Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC) today issued a recall on more than 800,000 of the automaker’s minivans and sport utility vehicles manufactured between 2003 and 2006. The recall is due to a faulty ignition interlock mechanism that can become worn and allow a driver to remove the key from the ignition before the vehicle’s transmission has been set to ‘Park’. That can cause the vehicle to roll away.

The defect has caused several crashes and at least two injuries. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has received 42 complaints about the problem, with 26 complaints that the vehicles just rolled away and 16 complaints that the vehicles had to hit something to stop.

The models involved include approximately 318,000 2003-2004 Honda Odyssey minivans, 259,000 2003-2004 Honda Pilots, and 230,000 2003-2006 Acura MDXs.

The NHTSA has not yet posted official notice of the recall. Honda said that the repair will be done at Honda dealers and that the company will notify vehicle owners by mail beginning in February.

Paul Ausick

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