February 16, 2012

Ms. Nancy Lewis Associate Administrator for Enforcement NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY

ADMINISTRATION Attn: Recall Management Division (NVS-215) 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590

Re: Recall Notification 2012 Model Year Honda Pilot and Acura MDX Vent Shut Float (VSF) Case Separation

Dear Ms. Lewis:

:HON"D.A. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. 1919 Torrance Boulevard Torrance, CA 90501-27 46 Phone (31 0) 783-2000

On February 9, 2012, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (HMC) determined that a potential defect relating to motor vehicle safety exists in the On-board Refueling Vapor Recovery (ORVR) Vent Shut Float (VSF) of certain 2012 model year Honda Pilot and Acura MDX automobiles, and is furnishing notification to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in accordance with 49 CFR Part 573 Defect and Noncompliance Reports.

573.6(c)(1) Name of manufacturer:

Manufacturer's agent:

573.6(c)(2)

Honda Manufacturing of Alabama LLC (HMA) Honda of Canada Mfg. (HCM)

Jay Joseph American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) 1919 Torrance Blvd. Torrance, CA 90501-2746

Identification of potentially affected vehicles:

Make/Model Description VIN Range/Dates of Manufacture

Honda Pilot Certain 2012 model year Dec.15, 2011 toJan. 11,2012

Acura MDX

Dec. 14,2011 toJan. 11, 2012

Certain 2012 model year Dec. 15, 2011 to Jan. 9, 2012

12V-063 (4 Pages)

Ms. Nancy Lewis February 16, 2012 Page2

Description of the basis for the determination of the recall population:

The recall population was based on manufacturing records. The VIN range reflects all possible vehicles that could potentially experience the problem.

573.6( c)(2)(iv) Identification of affected component:

Component: VSF Assembly (within fuel tank) Country of Origin: United States Manufacturer: Toyoda Gosei North American Corp. (TGKY) Contact Name: Kurt Weaver Address: 1400 Stephenson Highway

Troy, Ml 48083 Telephone No.: (248) 786-2625

Component: Country of Origin: Manufacturer: Contact Name: Address:

Telephone No. :

573.6(c)(3)

Completed Fuel Tank Assembly (inc. VSF) United States Kautex Text ron North America Jim Lansing 750 Stephenson Highway Troy, Ml 48083 (248) 616-5100

Total number of potentially affected vehicles:

573.6(c)(4) Percentage of affected vehicles that contain the defect:

573.6(c)(5) Defect description:

8,709

Unknown

In the suspect units the vent shut float (VSF) valve case (a component of the on-board vapor recovery system located inside of the fuel tank) was molded using a composite material that does not meet the design specifications. The material used has a higher melting point, and as a result may not have achieved a proper weld penetration when the VSF cover was laser welded to the VSF body. This anomaly was not caught during production because the VSF weight matched the design specifications, and no leakage was observed during assembly.

If the weld is insufficient, the VSF case may detach from the cover, which is affixed inside the fuel tank. A detached VSF case may result in fuel overflowing from the fuel tank, or possibly a fuel leak, which can increase the risk of fire.

Ms. Nancy Lewis February 16, 2012 Page 3

573.6(c)(6) Chronology:

Jan.3, 2012

Jan. 8,2012

Jan. 9, 2012

Jan. 12-13, 2012

Jan.20,2012

Feb. 9,2012

573.6(c)(8)(i)

Kautex Lavonia notified HMA and TGKY of broken VSF valve; HMA initiated an investigation

TGKY found that wrong material was used in molding process of VSF case

TGKY notified HMA and HCM of results

First countermeasure vehicle produced at HMA and HCM

HMA found broken VSF in complete body unit sweep activity

HMC determined that a safety defects exists

Program for remedying the defect:

The owners of all affected vehicles will be contacted by mail and asked to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura automobile dealer. The dealer will inspect the assembly date of the VSF valve and if necessary, replace it with a new fuel tank assembly, free of charge.

573.6( c)(S)(ii) The estimated date to e-mail preliminary notification to dealers: Feb. 17, 2012

The estimated date to provide preliminary service bulletin to dealers: Feb. 17, 2012

The estimated date to begin sending notifications to owners: Mar. 13, 2012

The estimated date of completion of the notification: Mar. 20, 2012

573.6( c)(9) Representative copies of all notices, bulletins and other communications:

A copy of the dealer service bulletin, the final customer notification letter and other dealer communication will be submitted to your office as soon as possible.

573.6(c)(10) Proposed owner notification letter submission:

A draft of the owner notification letter will be submitted to your office as soon as possible.

Ms. Nancy Lewis February 16, 2012 Page4

573.6(c)(11) Manufacturer's campaign number:

S25, S26

Sincerely,

AMERICAN H NDA MOTOR CO., INC.

Ja~~~~==~~ Senior Manager Product Regulatory Office

JWJ:nis