Honda Malaysia is undertaking what it calls a “product update campaign” for its Stream, involving 2008 to 2010 model year vehicles, with a total of 1,494 units involved. This is aimed at addressing a technical irregularity involving the water pump pulley bolts, caused by a burr around the periphery of the bolt-mounting hole.

Essentially, a burr is a raised edge formed from the machining operation, which in drilled holes can cause issues, such as that happening here with the Stream.

Honda Malaysia said in a statement that owners with affected units may observe a few symptoms including the constant display of warning lights on the speedometer and a noise from water pump. In the long run, the burr will cause the pulley bolt to become loose and the bolt may break.

When that happens, the auxiliary belt will loosen and eventually detach from the alternator. As the supply of current is interrupted, the electric power steering assist will gradually come to a halt that makes maneuvering difficult. There is also a possibility that the engine may stall.

Upon inspection, all affected units will be replaced with new water pump pulley bolts. The company is in the midst of preparing the replacement parts, and necessary inspection and replacement will be carried out when the parts are ready. Honda Malaysia added that all current selling models are not affected.

Meanwhile, in related news, reports say that Honda will be recalling about 200,000 passenger cars globally due to the issue above. The company said it had received 63 customer reports in Japan of engine malfunctions as a result of the defect, but said none had led to accidents.

In Japan, it will recall 50,122 units of the Stream, Civic and Crossroad that were made at its domestic plants between July 2008 and July 2010. “Globally there are some 200,000 cars, including those in Japan, with similar troubles,” a Honda spokesman said, adding that it would recall about 100,000 units in South America and 6,800 in Europe.

Honda Malaysia has announced details of its customer reward campaign for 2011 – the campaign, aimed at rewarding current Honda owners and potential customers in both routine maintenance and after-sales services, runs from today until August 31 at all authorised Honda dealers.

Throughout the period, existing customers who bring in their cars for service – at any amount spent – will be in the running for a lucky draw to win more than 1,600 service vouchers every month as well as 20 units of Apple iPad 2s and the grand prize, an Insight hybrid.

Some terms and conditions – cars with under 40,000 km mileage being sent in for service will get one lucky draw entry, while those above 40,000 km mileage bag one lucky draw entry as well as a 20% discount on labour cost for the next service. Meanwhile, Accord and Insight owners who purchase Modulo packages for their respective rides will get three lucky draw entries. Time for that service then, eh?

Honda Malaysia announced today that production at its Alor Gajah plant will resume full output of two shifts by 1 August. Not only that, the Melaka plant will also try to boost production by operating additional hours on weekdays and Saturdays to catch up with the shortage of supply from April through July.

“Honda associates in Japan have worked tirelessly with our suppliers since the disaster in March to recover the supply of component parts from Japan. Hence, we are pleased to announce that we are able to resume full production much earlier than previously expected,” said Honda Malaysia MD and CEO Yoichiro Ueno.

Ueno also added that HM will resume taking new bookings of the Insight Hybrid from today (1 June), after suspending order taking on 7 April. The RM99,800 CBU from Japan Insight has been a hit since Honda launched it at KLIMS 2010 – Honda sold 1,830 units of it in the first quarter of 2011.