DETROIT — Honda is recalling nearly 564,000 older small SUVs because road salt can cause the chassis to rust and rear suspension parts to come loose.
The recall covers certain 2007 through 2011 CR-Vs that were sold or registered in states where salt is used to clear roads in the winter.
US safety regulators say in documents released Thursday that salt can build up and cause corrosion, and the rear drag tube can detach. That can cause drivers to lose control, increasing the risk of a crash. Rear drag tubes connect the rear axle to the frame.
The recalled CR-Vs were sold or registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C.
Dealers will inspect SUVs and install a support bracket or repair the rear frame if necessary. If the chassis is badly damaged, Honda may offer to buy the vehicle. Owners will be notified by letter beginning May 8.
CR-Vs have already been recalled in Canada. Honda says in documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it has 61 customer complaints in the US but no deaths or injuries.
