Hot Oil Treatment Has Honda Hopping

In the wake of a spate of vehicle fires, a class action suit has been filed in Los Angeles on behalf of Honda CR-V owners.
According to published reports in The Washington Post, at least 27 2003 and 2004 Honda CR-V SUVs have burst into flames shortly after obtaining their first oil change.
Honda is maintaining that the problem is not due to a design defect. Instead, the Japanese automaker maintains that if the new oil filter is not installed properly, oil can leak around it and cause the fires. The company has issued a warning to its dealers and plans to send information to independent service facilities as well, regarding the need to be careful in replacing oil filters.
The class action lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, Calif., Superior Court, alleges that the fires have erupted due to defective O-Ring gaskets that permit the oil to leak onto the vehicles’ hot exhaust systems, causing the vehicles to burst into flames.
At this point, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not forced a safety recall in regard to the alleged problem.