DETROIT: US safety regulators are investigating some Honda Odyssey minivans because they can brake without the driver pressing the pedal.
The probe affects nearly 344,000 vans from the 2007 and 2008 model years.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it has received 22 complaints from owners about unexpected braking. In some cases, the vans braked while drivers were accelerating, cutting the speed by up to 30 miles per hour. Five people told the agency that dealers found trouble in a steering angle sensor in the electronic stability control system.
The agency said it has no reports of crashes or injuries.
Investigators will determine if the problem happens frequently enough to seek a recall. The agency opened the case this past Tuesday.
The problem is similar to one that resulted in the recall of about 250,000 vehicles worldwide in March. That problem was caused by improper electronics and wiring in the electronic stability control system, which automatically applies brakes to individual wheels if vehicles are out of control.
In that case, Honda Motor Co recalled more than 183,000 vehicles in the US, including the Acura RL, Acura MDX and Honda Pilot SUV. It recalled another 56,000 in Japan, affecting the Odyssey, Legend, StepWgn and Elysion models. Also recalled were nearly 8,000 vehicles in Canada, nearly 1,000 in Australia, about 300 in Mexico and 70 in Germany. The vehicles were produced from March 2004 through May 2006.
Jordan Q1 growth rises to 2.6pc
AMMAN: Economic growth in Jordan picked up to 2.6 percent year-on-year in the first quarter from 2.2 percent in the fourth quarter, central statistics office data showed yesterday.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said earlier this year it expects the economy to expand above 3 percent in 2013, reflecting an increase in government capital spending, a recovery in exports and higher domestic consumption.
Agencies
