Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
Honda conducts massive recall in Korea
By Park Jin-hai
Honda CR-V SUV
By Park Jin-hai
Chung Woo-young, Honda Korea CEO
Honda Korea has been ordered to recall more than 21,000 sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and motorcycles sold here because of various defects, which will likely tarnish its brand image among local consumers.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Sunday that Takata airbags installed in the Japanese automaker’s popular CR-V SUVs could deploy with excessive force, causing its metal cartridge to crack, which can injure the driver or passengers in an accident.
The subject for recall is 18,690 CR-V SUVs produced between May 24, 2006 and March 29, 2011.
The company already conducted recalls for CR-Vs and Accord sedans for the same reason in July. At the time, 2,730 CR-Vs and 1,647 Accords were called back.
“Takata airbags have been at the center of a series of massive recalls affecting Honda and other Japanese automakers,” a ministry official said. “The defect could cause injury at the time of an accident.”
Other than Honda, some 6,322 cars sold by FCA Korea including 5,672 Chrysler 300C passenger cars and 595 Dodge Dakota pickup trucks were on the recall list for Takata air bags here last month.
Takata airbags have led to the recall of more than 30 million vehicles in the United States and elsewhere over the past few years, adversely affecting the images of Japanese automakers and others that use the firm’s products.
Honda is also recalling over 2,000 motorcycles for a defective main fuse that could possibly lead to fire on the bike.
Of a total of 11 motorcycle models, 10 models, including CBR125R, produced between Oct.1, 2013 and June.11, 2015, were found to have defective main fuses, which may switch off the engine ignition or cause a fire.
In the case of the 253 CBR500R models, manufactured between March.15, 2013 and April.1, 2015, its sensor gauging the amount of fuel could malfunction or may switch off the ignition.
Customers owning the HV-R vehicles can exchange the air bag inflator for free at all its service centers from Monday. The affected motorcycle owners can have free repairs from Tuesday.
"Those responsible for the latest recalls have to inform vehicles owners by mail. If the motorists already had their cars fixed for the defects, Honda has to reimburse them for expenses," the official said.
For more information, please call 080-360-0505 for Honda car recalls and 080-322-3300 for Honda motorcycles.