Honda recalls 273,000 U.S. Acura TL Sedans

Honda Motor Co. is recalling 273,000 of its 2004 to 2008 Acura TL sedans to fix a power-steering hose that may crack from engine heat, leak and possibly cause a fire.

A separate recall affects 129,600 of the 2004 and 2005 models because corrosion can cause a windshield-wiper motor to fail. Information on both actions was posted Friday on the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Web site

The TL is the top-selling car in the U.S. for the Tokyo- based automaker's Acura division. Honda sold 58,545 of the model in 2007, an 18 percent drop from the previous year. In December, Honda recalled about 43,000 Acura RL sedans for a similar problem with the power-steering hose.

Prolonged high temperatures under the hood can result in a cracked hose, which can allow fluid to leak, the automaker's Torrance, Calif.-based U.S. unit said in a letter to the safety agency. The fluid may leak onto a hot catalytic converter, leading to an engine fire, Honda said.

Honda plans to install a new heat-resistant hose, William Willen, a lawyer for the U.S. unit, said in a letter posted on NHTSA's Web site.

The windshield-wiper motor in the 2004 and 2005 models can shut down if water gets in through an air vent, corroding the motor housing and causing an electrical circuit breaker to fail, Willen said in a separate letter.

Dealers will inspect those vehicles to check wiper motors and replace them if there are signs of corrosion, Honda said. Even if no corrosion is found, a tube will be added to prevent water from seeping in, the company said.