2017-2020 broken tailgate harness causes backup camera failure

6 months now since original notice and we are still waiting notification to take our Ridgeline in to clear this recall from our records?
Bill

Own a 2019 RTL-E. Like others got the recall notice several months ago. Camera finally stopped working and I called nearest dealer for appointment to fix/replace -- they said come on in. Went in on 5/15 and was greeted with the news that this visit was only to "photograph and confirm the problem so we can send to Honda". So I had made a two hour round trip because they didn't believe me that I had a dead device. The (dis)service advisor said it would be "weeks" before part comes in. And then another two hour round trip...
Called another stealership and same deal but with the news that they had no idea when parts would start showing up, and none have so far, for this recall. This time asked them to call me when the supply chain opens up for the recall.
Amazing that Honda would risk safety issues like this. Producing a wiring harness isn't rocket science.

orrsislander said:

Amazing that Honda would risk safety issues like this. Producing a wiring harness isn't rocket science.

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It's actually closer than you might think. Honda doesn't make wiring harnesses. This harness was made by Aptiv (formerly Delphi), who deviated from Honda's design without Honda's knowledge or approval in a way that Honda's assemblers did not notice. In order to replace all the affected harnesses, Aptiv has to make replacements in addition to continuing to make harnesses for new vehicles - that's why recalls like this that require parts can take some time to complete. If you're going to blame someone, blame Aptiv.

zroger73 said:

It's actually closer than you might think. Honda doesn't make wiring harnesses. This harness was made by Aptiv (formerly Delphi), who deviated from Honda's design without Honda's knowledge or approval in a way that Honda's assemblers did not notice. In order to replace all the affected harnesses, Aptiv has to make replacements in addition to continuing to make harnesses for new vehicles - that's why recalls like this that require parts can take some time to complete. If you're going to blame someone, blame Aptiv.

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Actually it’s fair to blame Honda. Honda is responsible for their supplier’s components. Supplier quality should have caught this issue.

Cbayman said:

Actually it’s fair to blame Honda. Honda is responsible for their supplier’s components. Supplier quality should have caught this issue.

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Wouldn't that depend on just how obvious the deviation was? I am pretty sure that no vehicle manufacturer disassembles every third party component manufactured for them?
Bill

Cbayman said:

Actually it’s fair to blame Honda. Honda is responsible for their supplier’s components. Supplier quality should have caught this issue.

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If I get shocked in your home due to a missing ground conductor on a receptacle, should I blame you for not removing the cover and receptacle to ensure the ground wire was attached or should I blame your electrician for failing to do their job?

Though, it could be interesting to find out if Honda is researching any other manufacturer(s) that could help expedite providing replacement harness's rather than just waiting on the one?
Bill

You would only blame me if it were the 240V outlet for an EV charger that I wired myself😀. Actually, I think you would blame me regardless. It would be up to me as the home owner to seek resolution with my electrician (or the authority that signed off on the inspection). The point is Honda is responsible for the parts that are in their cars. If a supplier screws up it’s on the OEM to fix it. That’s being an OEM; you are responsible for all the components in a vehicle. I’m sure Honda has a supplier quality assurance program and this issue made it thru whatever screens they had in place.

wjfyfe said:

Wouldn't that depend on just how obvious the deviation was? I am pretty sure that no vehicle manufacturer disassembles every third party component manufactured for them?
Bill

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No but there supplier screening and sample testing requirements that are supposed to catch problems before the problem causes a safety recall.

The company I work for has had two major product recalls over the years. One of them was due to a design change intended to simply wiring that was not properly thought through and introduced a potential safety risk. We fixed the ones within a reasonable driving distance and reimbursed customers for an electrician to fix the ones where that was cheaper than travel expenses.

The other was due to the wrong viscosity of hydraulic fluid being used in a gas valve actuator that resulted in the gas valve closing more slowly than required by code. The actuators were FM-approved devices that were not to be disassembled. We had neither the knowledge, authority, equipment, nor responsibility to validate that the correct hydraulic fluid was installed. The manufacturer of the actuator sent us replacements, reworked the actuators, or reimbursed us for replacing the actuators with a different brand and model on a case-by-case basis after we notified the customers of the recall.

zroger73 said:

It's actually closer than you might think. Honda doesn't make wiring harnesses. This harness was made by Aptiv (formerly Delphi), who deviated from Honda's design without Honda's knowledge or approval in a way that Honda's assemblers did not notice. In order to replace all the affected harnesses, Aptiv has to make replacements in addition to continuing to make harnesses for new vehicles - that's why recalls like this that require parts can take some time to complete. If you're going to blame someone, blame Aptiv.

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I think I will continue to blame Honda since I bought the truck from them, not Aptiv...

Except in the case of the tires. History has shown that auto manufacturers while held to the bar for certain items (overloading like Firestones years ago on Explorers) defer to tire manufacturers when tires fail prematurely in the warranty period. Otherwise in the case of Aptiv even though they are guilty of defective products, Honda is the assembler and takes the heat and responsibility when defective. Same as those defective wireless chargers as it appears Samsung or their likeness sells them to Honda and about 100 other manufacturers.

Well, I guess if it makes y'all feel better, I suppose you can sit back, complain, and blame whomever you want, but my best guess is that it ain't going to make a lick of difference in getting those harnesses to us any quicker?
Bill

My 2017 RTL-E camera failed first week of January 2023. Into dealer in Missoula on Jan 19th, 2023 for official inspection and ordering of new wire harness per recall notice. I'm still waiting on replacement harness - 4 months now. Numerous calls to dealer to check in and have had service writer promise to check on parts and call me back - twice - no call back... This is getting NUTS... Denny Menholt University Honda - do better.