Acura recalls 2013-2014 ILX, ILX Hybrid over fire-prone headlamps

Wed, 09 Jul 2014

The Acura ILX just can't seem to catch a break. The Japanese automaker recently decided that the ILX Hybrid would no longer be offered in the US for the 2015 model year. Now, a possibility for fires has also cropped up in the compact luxury sedan. Acura has announced a recall of 14,078 examples from the 2013 and 2014 model years because the headlights could overheat and ignite the car. The company also issued a stop-sale for examples still at dealers until they can be repaired.

The campaign covers ILX and ILX Hybrid models with halogen projector headlights from specific build dates. The problem is that the headlights aren't cooled sufficiently when the cars aren't moving. After several hours of sitting with them on, it's possible for the lights to build up so much heat that they melt and potentially cause a fire.

To Acura's knowledge, there was only one case of an ILX actually catching fire due to this problem, though. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defect notice, a car was idling at a dealer for about two hours when the model went up in flames. The automaker brought the vehicle in for a detailed investigation to find what caused the blaze.

To fix them, Acura will replace both headlights on all of the affected models, and owners will be notified in late July. Scroll down to read Acura's statement and the NHTSA recall request with the specific build dates of the vehicles. The full defect notice can be downloaded as a PDF, here.

Statement by Acura Regarding Headlight Recall: 2013-2014 Acura ILX
07/08/2014 - TORRANCE, Calif.

14,078 model-year 2013-2014 ILX vehicles affected in the U.S.
Halogen projector beam headlights will be replaced, free of charge
One fire was reported after car was parked with engine idling and lights on for several hours
No related crashes or injuries have been reported

Acura will voluntarily recall 14,078 model-year 2013-2014 ILX vehicles in the United States to replace both halogen projector beam headlight assemblies free of charge. When a vehicle is parked with the engine running and the low-beam headlights on for an extremely long period of time, the original headlight design may not allow sufficient heat to escape. Excessive heat buildup in the headlight assembly can cause deformation and melting of plastic components which could affect headlight operation and, eventually, result in a fire. One fire was reported after the ILX had been parked with the headlights on and engine idling for several hours. No crashes or injuries have been reported related to this issue.

Acura is announcing this recall to encourage all owners who purchased an affected vehicle to take it to an authorized dealer as soon as they receive notification of this recall from Acura. Mailed notification to customers will begin in late-July. In addition to contacting customers by mail, at that time, owners of these vehicles will be able to determine if their vehicles require repair by going to www.recalls.acura.com or by calling (800) 382-2238 and selecting option 4.

# # #

RECALL Subject : Headlight Temperatures Causing Fires/FMVSS 108

Report Receipt Date: JUN 13, 2014
NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V323000
Component(s):
Potential Number of Units Affected: 14,078
All Products Associated with this Recall
Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s)
ACURA ILX 2013-2014

Details
Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

SUMMARY:
American Honda Motor Co., Inc (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2013 Acura ILX vehicles manufactured January 16, 2012 to March 1, 2013, ILX Hybrid vehicles manufactured January 12, 2012 to February 7, 2013, and certain model year 2014 ILX vehicles manufactured May 2, 2013, to May 31, 2014, and ILX Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 18, 2013 to February 19, 2014. Excessive heat temperatures around the headlight bulb and reflector unit may diminish the output of the headlight and cause smoke, melting, and fire. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

CONSEQUENCE:
The diminished light output may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Additonally, the excessive heat coming from around the bulb and reflector could cause the headlights to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.

REMEDY:
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the headlights, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on July 28, 2014. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-862-2872. Honda's number for this recall is JE9.

NOTES:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

By Chris Bruce