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HomeBulletinsHonda A18-072
Manufacturer communication · Service bulletin

Honda bulletin A18-072

Honda filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Oct 15, 2019, received Jul 16, 2018, about the power train — 2 documents under this number. It names 2 model years (2016). A service bulletin is not a safety recall: it is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a condition, and whether the work is paid for depends on the warranty in force. Quoting the number at a service desk can save a diagnosis.

What the bulletin says

Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communication

Service Bulletin - When cold-starting the engine and shifting to Reverse, the engine stalls in the first 10 to 14 seconds. There is too much oil clearance between the input and stator shafts, which allows ATF to drain out of the torque converter during extend off periods. During a cold start, when the torque converter is refilled, air gets trapped in the torque converter. This applies the lock up clutch, which stalls the engine.

Kind Service bulletin Manufacturer date Oct 15, 2019 Received by NHTSA Jul 16, 2018 Components Power Train, Engine And Engine Cooling, Engine First dated Jul 3, 2018

Documents filed under this number

DocumentKindDatedNHTSA id
A18-072Service bulletinOct 15, 201910166783
A18-072Service bulletinJul 3, 201810142672

The summary is NHTSA’s abstract of the document, as filed under 49 CFR 579.5; the full text comes from the manufacturer or a dealer. One communication is usually filed as several documents — the bulletin, a dealer notice, an owner letter — and the number on any of them finds this page. Quote it at a service desk; it is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.

Model years it names

Source: as the manufacturer filed them

A vehicle page’s bulletin list shows the newest few communications filed against that model year; the count there is every one.

Common questions

Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5

Is Honda A18-072 a recall?

No. A service bulletin is a manufacturer communication filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR 579.5; a safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number (two digits, a letter, six digits) and a federal duty to repair for free. Check the vehicle’s recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or on its page here.

Is the A18-072 repair free?

Not automatically. A service bulletin describes how to diagnose or repair a condition; who pays depends on the warranty in force, any extension, and the dealer. Quoting the number can save a diagnosis either way.

Which vehicles does A18-072 cover?

The manufacturer filed it against 2 model years: 2016 Honda Accord, 2016 Honda CR-V. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.