Dive Brief:
- Honda Motor Co. has issued a recall for up to 294,612 vehicles to update engine control unit software that may lead to stalling or a sudden loss of power, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- The recall includes certain 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type-S, 2023-2025 Honda Pilot SUV, and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type-S vehicles equipped with either 3.5L or 3.0L V6 engines.
- To address the recall, Honda dealers will reprogram the ECU software in the vehicles at no cost. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed by March 17.
Dive Insight:
Honda discovered the problem in December 2023 after observing a trend of increased “torque monitor data” collected from telematics information in the vehicles, according to the NHTSA report.
On April 17, 2024, Honda’s ECU supplier Denso International America notified the automaker of a potential on-board diagnostic issue with the units, including incorrect “correction control logic settings” that monitor air flow rate and fuel volume.
Honda investigators began analyzing vehicle data on June 6, 2024, which included monitoring any additional symptoms other than those already noted. Honda’s months-long investigation continued through Dec. 16.
As a result of its findings, Honda engineers concluded on Jan. 9 that the ECU software error could lead to engine stalling. The automaker also determined that the defect posed a motor vehicle safety risk and elected to issue the recall for the nearly 295,000 vehicles on Jan. 16. Honda dealers were notified of the recall on Jan 28.
As of Jan 16, Honda has received 674 warranty claims related to the stalling issue; however, there are no reports of injuries or crashes. An estimated 1% of the recalled vehicles is suspected of having the software defect.
Honda has consistently ranked among the industry’s most reliable car brands. In December, Consumer Reports ranked the automaker as the fourth most reliable brand out of 22 automakers, behind Subaru, Toyota and Lexus. But Honda issued several large recalls in 2024, and is also the focus of a recent NHTSA safety probe for engine failures.
In October, Honda recalled approximately 721,000 vehicles for a potentially defective high-pressure fuel pump that could crack and develop a leak, increasing the risk of fire. Also in October, Honda recalled another 1.7 million vehicles for a steering gear manufacturing defect.
On Nov. 8, the NHTSA opened a safety probe of Honda for potential engine failures in approximately 1.4 million vehicles produced between 2016 and 2020. The probe comes after the NHTSA received 173 reports of connecting rod bearing failures on vehicles equipped with six-cylinder engines. The probe is ongoing.
