Japanese car maker Honda recently issued a massive recall, affecting some of its most popular models.
Honda recalled more than 120,000 vehicles in its luxury Acura division over the possibility of sudden brake failure, according to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Honda’s latest recall stems from a loose tie rod fastener on the brake booster assembly and the brake master cylinder. If these were to separate, it could cause the driver to experience “diminished, or loss of, brake function, increasing the risk of a crash or injury,” the report explained.
“The brake master cylinder may have been improperly fastened to the brake booster assembly during production, resulting in loose or missing tie rod nuts,” a description of the defect by Honda read. “During application of the brake pedal, a bending load may occur upon the brake booster assembly tie rod studs.”
As a result, Honda explained that “the tie rod studs may break, leading to the brake master cylinder separating from the brake booster assembly and a failure to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.”
As of June 22, Honda had received only two warranty claims between September 2022 to June 2023 related to the loose fastener.
Neither Honda nor NHTSA have received reports of crashes, injuries, or deaths related to this issue, according to the recall report.
The models and years impacted by the recall include certain 2020-2021 Civics, 2020-2023 Ridgelines, 2021-2023 Passports, 2021-2022 Pilots, and the 2020 Acura MDX, according to NHTSA.
In total, 124,077 model vehicles reportedly risk failure of their braking system, Honda said in a notification to federal safety regulators on June 29.
Honda owners impacted by the recall can bring their vehicles to the nearest Honda dealership for a free inspection and repair. If the fastener is not properly connected, the dealer will remedy this and replace any suspect parts.
Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed by August 7. In the event that registered owners have already paid for the necessary repairs themselves, they may be eligible for reimbursement.
Registered owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda’s codes for this recall are VEU, AEV, and ZET.
“Honda will send mailed notices to owners of affected vehicles, but concerned owners may determine if their vehicles are included in the recall now by visiting recalls.honda.com, recalls.acura.com, or calling their local dealers,” Brad Nelson, assistant manager for Honda Public Relations, told The Dallas Express. “Each owner of a recalled vehicle is encouraged to schedule an appointment for the free inspection as soon as possible.”
