDX 2WD and AWD, RLX and 2014 Acura RLX Hybrid vehicles. In certain driving conditions, the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) may incorrectly interpret certain roadside objects such as metal fences or metal guardrails as obstacles and unexpectedly apply the brakes.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the CMBS software, free of charge. The recall began on July 6, 2015. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238. Honda's numbers for this recall is JQ4, JQ5 and JQ6.

19,502 vehicles affected

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2014 Acura RLX vehicles manufactured November 22, 2012, to January 30, 2014, 2015 Acura RLX vehicles manufactured June 4, 2014, to November 18, 2014, and 2014 Acura RLX Hybrid vehicles manufactured November 5, 2013, to July 25, 2014. An aluminum film applied to the inner reflector of the headlight may experience adhesion issues causing the film to delaminate. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace both of the headlights, free of charge. The recall began February 2, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-310-783-2000. Honda's number for this recall is JN2.

9,751 vehicles affected

MY CAR HAS BEEN DAMAGED 3 TIMES BY RODENTS CHEWING ON WIRING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TWICE. FORTUNATELY, THE BREAKDOWNS HAVE OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED, AND NOT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. BUT, YOU ONLY NEED TO DO A SEARCH OF THE 'NET TO FIND REPORTS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD BREAKDOWNS WHILE DRIVING, AND EVEN FIRES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM IS THAT MANUFACTURING OF WIRING IS NOW USING "ECO-FRIENDLY" LUBRICANTS BASED ON SOY OR PEANUTS. THIS CREATES AN "ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE" FOR RODENTS TO CHEW ON THE WIRING, THINKING IT MAY CONCEAL FOOD. IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT THE PICTURE I ATTACHED, THE WIRING HAD BEEN WRAPPED WITH A GREY "ANTI-RODENT" TAPE (WHICH CONTAINS CAPSAICIN) THE SECOND TIME IT WAS REPAIRED. BUT, I DON'T THINK IT WAS COMPLETELY WRAPPED ALL THE WAY TO THE CONNECTOR, AND ONLY A SMALL PART WAS LEFT EXPOSED. THIS TAPE IS AN ACTUAL HONDA PART THAT CAN BE ORDERED BY THEIR SERVICE DEPT. SO, HONDA IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THREE MEN FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST AMERICAN HONDA IN 2016. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS BY HONDA TO DISMISS IT, THE PLAINTIFFS FILED A MOTION TO CERTIFY THE LAWSUIT AS A CLASS ACTION. WITHIN WEEKS, THE LAWSUIT WAS WITHDRAWN WITHOUT PREJUDICE BY THE PLAINTIFFS, PRESUMABLY BECAUSE HONDA SETTLED. THIS METHOD OF MANUFACTURE IS IMPOSING SIGNIFICANT COSTS ON CONSUMERS TO REMEDY THE RESULTING PROBLEM, INCLUDING HIGHER INSURANCE PREMIUMS. I'M ACTUALLY NOT FILING A CLAIM ON MY LATEST DAMAGE, BECAUSE MY INSURANCE COMPANY CAN CANCEL MY INSURANCE IF I HAVE MORE THAN ONE CLAIM IN A YEAR DUE TO ANIMAL DAMAGE. I AM NOT ASKING FOR A RECALL. BUT, SOME REGULATION IS NEEDED TO BAN AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS FROM USING FOOD-DERIVED LUBRICANTS IN MANUFACTURING, FOR SAFETY REASONS.