Fuel Pump Recall - Long Wait for New Parts

[insightman]

I received my letter and have an appointment to take my Clarity in tomorrow. Because they will be removing the gas tank, my dealer's service department asked me to minimize its contents. Perhaps other service departments don't mind draining the tank, but I considered their request to be reasonable.

Fortunately, my Clarity's tank was only half full. Unfortunately, the battery was 80% charged, so the BMS wouldn't let me use HV Charge mode to increase the rate of gasoline consumption.

So this afternoon I called up my buddy and, like we old guys did 59 years ago using Dad's gasoline, we went crusin'. I'm now ready to take my Clarity in with 10 miles worth of gasoline left in that cavernous 7-gallon tank.

Now that the recall parts are finally available, don't be telling your service station attendant, "Fill 'er up!" (as if).

 

[KClark]

I called the dealer I use for service today and they told me they have no parts and no idea when they will have them.

 

[insightman]

I called the dealer I use for service today and they told me they have no parts and no idea when they will have them.

I wonder why my Ann Arbor dealer can get them? Perhaps the parts don't all come directly from Torrance and there are regional parts depots with different inventories?

 

[Landshark]

I wonder why my Ann Arbor dealer can get them?

They wanted you to be the first person in Michigan to get the part.

 

[MrFixit]

Because they will be removing the gas tank, my dealer's service department asked me to minimize its contents. Perhaps other service departments don't mind draining the tank, but I considered their request to be reasonable.

Hum, My impression was that the pump replacement did not require removing the tank. I think the pump is accessible from the top by just removing the rear seat. I knew they didn't want a full tank, but didn't think it necessarily needed to be 'low' either.

If you have an opportunity, it would be nice to learn more about this process from your service manager if you have a chance to chat with them.

 

[leehoewonek]

Hum, My impression was that the pump replacement did not require removing the tank. I think the pump is accessible from the top by just removing the rear seat. I knew they didn't want a full tank, but didn't think it necessarily needed to be 'low' either.

If you have an opportunity, it would be nice to learn more about this process from your service manager if you have a chance to chat with them.

When I had mine done the guy said the tank had to be at half or less. Fortunately I had a road trip a couple days before so that wasn't a problem.

 

[Danks]

I am currently unable to get mine done. The service guy showed me their paperwork that said they have to call the District Service Parts Manager for approval and that the fuel pump has to be broken for approval. They expect the approval restriction to go away when more fuel pumps are available.

 

[DAVE SCHOELLER]

My service guy seemed upset I was even asking about it. Said parts will not be available until next year.

 

[KClark]

I called the dealer I use for service today and they told me they have no parts and no idea when they will have them.

When I called the dealer on Tuesday to ask about the recall I also set up a service appointment for today for maintenance minder items. When I got to the dealer this morning they made a few calls and said they had the parts on hand to do the recall as well. The service rep told me they had plenty of parts for Accords and Civics but no parts at all for the larger vehicles like Odysseys and Pilots. He also said that parts for Clarities come in by ones and twos randomly. My gas tank was 2/3 full but no one asked me about gas in the tank when I was there. This was at Honda of Pasadena in Southern California.

 

[Joe17]

Hum, My impression was that the pump replacement did not require removing the tank. I think the pump is accessible from the top by just removing the rear seat. I knew they didn't want a full tank, but didn't think it necessarily needed to be 'low' either.

The service manual shows it being removed, from opening a panel, in the forward trunk area.

 

[coutinpe]

After a week without news, I called my dealer again today. Somehow, they had forgotten to order the part, so the lady apologized and gave me an appointment for next Friday, but still I have to call them on Thursday to make sure they got the part. She also asked me to bring the car with as few gas in the tank as possible. So I'm taking it for a long ride today....

 

[Joe17]

Just called my dealer in Chicago. They don't have the parts but can order them. Said I have to come by first to verify VIN and then they can place the order.

 

[Landshark]

Said I have to come by first to verify VIN and then they can place the order.

Are they unwilling to accept the VIN over the phone? Typically they only need the last 8 digits. Is this the dealer from which you purchased the vehicle, or have you previously had it serviced at this dealership?

 

[JustAnotherPoorDriver]

I started a case with American Honda and they called today, and the dealer will have the part later this month when I'm in. They also told me they had no parts originally.

 

[Joe17]

Are they unwilling to accept the VIN over the phone? Typically they only need the last 8 digits. Is this the dealer from which you purchased the vehicle, or have you previously had it serviced at this dealership?

I did not buy from this dealer and have not had any service done there, maybe why they want to see the car...

 

[insightman]

The service manual shows it being removed, from opening a panel, in the forward trunk area.

Yes, I misunderstood when they asked me to have the tank less than a quarter-full. I heard it was a multi-hour procedure and assumed it required the tank to come out. The gas tank does not have to come out to access the fuel pump.

 

[lanb]

When I had mine done the guy said the tank had to be at half or less. Fortunately I had a road trip a couple days before so that wasn't a problem.

Yes, my dealer said the same and also to remove anything in the backseat.
The replacement was done on Thursday and took 2 hours even though they said 4 hours originally.
They reminded me to replace the 12V battery, It registered 65 CCA .

 

[leop]

When I asked my dealer's service department about scheduling the fuel pump replacement, they confirmed that they had the part in stock (just one at this time). I had stopped by to ask and the service advisor, without my asking, printed out the TSB for me. I was in their sysytem since we purchased the Clarity at the dealer and had our warranty work (door lock and tsb requirements such as the AC condensor) done there.

This is the link to the fuel pump TSB (24-031) for the Clarity PHEV:

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCRIT-23V858-3415.pdf

LeoP

 

[MrFixit]

Having received a very recent letter from Honda indicating the recall parts were now 'available', I contacted my local dealer. I was told that they "haven't received any Clarity fuel pumps", and they would put me on a list and call when they get some. I asked if this 'list' triggers them to order the parts, and I was told NO... They simply wait for parts to arrive on their own. I asked if the parts will be there in days, weeks, or months and she told me that she has "no idea".

Less than satisfying answers given the fact that corporate Honda seems to think that part availability is no longer an issue.

My discussion with them leads me to believe I shouldn't hold my breath waiting for the call which will probably never come. I'll just wait a month or-two and call them again to see if the parts have somehow magically arrived !!!

Just as an aside, I have a friend with a CRV which also has the fuel pump recall. I asked the dealer if they have gotten any CRV pumps and she said they had received a batch of 30 but she didn't know if / how many were left. My friend called, and was told the same thing as me... We will put you on a list and call when we have them !

 

[ralfalfa]

Having received a very recent letter from Honda indicating the recall parts were now 'available', I contacted my local dealer. I was told that they "haven't received any Clarity fuel pumps", and they would put me on a list and call when they get some. I asked if this 'list' triggers them to order the parts, and I was told NO... They simply wait for parts to arrive on their own. I asked if the parts will be there in days, weeks, or months and she told me that she has "no idea".

Less than satisfying answers given the fact that corporate Honda seems to think that part availability is no longer an issue.

My discussion with them leads me to believe I shouldn't hold my breath waiting for the call which will probably never come. I'll just wait a month or-two and call them again to see if the parts have somehow magically arrived !!!

Just as an aside, I have a friend with a CRV which also has the fuel pump recall. I asked the dealer if they have gotten any CRV pumps and she said they had received a batch of 30 but she didn't know if / how many were left. My friend called, and was told the same thing as me... We will put you on a list and call when we have them !

This was exactly my experience as well. Here I am again, waiting by the phone........ but the good news seems to be these fuel pump failures are rare enough that waiting a while isn't going to impact my driving.