Today appears to be a day dominated by recalls. Fresh off of a recall of the Kawasaki Ninja H2R in Australia, Honda’s->ke291 joining in on the fun by announcing its own recall in Japan involving 29,232 motorcycles spanning 37 different models.

That’s a jaw-dropping number by any stretch of the imagination. Unfortunately, that’s the reality facing Honda after it was discovered that all of these models have problems with their starters. According to Honda, the specific issue involves the starter magnetic switch, which may not have gotten enough waterproof treatment, rendering them susceptible to excessive heat that could damage the bike’s fuse or the wiring harness.

Should this happen, a bike’s engine could stall at any moment or worse, lead to a short circuit of the starter magnetic switch that could end up catching fire.

Obviously, anytime the word “fire” is mentioned in any recall, owners need to pay serious attention. It’s not like something like this can just be swept under the rug and ignored completely.

Honda has made this recall an important priority and has promised to immediately inspect the problematic starter magnetic switches and, if need be, replace them with non-defective parts. Honda also said that it will replace the wire harness on affected bikes if it’s determined that these harnesses are showing any signs of damage.

For now, all the affected bikes are from Japan, but there’s also that possibility that models in other markets, including the US, could issue a similar recall if it’s determined that there are affected models in their respective regions.

Keep a close eye on this recall because I wouldn’t be surprised if the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) issues a similar recall sooner than later.

Continue reading to read more about Honda’s massive recall in Japan.

Why it matters

This is a different kind of recall from the Kawasaki Ninja H2R simply because of the sheer number of affected models. 29,232 models is no joke, people. The fact that all of these affected models are all located in Japan speaks to the magnitude of the issue Honda’s facing right now.

It’s not quite a crisis just yet, but if similar models in other markets are found to have the same issue with their starters, then this problem could blow through the roof for Honda.

The good thing is that some of the models - the CB400 Super Bol D’or - identified with this problem can only be found in Japan while other models can be found in a small number of markets. But on the flip side, there are also models that have strong presences in Europe and North America, not to mention other markets in Asia. That’s the potential headache Honda’s facing if the recall issue in Japan somehow finds itself in other markets too.

I hope that it’s not as bad as the incredible total of affected models in Japan. But I’d prepare myself for the worst, just in case the doodie hits the proverbial fan.

Check out all the affected models in Japan and see whether you own any one of them. If you do, it might be a good idea to have it checked in your local Honda dealerships just to be on the safe side.

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