Honda Says Accords and CR-Vs Could Leak Engine Oil

Honda will notify about 1,200 vehicle owners of potential engine oil leaks due to a manufacturing problem in their 2011 model year Accords and CR-Vs, according to a company spokeswoman. The manufacturer has also notified dealers that some 5,000 Accords and 4,300 CR-Vs on dealer lots must be checked for the part that could lead to engine oil leaks.

Despite massive recalls at Japanese rival Toyota Motor Corp. and newer vehicles receiving good feedback from critics, Honda is starting to lose its market share in the US. The company also announced in December that it would end the production of its Element crossover.

Honda has issued a technical service bulletin on December 3, notifying dealers and describing the potential problem in the 2011 model year Accords and CR-Vs. Customers will receive notifications of the problem in mid-December, according to the notice from Honda.

Most of the vehicles affected will only require an inspection to check whether a part was cast incorrectly. Honda said the vehicles in dealers' inventory must be repaired before they are sold.

This follows a separate notification from the automaker, dated November 24, in which Honda told dealers excess paint was a possible cause of engine oil leaks by the cylinder head cover in 2006 to 2010 model year Accords, Civic Si models, CR-Vs and Elements. The repair for that notice, sanding away extra paint, would be covered under warranty.

Automakers use a system of notices to dealers for repairs that are not considered to be safety issues. Problems that are safety related require formal recalls under US auto safety rules.