Honda is recalling over 259,000 vehicles in the U.S. due to a serious brake issue. This problem can cause the brake pedal to shift out of its proper position, which may prevent drivers from stopping their cars effectively.
The recall affects certain models of the Honda Pilot from 2023 to 2025, as well as the Acura TLX from 2021 to 2025 and the Acura MDX from 2023 to 2025. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released documents detailing the recall, explaining that a pivot pin in the brake pedal was not secured correctly during manufacturing. This could lead to unexpected braking or difficulty controlling the vehicle, increasing the risk of accidents.
Honda reported that drivers might notice unusual sensations when pressing the brake pedal, see the brake warning light on the dashboard, or have brake lights that stay on even when the pedal isn’t pressed.
To fix this issue, Honda will have authorized dealers inspect the affected vehicles and replace the brake pedal assembly if needed, at no cost to the owners. The company estimates that about 1% of the recalled vehicles might actually have this problem.
Notifications to dealers started on June 13, and Honda plans to send letters to vehicle owners by July 28. In the meantime, drivers can check if their cars are part of the recall on the NHTSA website or Honda’s recall lookup tool.
Since February 2024, Honda has received three warranty claims linked to this brake issue, but fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries. The company began investigating the problem in April 2024 after a report of a vehicle experiencing brake issues. They discovered that the improper assembly occurred at a supplier’s plant in the U.S., which has since closed. Production has now moved to a facility in Mexico, where new safety measures, including camera sensors to check the pivot pin, are in place to prevent future issues.