According to foreign media reports, a few days ago, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that Honda Motor Company is recalling 259,033 vehicles in the United States due to improper brake pedal assembly.
The recall concerns the 2023-2024 Honda Pilot (184,253 units), the 2023-2025 Acura MDX (67,448 units), and the 2021-2025 Acura TLX (7,332 units). It is estimated that only 1% of recalled vehicles have this defect.
Honda Pilot; Image source: Honda Motor
“Due to manufacturing deviations from suppliers, the pivot pins of brake pedals on some models may not be properly riveted, which can cause the brake pedal to shift, which in turn can cause unexpected braking, or affect the driver’s ability to safely slow down or stop, increasing the risk of vehicle collision or injury to the driver and passengers,” Honda said in a statement. The problem can also cause abnormal foot feel when the brake pedal is operated, the dashboard brake failure light comes on, or the brake light stays on even when the brake pedal is not depressed. ”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration pointed out that the defect stemmed in part from Honda’s failure to improve the training system due to the rapid expansion of production line personnel when preparing to transfer the production line from the US plant to the Mexican factory.
Honda began investigating brake pedal failure after receiving a report of the problem in its vehicles in April 2024. So far, Honda has confirmed 3 cases of related warranty claims, but has not received any reports of casualties.
The recall report states that the company subsequently determined that improper assembly of the brake pedal pivot pin occurred at a supplier’s U.S. plant, which is now closed. Production has been moved to a plant in Mexico, where the supplier is currently using camera sensors “to confirm if the pivot pins have been riveted.”
Owners of affected vehicles can take the vehicle to an authorized Honda or Acura dealership, where the brake pedal will be inspected and replaced as needed. In addition, vehicle owners who pay for these repairs at their own expense may be eligible for cost reimbursement from dealers under the recall compensation program submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Dealers have been notified of the recall from June 13 to 15, and owners expect to receive it on July 28.
