2023 CR-V FHEV Li-Ion Battery Terminal Recall

*This document features select information from the “Part 573 Safety Recall Report” submitted by Honda to NHTSA. The full document may be viewed on the NHTSA website.

Vehicle Information1


*Model Year Start: 2023

*Model Year End: 2023

Type:  Light Vehicles

*Make:　Honda

Body Style:  SUV

*Model:　CR-V Hybrid

Powertrain:  Hybrid Electric

*Production Dates
(mm/dd/yyyy)

*Begin: 10/6/2022

*Descriptive Information to include2:
The recall population was determined based on manufacturing records. The production range reflects all possible vehicles that could experience the problem.

*End: 1/24/2023

VIN Range

Begin:

☐Not Sequential VINs

End:

Number potentially involved3: 98

Estimated percentage of involved with defect4: 1%

Defect / Noncompliance Description5

*Describe the defect or noncompliance:
Due to manufacturing variations, some battery cell negative terminals within the Li-ion battery module were produced with inadequate copper cladding residual thickness, which can lead to fractured cladding that potentially allows the underlying aluminum to react with the battery’s electrolyte and form an alloy. If the alloy formation sufficiently progresses, it can result in the battery cell terminal or busbar breaking.

*Describe the safety risk:
If the negative terminal or busbar breaks, users will be unable to drive the vehicle. If the breakage occurs while the battery is energized, a spark may occur, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, and/or injury.

Describe the cause:
Due to manufacturing variations in the clad material and terminal tube, negative terminals with a thin copper residual thickness were produced. During the process that swags the terminals to the battery cell sealing plate, the copper ductile can fracture and a portion of the underlying aluminium can become exposed. The exposed aluminium reacts with electrolyte in the battery cell, resulting in formation of a Li-Al alloy that can deteriorate the sealing property at the swaging point and lead to further electrolyte leakage and alloying. When sufficient alloying occurs, it can result in the terminal or busbar breaking.

Describe the defect / noncompliance remedy program, including the manufacturer’s plan for reimbursement:
Registered owners of all affected vehicles will be contacted by mail and asked to take their vehicle to an authorized Honda dealer. The dealer will replace the battery module with an improved part.

Owners who have paid to have these repairs completed at their own expense may be eligible for
reimbursement, in accord with the recall reimbursement plan on file with NHTSA.

Describe what distinguishes the remedy component from the recalled component:
The remedy components have increased copper residual thickness

Identify and describe how and when the recall condition was corrected in production:
The supplier implemented changes on November 30, 2023, to increase the copper residual thickness of the negative terminal by increasing the processing volume during the tube formation process and reducing the gas cushion pressure during the terminal press process. To further control residual thickness, the terminal’s clad material processing has been improved to reduce variations prior to swaging.

Where Concerned Owners Can Seek More Information

Owners can determine if their specific vehicles are included in the recall by visiting www.recalls.acura.com, www.recalls.honda.com or by calling (888) 234-2138.

 Media Inquiries

alvin_tsang@na.honda.com

 

  1. 49 CFR 573.6 (c)(2): Identification of the vehicles or items of motor vehicle equipment potentially containing the defect or noncompliance, including a description of the manufacturers basis for its determination of the recall population and a description of how the vehicles or items of equipment to be recalled differ from similar vehicles or items of equipment that the manufacturer has not included in the recall. (i) In the case of passenger cars, the identification shall be by the make, line, model year, the inclusive dates (month and year) of manufacture, and any other information necessary to describe the vehicles. (ii) In the case of vehicles other than passenger cars, the identification shall be by body style or type, inclusive dates (month and year) of manufacture and any other information necessary to describe the vehicles, such as GVWR or class for trucks, displacement (cc) for motorcycles, and number of passengers for buses.
  2. -The basis for how the recall population was determined and
    -How the recalled products differ from products that were not included in the recall
    -Identify the number of affected products related to this specific make/model/model year combination, where available
  3. 49 CFR 573.6 (c)(3): The total number of vehicles or items of equipment potentially containing the defect or noncompliance, and where available the number of vehicles or items of equipment in each group identified pursuant to paragraph (c)(2) of this section.
  4. 49 CFR 573.6 (c)(4): The percentage of vehicles or items of equipment specified pursuant to paragraph (c)(2) of this section estimated to actually contain the defect or noncompliance.
  5. 49 CFR 573.6 (c)(5): A description of the defect or noncompliance, including both a brief summary and a detailed description, with graphic aids as necessary, of the nature and physical location (if applicable) of the defect or noncompliance. In addition, the manufacturer shall identify and describe the risk to motor vehicle safety reasonably related to the defect or noncompliance consistent with its evaluation of risk required by 49 CFR 577.5(f).
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2023 CR-V FHEV Li-Ion Battery Terminal Recall
2023 CR-V FHEV Li-Ion Battery Terminal Recall
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