Another Jazz recall

HONDA Australia will issue another safety recall notice for its smallest model, this time to rectify electrical defects including potentially faulty power window switches in the previous-generation Jazz.

The latest Jazz recall affects some 26,496 examples of the model year 2005, 2006 and 2007 Jazz vehicles, as part of a global recall action involving about 960,000 Jazz/Fit light-cars.

“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,” said Honda in a statement.

Honda Australia recalled more than 11,000 late-model Jazz cars in February due to a possible engine valvetrain problem, and the previous month more than 27,000 previous-model Jazz cars were recalled over a potential headlight fault.

The latter was part of an international action affecting 1.35 million Jazz models built between 2001 and 2007, although in Australia the problem only involved vehicles built between 2002 – when the car was introduced to Australia – and 2005, after which supply switched to Honda’s Thailand plant.

No injuries have been reported due to the latest power window problem, which in Japan affects Fit vehicles produced between October 2005 and October 2009.

Honda also this week announced plans to recall about 26,000 examples of its CR-Z hybrid, which is yet to arrive in Australia, due to programming problems with the engine control unit – as well as more than 80,000 CR-V compact SUVs in the US to replace the power window master switch.

Honda’s first Jazz was released in Australia in 2002 before being replaced by the second generation in August 2008. Electronic stability control became standard across the MkII Jazz range from January 1, before a facelift arrived in April, bringing fresh interior and exterior cosmetics plus side and curtain airbags and front and rear seatbelt reminders for the base GLi and a five-star ANCAP rating across the range.

Despite this year’s upgrades, Jazz sales were down 28 per cent last month. Honda Australia’s volume-seller is down more than 16 per cent so far this year and with traditional strong-sellers like Civic, Accord and Accord Euro faring even worse, overall sales are down 23 per cent.