Honda is initiating a significant safety recall in the United States, impacting more than 259,000 vehicles due to a potentially hazardous brake pedal issue. The defect could compromise a driver’s ability to safely slow down or stop their vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The recall covers specific models across both the Honda and Acura lineups.
Affected Models and Years
According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall includes:
Certain 2023-2025 Honda Pilot SUVs (over 184,000 potentially affected, produced Dec 2022 – Nov 2024)
Certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX sedans (over 7,000 potentially affected, produced Oct 2020 – Feb 2025)
Certain 2023-2025 Acura MDX SUVs (over 67,000 potentially affected, produced May 2023 – Nov 2024)
In total, the recall involves 259,033 vehicles based on manufacturing records.
The Defect Explained
The issue stems from the brake pedal assembly where the pivot pin, which allows the pedal to move, may not have been properly secured or “staked” during the manufacturing process.
This improper securing can cause the brake pedal to shift out of its intended position. If the pedal moves, it could interfere with effective braking and may even lead to unintended application of the brakes.
Symptoms of this defect could include:
An abnormal feeling when pressing the brake pedal.
The brake malfunction warning light illuminating on the dashboard.
The vehicle’s brake lights remaining illuminated even when the pedal is not being pressed.
Root Cause and Scale
The root cause of the problem was traced back to a supplier, Otsuka Koki Co., Ltd. The defect occurred during a production transition from the supplier’s U.S. facility to a plant in Mexico. Insufficient training during this move reportedly led to the staking process being missed or performed incorrectly. Further compounding the issue, a quality check system designed to detect these omissions (a QR code scanner) malfunctioned and was disabled to maintain production flow, allowing the defective parts to go undetected.
Despite the large number of vehicles included in the recall, Honda estimates that only about 1% of the recalled population actually has the defect.
Safety Record So Far
As of early June 2024, Honda had received three warranty claims related to this brake pedal issue since February 2024. Importantly, the automaker states that it has not received any reports of crashes or injuries linked to this specific defect.
What Owners Should Do
Honda is urging owners of potentially affected vehicles to take this recall seriously and have their vehicle inspected.
The remedy involves authorized Honda and Acura dealerships inspecting the brake pedal assembly. If the inspection reveals the defect, the entire brake pedal assembly will be replaced. This inspection and any necessary repair will be performed free of charge to the owner.
Dealer notifications began on June 13, 2024. Mailed notification letters to registered vehicle owners are scheduled to be sent out starting July 28, 2025.
In the meantime, owners can check if their specific vehicle is included in this recall by using the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) lookup tools available on the NHTSA website or on Honda’s official recall lookup portal.
Owners who may have already paid for repairs related to this issue could be eligible for reimbursement. Honda’s internal recall numbers for this issue are FLX and XLY, and the NHTSA campaign number is 25V39. Owners with questions can contact Honda customer service for more information.
