# NHTSA recall 08V169000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

- Published by: NHTSA \(United States\)
- Campaign number: 08V169000
- Manufacturer's number: Q78
- Manufacturer: HONDA \(AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.\)
- Reported: 2008\-04\-11
- Owners notified: 2008\-07\-17
- Component: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
- Units potentially affected: 351000

## What is wrong

HONDA IS RECALLING 351,000 MY 2003 ACCORD VEHICLES.  IF WATER ENTERS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR BREATHER PORT, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW THE MOTOR TO VENT WARM AIR DURING NORMAL OPERATION, IT CAN RESULT IN CORROSION INSIDE THE MOTOR HOUSING.  THIS  CAN CAUSE A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BREAKER INSIDE THE MOTOR HOUSING.


## What can happen

IF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER FAILS, IT WILL CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, WHICH CAN INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A CRASH IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS.


## The remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FOR SIGNS OF CORROSION.  IF NO SIGNS OF CORROSION ARE PRESENT, A COVER WILL BE INSTALLED OVER THE WIPER MOTOR TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING THE WIPER MOTOR HOUSING.  IF SIGNS OF CORROSION DAMAGE ARE OBSERVED ON THE WIPER MOTOR, THE MOTOR WILL BE REPLACED.  THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 17, 2008.   OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1\-800\-999\-1009.


## Notes

HONDA RECALL NO. Q78.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1\-888\-327\-4236 \(TTY: 1\-800\-424\-9153\); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.


## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [2003 HONDA ACCORD](/makes/honda/accord/2003/recalls.md). Built 2002\-04\-17 to 2003\-09\-23.

## Investigated as PE07060

This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

- PE07060: Preliminary evaluation, opened 2007\-11\-29, closed 2008\-03\-05. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILURE. VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/08V169000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/08V169000/investigations)

## Bulletins for the same vehicles and component

A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.

- [040103](/bulletins/10003136.md), 2003-10-09, Service bulletin
- [03019](/bulletins/10001302.md), 2003-04-28, Service bulletin

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/08V169000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/08V169000)

[Report an error on this page](https://github.com/wenmar-pro/wenmar-open/issues/new?template=data_correction.yml&title=Data%20correction%3A%20NHTSA%20recall%2008V169000&page=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.wenmarpro.com%2Frecalls%2Fnhtsa%2F08V169000&vehicle=NHTSA%20recall%2008V169000)