The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is recalling 6,545 Honda Civics powered with compressed natural gas because the fuel tank might rupture and perhaps rocket out of the car.
In the event of a severe fire in the area of the rear seat, NHTSA warns, the CNG tank may be heated unevenly preventing the pressure relief device from venting the contents of the as designed.
Federal safety regulators are concerned that the failure of the tank to properly vent could result in a tank rupture and even ejection of the tank from the vehicle.
The recalled Honda Civics are from the 1998 to 2007 model years. The natural-gas-powered vehicles are sold primarily in California and New York.
Honda dealers plan to install a heat insulation material in the rear seat back to remedy the fuel tank problem when parts are available.
Owners of the CNG Civics can contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009 or NTSA at 1-888-327-4236.
