Honda Recalls Civics for Potential Fuel Leak Problems

DETROIT (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co is recalling about 21,700 of its current-model compact Honda Civic cars due to the possibility that fuel will leak in a roll-over crash, the company and U.S. regulators said on Thursday.
"If a vehicle is involved in a roll-over crash, a cracked roll-over valve may allow fuel leakage from the gasoline tank into the evaporative emissions canister," Honda said in a statement. "No crashes or injuries have been reported related to this defect."
More than 18,000 cars will be recalled in the United States and about more than 3,600 in Canada, the company said.
Honda suspended the sale of some Civic vehicles on Monday because of unrepaired models on dealership lots, The Detroit News reported, citing government regulators.
The automaker told dealers on Monday "a stop sale is in effect for a limited number of 2011 Civic 4-door and 2-door models" assembled at factories in Indiana and Canada.
Honda also warned dealers that if they sold a vehicle on the stop sale list and "should an unrepaired vehicle cause an injury or damage because of the recalled item, the dealership will be solely responsible to the damaged party, and will be required to defend and indemnify American Honda for any resulting claims," the News said.
The repair will require removal and inspection of the fuel tank unit.
Honda said that about 1 percent of the recalled 2011 model year vehicles are likely to have the problem. In a roll-over crash, a fire could occur, said the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.Owners of the recalled vehicles will be informed by mail by mid-April, the company said







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