Honda Jazz 2005 Problems

In extreme situations, owners have been warned their vehicles may catch fire.Mitsubishi was hit with the biggest safety recall for the three month period. It has written to owners of Pajeros built between 2000 and 2003 to warn them of a potential brake problem. As many as 13,400 vehicles may need to be checked.The company also recalled 4400 of its now-defunct 380 sedan, built between 2006 and 2007, which may have a faulty fuel tank retaining strap. In a severe collision the tank may be dislodged and spill fuel.Mitsubishi is also checking more than 8300 Colts built this year which may have a problem with door windows which may drop and unlock or open the door while the car is being driven.Honda has recalled 11,800 of its 2004-05 Jazz to check whether they have a faulty handbrake, while Mazda needs to look at 1770 of its B4000 utes built between 2005-2006 because the bonnet may open unexpectedly.Subaru has recalled 5380 of its Imprezas, built between 2001 and 2003 because of a faulty rear tailgate which may suddenly drop.Subaru Australia spokesman, Dave Rowley, said many of the recalls were to check for "minor or niggling" faults."We have had no incidents of anyone being injured in Australia and we found only six cars which had the faulty (tailgate strut) connection."Many recalls are done as a pre-emptive measure to avoid possible problems further down the track, " he said.Other potential faults include electrical short circuits, which in extreme circumstances, may start a cabin fire in Landrover Freelander diesels built since 2007. Landrover warns the fault may occur when the vehicle is parked and unattended.Other recalls were to check for short circuits in Fiat's Grande Punto; and a chance that the panoramic glass roof in a small number of Citroen's Picasso could be dislodged.Suzuki has warned of potential fire risk in its 3-door Suzuki Grand Vitara (2006-07) because of a possible cracked fuel pipe, while the 2005-08 Vitara diesel has a remote fire risk in a filter because of a problem with the intercooler outlet pipe insulator.Other problems include faulty rear seat belt D-loop attachments in the current Jaguar XF, and the potential for a loss of steering in Chrysler's 300C built last year because of a problem with rear axle hub nuts which could see the half shaft disengage from the wheel hub.Mercedes Benz wants to look at axles, springs and the park brake in its Sprinter or Vito vans.Jayco has recalled some of its motor homes to check and fix awning and exhaust pipe problems.Of the 1500 motorcycles recalled, safety issues to be fixed include a faulty fuel filler on Kawasaki models, a windshield which may come off Buell bikes if ridden at high speed and a rear view mirror which may fall off on certain Yamaha models.An ACCC spokeswoman said this year's figures were actually less than last year but the number has been steadily rising over the past 20 years.The ACCC says there have been 52 individual recalls this year compared to 171 last year.Full details of the recalls can be found at www.recalls.gov.au 

Small cars demand a different approach than do their larger cousins in order to achieve an efficiency of packaging that delivers a level of comfort and everyday practicality for their owners.Honda's Jazz is a case in point. By any definition it's a small car, but at the same time its rather upright wagon-like shape gives it a roominess that belies its modest dimensions.MODEL WATCHThe Jazz arrived in local showrooms in 2002 and was updated in 2004 and 2006 with extra equipment that kept it fresh.  Despite its upright and boxy shape the Jazz had a cheeky appeal with its steeply sloping front, bright eyes and corporate Honda grille.Wide-opening doors and a high roofline made getting in and out of the Jazz a breeze, something that appealed to older buyers who struggled getting into other lower models. Inside, passengers sat in rather upright, but supportive seating that combined with the tall body to make a roomy and comfortable cabin.Another advantage of the upright style was the visibility, which was good all round.  With the rear seats folded to form the flat floor there was quite good space for whatever might need to be transported in the Jazz.  Honda offered the Jazz in three models, the 1.3-litre GLi entry level, and the 1.5-litre VTi and VTi-S.The GLi was only available with the 1.3-litre engine, but buyers could choose between a five-speed manual gearbox and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), which was an auto of sorts.When working at its peaks the 1.3-litre four was putting out 61 kW and 119 Nm. It was a smooth driver around town, but was found out when asked to climb hills or accelerate quickly.For better performance there was the VTi and VTi-S with the 1.5-litre engine that put out 81kW and 143Nm. The larger engine handled the cut and thrust of city traffic much better and was more at home on the highway.VTi and VTi-S buyers could choose between a five-speed manual and a CVT transmission that could be overridden and driven as a seven-speed manual.At first the GLi was fairly basic and didn't come standard with air until 2006. By then it boasted central locking, a trip computer, power steering, mirrors and windows and four-speaker CD sound.The VTi came with air from the get-go and also had remote central locking, while range-topping VTi-S also boasted alloy wheels, a body kit, fog lamps, leather steering wheel, rear spoilerIN THE SHOPHonda enjoys an enviable reputation for reliability that many other carmakers can only dream about, but nevertheless it's always prudent to ask for a service record that confirms regular maintenance has been done. Servicing is required every 10,000 km or six months.Modern engines live and die on oil and missing oil changes is a recipe for disaster. Oil galleries clog up and in extreme cases it can be virtually impossible to clean them out without dismantling the engine and putting through a hot tub.Honda has had trouble with the CVT transmission in the Jazz, as reported by a number of CarsGuide readers. When test driving a potential buy look for shuddering when accelerating away from a standstill, and walk away from any car that shudders.Changing the oil in the transmission and resetting the computer have fixed some cars, but others haven't been able to be fixed that way and the transmission has had to be replaced at a considerable cost.It should also be noted that Honda claims that CVT-equipped cars need to be taken back to a dealer to have the computer reset if the battery has been disconnected for any reason. That includes those situations when a battery is replaced, which makes replacement a rather more expensive exercise.Honda parts and servicing can be more expensive than those on other makes and models, but there is a number of independent specialist service mechanics that can do the work more cheaply.IN A CRASHDual front airbags and ABS anti-lock braking were standard across the range, enough to receive a creditable four star rating from ANCAP.AT THE PUMPOne of the strengths of the Jazz is its fuel economy.  Honda claimed the 1.3-litre would do 5.2 L/100 km on average with the manual gearbox, and 5.1 L/100 km when equipped with the CVT.With the 1.5-litre engine Honda claimed an average consumption of 5.6 L/100 km for the manual and 5.5 L/100 km for the CVT.  One of our readers reported the consumption of their 1.3-litre manual   never goes above 5.5 L/100 km around town and sinks to 4.5 L/100 km on the open road.OWNER'S SAYGraham Bewley currently owns a 1.3-litre auto Jazz GLi, having previously owned a 2006 1.5-litre CVT Jazz VTi for three years. He says it is quiet and smooth, and roomy with a bigger car feel, it's   also economical, the steering is improved and it has a full-sized   spare. Against that he says he doesn't like the large windscreen, the air-conditioning is barely adequate, and the gearing is a little too   high with the 1.3-litre engine. But in summary, he says that while the Jazz is no sports car, it is very pleasant to drive and both of his cars have been super reliable. There were no problems with the CVT in his previous car.Dr. Graeme Paton has racked up more than 300,000 km in his 1.3-litre 2003 Jazz GLi and says it still feels tight, and starts first time, every time. It has been routinely serviced and has been very reliable only requiring routine brake pad and disc changes, and replacement of the wheel bearings, which Honda did under warranty.LOOK FORCute, but practical stylingRoomy interiorEconomical runningModest performance from 1.3-litreShuddering CVT transmissionHonda resaleTHE BOTTOM LINEA well built, spacious small car with good blend of performance and economy. 80/100

The Jazz presented small cars in a new way. It wasn't a downsized sedan or sedan-based hatch as had been the normal way of designing a small car.It was about the efficient use of interior space. It had ample room for five adults with the seats in their normal positions, but the seats could be flipped or folded flat to allow a wide range of objects to be carried. It was a big car in a small package.The performance was sporty with a choice of 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre single overhead camshaft four-cylinder engines. The smaller engine put out 61kW at 5700 revs and 119Nm at 2800 revs and returned 5.6L/100km. The larger VTEC engine boasted 81kW at 6000 revs and 143Nm at 4800 revs for more zip and returned 6.0L/100km.Both engines came with the choice of a five-speed manual gearbox or a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) automatic, the CVT trans hooked up to the larger engine offered a seven-speed sequential shift function.The suspension was a combination of MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear with stabiliser bars at both ends, while the brakes were a blend of disc front and drum rear with anti-skid protection, and the steering was electric-power assisted. Honda offered the Jazz in three models; the GLi, VTi and VTi-S. The GLi opened the range and came nicely equipped with cloth trim, power windows and mirrors, central locking, tilt-adjustable steering column, a full array of instruments, and a CD player.The VTi came with all of that plus air-conditioning, and sports cloth trim, while the sporty VTi-S came with front and rear spoilers, front fog lamps and alloy wheels.The Jazz is a city car and often driven by people living in inner-city areas, which exposes them to more of the bump and grind of gridlock than cars living in the outer suburban areas. They can often be left parked in the street, under trees and light poles, and subject to the things that fall out of the sky.So look for body bumps and scrapes, and stains on the paint work. Look for a car that has been well-maintained on a regular basis, and not just cleaned up for sale.Cars left exposed to the elements need more washing, waxing and polishing than those parked under cover.Look at the wheels for evidence of being scraped on or bumped into kerbs. If you find damaged rims, have the suspension inspected for damage. It is relatively easy to damage a drive line or steering joint by accidentally hitting a kerb. Listen for odd clicking noises when turning that might indicate a damaged joint.Check for a service record indicating regular oil changes, and lift the oil-filler cap and take a look for sludge as a result of missed oil services. On average a Jazz should have done around 60,000km if it was a 2002 model, less if a later delivery.All models boasted airbags for the driver and front passenger for reasonable protection in a crash from the front, while anti-skid brakes help you to get out of trouble when confronted with a crash situation.The chassis dynamics aren't brilliant, and steering is accurate without being responsive, but the chassis is quite well balanced, but with a slight bias towards understeer.