Honda Problems

The Japanese car maker - already experiencing supply and manufacturing issues following the eartquake and tsunami in Japan - has recalled 45,524 of it popular Accord Euro sedans after a fault was identified in the engine bay.The recall notice said "prolonged high under-bonnet temperatures may cause the power steering hose to deteriorate prematurely" which could cause cracks and a leak from the hose. "Power steering fluid could leak onto a hot exhaust and could produce smoke and a burning smell, with the potential for an under-bonnet fire," the notice said.  Honda Australia national public relations manager Mark Higgins said the recall was effecting Australian-retailed vehicles, of which the company has sold more than 54,000 in the recall timeframe."There have been a couple of customers who have reported at a service that there's been a little bit of smoke in the engine bay that they have smelt and noticed, there have certainly been no fires - it's a simple replacement of a power steering hose to fix the problem," Mr Higgins said.The recall covers the model line-up from 2003 until 2008.  The Accord Euro recall is the company's fourth for 2011 - earlier this month the Civic Hybrid was recalled over a fuse short.The City Sedan and Jazz Hatch were recalled in February over an engine stalling problem and the Jazzz hatchback was recalled in January for a headlight problem.  Honda has closed all its production facilities but Mr Higgins said the Australian branch of the company had sufficient Japanese-sourced vehicle stock on the ground here and there were no parts shortages."There are no issues with replacement parts coming from Japan, the latest update on our situation is that production is closed until April 3 and there will be a decision made after that," he said.Honda Australia said it was contacting effected owners by mail and was advising them to contact an authorised Honda Dealership to have the power steering feed hose replaced.

Most people who ventured beyond the black top in a CR-V returned with a scathing assessment of its ability to handle the rough and tough going. They missed the point, the CR-V isn't an off-roader, it's a high-riding townie, which is why Australians have taken to it the way they have. The CR-V became one of our top-selling SUVs because it won over city dwellers, not bushies.If you want a car that will eat up the bush stop reading now; if you're looking for a car that will serve the family well round town read on. The RE model launched in 2007 was larger, smoother and fresher than the outgoing model it replaced. It was an attractive car, although the front with its gaping intake took some getting used to.The spare wheel was moved from the rear to a position under the car, which said more about the CR-V's intended use than anything else. Anyone heading bush would appreciate the easy access to a spare mounted on the rear, but anyone stuck in town traffic would prefer the easier loading with the spare underneath.The new body was more rigid, which was a boost for its safety and handling, it also made the cabin quieter. As a result of the increased rigidity the on-road feel, never one of the CR-V's strengths was a little sharper making the driver feel more connected than in previous models.The 2.4-litre engine had more power, 7kW by Honda's measure, which boosted its performance slightly. It was never a fireball, and the performance was only marginally increased, but at the same time it was perfectly adequate for its role in the marketplace.A new six-speed manual gearbox was an option alongside the five-speed auto, and the final drive was through the front wheels, but with drive sent to the rear wheels as and when needed for traction. Overall the CR-V was a competent family wagon that did everything well without being particularly outstanding in anything.IN THE SHOPHonda has always enjoyed a solid reputation for building quality cars, and the lack of complaints CarsGuide has received about the CR-V is testimony to the company's continuing commitment to quality. Regular oil changes are a must with Hondas, so check for a verifiable maintenance record.IN A CRASHNew to the CR-V in 2007 was electronic stability control, a worthwhile safety feature by any measure. Already with front and side airbags, and ABS brakes, the addition of stability control completed an impressive safety package.UNDER THE PUMPWith a claim of an average of 10.0 L/100 km - which was backed up in real life tests - it couldn't be said the CR-V was a fuel miser. Fuel required was a minimum of 91-octane unleaded and Honda approved the use of E10. LPG experts recommend against running the multi-valve CR-V engine on LPG, advising that premature valve recession is a real possibility.AT A GLANCEPrice new: $31,990 to $41,990Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder; 125 kW/218 NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, 5-speed auto, on-demand 4WDEconomy: 10.0 L/100 kmBody: WagonVariants: Base, Sport, luxurySafety: 4-star ANCAPGreen: 3.5 stars.VERDICTBigger, roomier, smoother and more powerful than before, the CR-V makes a great family choice.

If the previous generation Civic seemed a little cheap and cheerful the eighth generation model reignited the Civic brand. It really needed a boost given that it was then facing off against some classy European models from Ford and Holden and a number of price-driven small cars from Japan.MODEL WATCHHonda's Civic has been a mainstay of the brand since the 1970s, but most models have tended to be conservative. The eighth generation stepped away from the past with an adventurous shape and a futuristic cabin that set it apart.Only available as a four-door sedan, there was no hatch available, the Civic came in three models, plus a hybrid. For the moment we'll leave the hybrid for another day, as it really is a subject all on its own.Under the shapely new skin lay the choice of two four-cylinder petrol engines; one a 1.8-litre that put out 103kW at 6300rpm and 174Nm at 4200rpm that was fitted to the VTi and VTi-L, the other was a 2.0-litre that boasted 114kW at 6200rpm and 199Nm at 4200rpm. Both had more than enough power for the job, and they were also quite frugal.Buyers could choose between a five-speed manual gearbox and a five-speed auto. Underneath was all independent suspension, which copped some criticism. The handling was fine and grip level good, but the ride was choppy and not as comfortable as it should have been.The VTi was quite well equipped with air, cruise, electric windows and mirrors standard, along with a full-sized spare. Further up the range the VTi-L had a six-stacker CD system with MP3, alloy wheels and auto air, while the Sport had a sunroof and leather trim.IN THE SHOPHondas are generally robust and reliable and the Civic is no different. It's well engineered and well built, which flows through to its use in the hands of owners. Few issues are reported to CarsGuide, and those that are tend to be of an individual nature and not widespread. Check for a verifiable service record, Hondas need regular and proper maintenance to live a long ad happy life.IN A CRASHAll models came standard with ABS brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution; electronic stability control only became available in 2008 when it was fitted to the Sport. The base VTi had dual front airbags, but the VTi-L also had side front airbags, and the range-topping Sport had all of that plus head airbags for the best crash protection. ANCAP rated the base model at four stars.AT THE PUMPHonda claimed the 1.8-litre would average 6.9L/100km, the 2.0-litre 8.4L/100km. The latter was confirmed when CarsGuide tested the 2.0-litre Civic Sport and it returned 8.2L/100km, quite impressive for a 2.0-litre engine.AT A GLANCEPrice new: $22,990 to $31,990Engines: 1.8-litre 4-cylinder petrol, 2.0-litre petrolPower/Torque: 103 kW/174 Nm (1.8); 114 kW/188 Nm (2.0)Transmission: 5-speed manual, 5-speed automatic; front-wheel driveEconomy: 6.2 L/100 km (1.8), 8.4 l/100 km (2.0)Body: 4-door sedan Variants: VTi, VTi-L, SportSafety: 4 star ANCAPVERDICTGood looking, nice driving small car that delivers on most fronts. 3.5 stars Pros Sleek looks, frugal engines, full-sized spare Cons No hatch, choppy ride, rear visibility Price; $10,800 plusRATING3.5 stars