— Honda CR-V and HR-V SUVs equipped with all-wheel drive can experience wheel lock after a drive shaft breaks and the rear differential is damaged.
The issues were enough to attract the attention of federal safety regulators, who launched an investigation in late 2022.
The NHTSA investigation involves about 1.7 million Honda CR-V and HR-V SUVs produced between 2018 and 2022.
No consumer complaints have been filed with the government, but NHTSA reviewed the field reports and requested information from Honda.
Some field reports said wheels locked up without warning while driving, and dealers found broken drive shafts and damaged differentials. Dealers said a damaged oil seal caused an oil leak that caused the problem.
Honda said it was aware of at least 1,201 incidents.
Engine oil lubricates the components, and if the oil leaks, the rear differential will fail. Honda found that “the contact between the oil seal lip and the drive shaft may become unstable due to intermittent changes in internal pressure.”
In November 2021, Honda changed the oil seals and how they are packaged and shipped. In addition, it has strengthened its inspection procedures to check the installation of oil seals on the assembly line.
Honda says that any failures that occur early in the life of a CR-V or HR-V are covered under warranty.
It is claimed that even if the rear differential fails, the driver will not lose stability, and if the drive shaft breaks, the vehicle can still be driven in two-wheel drive.
NHTSA closed its investigation into Honda’s rear differential without requesting a recall, but that could change if circumstances change.
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