Honda faces a massive recall over dangerous software glitch
Apart from the Detroit Big Three automakers, the Japanese automaker Honda has earned a reputation as a trusted name among many Americans. Many drivers in the country dedicate space on their driveways and parking spots to the Tokyo-based brand’s vehicles, such as the popular CR-V crossover SUV, the Accord sedan, or the compact Civic.
Like its fellow Japanese rival Toyota (TM) , Honda cut its teeth by making high-quality, reliable, and long-lasting cars that can easily last multiple decades of use while still retaining their original engines. Even as automakers load up modern cars with touchscreens and technology, they still share the roads with Accords and Civics, which are decades older than the average TikTok user.
💰💸 Don’t miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet’s free daily newsletter💰💸
But even as automakers grapple with ever-changing regulations, Honda still ranks among the best-selling cars in the nation. They electrified their lineup and incorporated the latest technology to make their gas-powered cars use less fuel.
According to data from Kelley Blue Book, two of the top ten bestselling vehicles in the United States are Hondas. The fifth best-selling car in the country is the CR-V, which sold 402,791 units in 2024, while the popular Civic sedan and hatchback was the tenth best-selling car, with over 242,005 units leaving dealers last year.
Despite this, Honda is not entirely free from flaws, as a new development affecting its vehicles can present a dangerous situation for its drivers.
Honda
According to documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Honda’s American division is recalling over 295,000 vehicles across their Honda and Acura brands due to an issue that can put drivers and other occupants in danger out on the road.
The issue affects vehicles equipped with V6 engines, specifically the ones under the hood of the 2022 to 2025 model year Acura MDX Type S, the 2021-2025 TLX Type S, and the 2023-2025 Honda Pilot. According to the automaker, the engines are at risk of stalling without warning, which can initiate a loss of engine power and, consequently, pose a danger to occupants—especially if the vehicle is moving at highway speeds.
According to NHTSA documents, the root of the problem is a software glitch in the affected cars’ fuel system computer, where “sudden changes in the throttle opening” can reduce engine power or stall the engine altogether.
More Automotive:
- Mitsubishi considers an exit from Honda-Nissan merger
- U.S. tariff plan won’t work for the auto industry
- Subaru mistake exposed many owners to big risk
A [trusted] parts supplier is at the root of the issue
NHTSA documents say the root cause of the issue originates with a part made by the Japanese parts supplier Denso.
Denso, which Toyota partially owns, supplied Honda with the fuel system computers, known internally at Honda as the FI-ECU. The FI-ECU controls the fuel injection system, and recall documents note that settings on the “correction control logic of the airflow rate and fuel injection volume were improper.”
In simple terms, engines in all cars (besides EVs, of course) stall when insufficient air or fuel enters the engine and fails to turn over. Denso stated the computer settings controlling the amount of air and gasoline going into the engine made it much more prone to stalling, which can cause a crash.
According to NHTSA documents, Honda first noticed the problem in early December 2023 by reviewing telematics data. In April 2024, Denso told Honda about the software issue. On January 9 this year, Honda established the stalling issue and issued a recall a week later.
Honda says that the stalling issue has not led to any injuries or crashes. However, it has triggered 674 related warranty claims. It is offering affected owners a free fix to resolve the issue, which is a simple software update that will be administered at Honda and Acura dealers.
Honda says it will notify affected owners by mail in March.
Related: Honda cars are the subject of a new federal probe
Popular Honda cars have had other recent major recalls
This recall comes amid an uncharacteristic streak for Honda.
Though it is not determined to be a recall, the new NHTSA probe comes amid an uncharacteristic recall streak affecting Honda cars.
On Nov. 8, the NHTSA started looking into 1.4 million Hondas and Acuras due to an issue that could cause the engine to fail catastrophically. According to the agency, cars equipped with a certain V6 engine can suffer from a manufacturing defect that can lead to engines failing while running.
On October 22, Honda recalled over 720,000 more cars over issues regarding the high-pressure fuel pump installed in 2025 Honda Civics and Civic Hybrids, 2023 and 2024 Accords, and 2023-2025 CR-V Hybrid, where cracks caused by a manufacturing error can cause a fuel leak and an increased fire risk.
On October 9, over 1.7 million units of the Honda Civic, CR-V, HR-V, and Acura Integra spanning the 2022 to 2025 model years were recalled after Honda received 10,328 warranty claims regarding “sticky steering” caused by defective steering gearbox problems.
In its reports, the NHTSA said it received reports of 13 crashes related to the issue.
Honda Motor Co. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange as HMC
Related: Veteran fund manager issues dire S&P 500 warning for 2025
#Honda #faces #massive #recall #dangerous #software #glitch
