Recall - Potential Left Rear Trailing Arm Separation
08-053July 25, 2008
Applies To:
2008 Element 2WD - From VIN 5J6YH1 ...8L013895 thru 5J6YH1 ...8L013924 2008 Element 4WD - From VIN 5J6YH2...8L014984 thru 5J6YH2...8L015673
Safety Recall: Left Rear Trailing Arm May Come Loose
BACKGROUND
The left trailing arm of the rear suspension may have been improperly welded and could separate from its front mount. A separated trailing arm would cause the lower half of the left rear wheel to pivot outward. This could damage the left rear brake line and may cause a possible loss of vehicle control, which could lead to a crash.
CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION
Affected vehicle owners are being contacted by phone. The vehicle owners are being instructed not to drive the vehicle, and to contact their local Honda dealer to have the vehicle towed in for repair. Those customers who cannot be reached by phone will be sent a notification of this campaign within the next 2 weeks. An example of the customer notification is at the end of this service bulletin.
Only 241 vehicles within the affected VIN ranges are potentially affected by this campaign. To verify vehicle eligibility, you must check at least one of these items:
^ The customer received a phone call from AHM.
^ The customer has a notification letter.
^ The vehicle is shown as eligible on a VIN status inquiry.
In addition, check for a punch mark above the first character of the engine compartment VIN. A punch mark in that location means this campaign has already been completed.
Some vehicles affected by this campaign may be in your new vehicle inventory. These vehicles must be inspected and, if needed, repaired before they are sold or leased. Should an unrepaired vehicle cause an injury or damage because of the recalled item, the dealership will be solely responsible to the damaged party, and will be required to defend and indemnify American Honda for any resulting claims. To see if a vehicle is affected by this campaign, do a VIN status inquiry before selling or leasing it.
CORRECTIVE ACTION
Inspect the welding date code stamped into the left trailing arm:
^ If the code is NROX 1, replace the left trailing arm and its attaching bolts and nuts.
^ If the code is not NROX 1, a new left trailing arm is not needed. Center-punch a campaign completion mark above the 1st character of the engine compartment VIN.
PARTS INFORMATION
WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION
Failed Part: P/N 52371-SCV-A02
H/C 8396202
Defect Code: 5RT00
Symptom Code: Q8900
Skill Level: Repair Technician
INSPECTION PROCEDURE
1. Raise the vehicle on a lift, and remove the left rear wheel.
2. Check the date code stamped on or near the bottom of the front lower mount of the left trailing arm:
^ If the date code is NROX 1, go to REPAIR PROCEDURE.
^ If the date code is not NROX 1, go to step 3.
3. Reinstall the left rear wheel, and torque its bolts to 108 N.m (79.6 lb-ft).
4. Center-punch a completion mark above the first character of the engine compartment VIN.
REPAIR PROCEDURE
1. Place a floor jack under the left trailing arm to support it.
2. Remove the flange lock nut, the adjusting cam, the adjusting bolt, and the flange bolt from the lower mount of the knuckle. The nut and the bolts will not be reused.
3. Remove the flange nut from the stabilizer link, then detach the stabilizer link from the trailing arm. The nut will not be reused.
4. Remove the flange bolt from the lower mount of the damper, then detach the damper from the trailing arm. The bolt will not be reused.
5. Remove the two flange bolts from the front mount of the trailing arm, then remove the trailing arm bushing guard. The bolts will not be reused.
6. Remove the flange bolt from the rear mount of the trailing arm. The bolt will not be reused.
7. Lower the floor jack, and remove the trailing arm.
8. Install a new left trailing arm in the reverse order of removal, using new nuts and bolts as described in the removal steps.
NOTE:
To install the trailing arm, lightly tighten the nuts and bolts, then place a jack under the arm, raise the suspension to load it with the vehicle's weight, and tighten the nuts and the bolts to the torque values shown in the illustrations.
9. Reinstall the left rear wheel, and torque its bolts to 108 N.m (79.6 lb-ft).
10. Do a four-wheel alignment:
^ Refer to pages 18-5 thru 18-8 of the 2007-2008 Element Service Manual, or
^ Online, enter keyword ALIGN, and select Wheel Alignment from the list.
11. Center-punch a completion mark above the first character of the engine compartment VIN.
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