Toyota and Honda want to Win Back Sales Share from Hyundai Sonata with New Models

Not too long ago, if someone told you that a South Korean model would challenge America’s best selling sedan, the Toyota Camry, you would have probably laughed in his or her face.
Needless to say, a lot has changed over the past few years with Hyundai and in particular its latest Sonata sedan, not only challenging, but this past May even surpassing the Camry in U.S. sales for the first time in history.
Of course, the fact that Toyota’s production capabilities were seriously affected by the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan, played a significant role in Hyundai’s accomplishment.

Honda Accord was Also Caught Up in the Same Spider Web as the Mazda6

It seems that the petrol-sniffing Yellow Sac spider that forced Mazda to issue a recall on some 52,000 cars in the USA last week has a thing for mid-size Japanese sedans as the eight-legged arthropod also caused problems to Honda in the past. According to reports, Honda posted a Technical Service Bulletin in the summer of 2009 alerting its dealers to check Accords for possible infestation by the Yellow Sac spider, but had not issued a recall then.

“Spider webs are clogging the EVAP canister vent hose or the drain box,” said Honda’s service bulletin with the corrective action being to clean the webs and install a spring in the drain box.

Now, in the wake of the Mazda6 recall, Honda reportedly told its dealers to be on the lookout for the same spider in 2008-2009MY Accords.

But while in the Mazda6 the spider webs could cause air pressure problems in the gas tank potentially leading to a crack and fuel leakage, Honda says that’s not the case with the Accord. "It's just not happening in our cars," Honda spokeswoman Christina Ra told CNN. The company said that in the Accord, the spider webs create blockages with the only visible symptom being a "check engine" light coming on.

Sources: USA Today & CNN

PHOTO GALLERY

2007 Honda Accord Concept in Detroit

Honda showed The New Generation Honda Accord Coupe at Detroit. The new cut has not Been Officially released as a concept for now. Nevertheless, officials of Honda do not keep The Fact optometrist showed Almost The Standard version Educate the public. The Car Will not Be Exported to Europe, but on The Local Market At The request of the New Accord fit ou promised high.

2007 Honda Accord Concept in Detroit

Honda showed The New Generation Honda Accord Coupe at Detroit. The new cut has not Been Officially released as a concept for now. Nevertheless, officials of Honda do not keep The Fact optometrist showed Almost The Standard version Educate the public. The Car Will not Be Exported to Europe, but on The Local Market At The request of the New Accord fit ou promised high.