Honda recalls Jazz over headlight glitch

HONDA has issued an international recall for 1.35 million Honda Jazz hatchbacks – also known elsewhere as the Fit – to fix potentially defective wiring in the headlights.

Honda Australia is trying to ascertain if any of the previous generation cars built between November 2001 and October 2007 need to be recalled in this country.

The recall affects only cars made at Honda’s Suzuka plant in Japan, but Japan was the source of Jazz for Australia before the switch to Thai manufacture in early 2006.

Honda sold 25,181 Jazz hatches in Australia between its Australian launch in 2002 and the end of 2005.

Honda Australian spokesman Mark Higgins told GoAuto that the company was trying to clarify the situation for Australia.

“We will notify the relevant authorities if we find out that any vehicles are affected here,” he said.

A Honda spokesman in Tokyo said no accidents had been reported as a result of the fault.

The recall affects 735,000 units in Japan, 143,000 in the United States and 385,000 in Europe. Others will be recalled in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

The latest recall is the second for Jazz/Fit in overseas markets this year. In February, Honda recalled 646,000 Jazz, Fit and City cars to fix a faulty electric window switch that could lead to a fire. However, none of the affected cars were sold in Australia.

A facelifted Jazz is set to be launched in Australia in January. It will include electronic stability control (ESC) to comply with Victoria’s new rules that make it compulsory.