Honda’s overseas Jazz recalled

HONDA has recalled 646,000 Jazz, Fit and City cars to fix a faulty electric window switch that could lead to a fire.

However, the cars in question were only sold in Britain and Europe, South Africa, Asia, North America and South America.

Australia and Japan are among the markets not affected by the problem, which reportedly claimed the life of a child in South Africa.

According to one report, up to seven US-market Fits – out of about 140,000 sold there from 2006 to 2008 – have also caught fire as a result of the wiring fault.

Announced in late January, the recall centres on the previous-generation, GD series cars sold in various countries as the Jazz or Fit, as well as its closely related GD City sedan sibling unavailable in Australia.

All were produced from 2001 to 2008. The current GE Jazz is not subject to the recall anywhere in the world.

Left: Honda City.

"Under some severe operating conditions, water, rain, or other liquid may enter the driver's window and reach the master power window switch, resulting in impaired function of the switch," Honda stated in a press release.

"If the master power window switch is damaged as a result of the liquid intrusion, it may result in failure of the switch and overheating.

"An overheating switch may cause smoke, melting or, potentially, fire.”

About 10 per cent of the 646,000 models that are being recalled will require new switch assemblies, with the remainder in line to have a waterproof gasket fitted to prevent leakage.

Australian-bound GD Jazzes were made in Japan from 2002 to 2005 (MY03 to MY05), switching to Thailand from late 2005 in MY06 to MY08 guise. Today’s GE model is also sourced from Thailand.

Honda Australia national public relations manager Mark Higgins told GoAuto: “The overseas Jazz recall does not affect Australia at all.”

Meanwhile, Honda is on track to introduce ESC electronic stability control on the existing Jazz in the second half of this year.

The safety upgrade is expected to be standardised on the MY11 Jazz for Australia, as part of a model revamp that is also likely to bring a minor facelift and small changes to exterior and interior trim.

However, it is not known if the base model GLi will gain side and curtain airbags that are included in the VTi and VTi-S.

Since the GE Jazz’s Australian launch in September 2008 they have only been available as part of a $1000 ‘Safety Pack’ on the GLi that also brings a trip computer and a speed alarm.

“It all depends on things like currency fluctuations,” Mr Higgins said.

“Because the light-car sector is so price sensitive we have to review whether we adopt the safety pack on the entry-level model.”