Japanese Mayhem: Honda Announces 646,000 Unit Recall

If you’re wondering what went wrong with the Japanese auto industry all of a sudden, the answer may be lying in some of the top secret research files of the troubled automakers or in some seriously bad karma. Either way, things are going from bad to worse, as Honda just announced a total of 646,000 units of its Fit/Jazz and City models, including 140,000 in the United States.

Though the cause may seem simple - a faulty window switch - it has already caused the death of an infant when a fire broke out in a car last year.

Just like in Toyota’s case, this recall couldn’t come at a worse time, as customers are loosing confidence in the brand. American officials are not helping at all, as House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman decided to host a hearing to investigate how quickly Toyota responded to the complaints.

"Like many consumers, I am concerned by the seriousness and scope of Toyota's recent recall announcements," Waxman said in a statement. Toyota said this week that it was still investigating the possibility of faulty accelerators and floor mats existing in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.

At this time, Tokyo seems seriously worried about the impact incident like these will have on Japan’s image and economy, especially as the Japanese were seen as a quality oriented nation.

"If Toyota has hard times, there's a high probability that also Japan will," said Takeo Namekata, a 62-year-old office worker. "Particularly, trade will suffer."