Now that spring is here and baseball season has begun, the last thing drivers probably want to hear about is road salt.
Hate to be a killjoy, but damage caused by road salt and various de-icing agents can be very expensive.
DON'T MISS: American Airlines Makes a Very Unpopular Pricing Change
The American Automobile Association estimates that motorists shell out about $3 billion per year in rust repairs caused by various de-icing methods.
Japanese automaker Honda (HMC) is recalling more than half-a-million of its older CR-V sport utility vehicles in cold weather states due to potentially dangerous rust from salt or other de-icing agents that can cause the frame to rust and rear suspension parts to come loose.
The recall covers 563,711 Honda CR-Vs made between 2007 and 2011 and sold or ever registered in so-called "salt belts states," according to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Serious Damage Could Result
"In salt belt states where deicing agents are used to maintain the roadway, the deicing agents along with mud and water could enter the rear frame through drainage/positioning holes when the vehicle is driven through flooded areas or puddles at high speeds," the agency said.
Honda
Over time, NHTSA said, the accumulated mixture could cause corrosion to the frame's internal structure, which could lead to the rear trailing arm to fall off.
The rear trailing arms are two metal links that connect the rear axle to the body of a car. They allow the rear axle to move up and down freely while maintaining proper vehicle alignment.
The vehicles have already been recalled in Canada. Honda said it received 61 complaints from the U.S. market, but there have been no reports of injuries related to this issue NHTSA said.
There have also been no reports of occurrences in vehicles sold outside of salt belt states.
Spring Cleaning for Undercarriage
Dealers will inspect the SUVs and install a support brace or repair the rear frame if needed. If the frame is badly damaged, Honda may offer to buy the vehicle
Dealers were notified on or about March 31 and owners are scheduled to be informed by May 8.
CR-V owners who already paid to have corrosion repaired are eligible to have those costs reimbursed. Owners with questions can contact Honda at 1-888-234-2138 or NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.
The recalled CR-Vs were either 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.
As far salt and de-icing agents, AAA recommends frequently washing your vehicle, paying particular attention to the undercarriage to loosen, dissolve and neutralize road salts.
Many drive-through car washes offer an undercarriage rinse as an option.
And give the entire vehicle and undercarriage one last cleaning in the spring, AAA said, since any deposits left over from winter can continue to cause corrosion year-round if not properly removed.
And now, play ball!
