Honda to recall 33,000 Odyssey minivans over weak windshield wipers

Honda Motor Co. is recalling more than 33,000 2011 Odyssey minivans to fix faulty windshield wipers, according to a Friday report on the website of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

According to the recall notice, Honda is recalling 33,341 units of Odyssey minivans, all from the 2011 model year, in order to fix faulty windshield wiper rods, which may fail in cold weather.

The car company warned that if the wiper motor is switched on and the blades become frozen to the windshield, one of the front windshield wiper linkage rods may bend or separate from the motor due to lack of sufficient stiffness. This may lead to reduction in driver's forward visibility in adverse weather conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Honda said that dealers will have the weak rod replaced free of charge, and the safety recall is expected to begin on or before April 14, 2011.