A manufacturing defect in the fuel injection system software has prompted Honda to issue an urgent safety recall affecting approximately 295,000 vehicles across the United States. The recall comes after internal monitoring detected a serious software error that could cause engines to suddenly shut down while driving, potentially leaving motorists stranded or worse – at risk of a collision when their vehicle unexpectedly loses power.
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Which Models Are Affected by the Honda Recall?
The recall specifically targets three popular models across Honda and its luxury Acura brand:
- 2023–2025 Honda Pilot SUVs
- 2022–2025 Acura MDX Type-S SUVs
- 2021–2025 Acura TLX Type-S sedans
All affected vehicles contain an improperly programmed fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) installed during manufacturing. This software defect can trigger engine stalling or significant power loss when drivers make sudden changes to the throttle position.
Understanding the Safety Risk
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Honda have identified that this defect creates a considerable safety hazard. When an engine stalls unexpectedly, especially at highway speeds or in heavy traffic, drivers can lose critical functions like power steering and power brakes, making the vehicle difficult to control.
“Due to improper programming of the FI-ECU, sudden changes in the throttle could illuminate the check engine light and cause the engine to lose drive power, hesitate and/or stall,” Honda explained in their recall announcement from late January 2025.
While Honda has reported no confirmed crashes or injuries related to this defect as of mid-January 2025, the company isn’t taking any chances with customer safety. The proactive recall demonstrates Honda’s commitment to addressing potential safety issues before they result in accidents.
How Honda Will Fix the Engine Stall Problem
Fortunately for vehicle owners, the fix is straightforward and won’t require extensive mechanical work:
- Authorized Honda and Acura dealers will reprogram the FI-ECU software with an updated version containing the proper settings
- The software update will be performed free of charge to all affected owners
- The repair can typically be completed during a single service appointment
Honda plans to begin sending official notification letters to registered owners around mid-March 2025, though owners don’t need to wait for this letter to take action.
What Vehicle Owners Should Do Now
If you own one of the potentially affected models, here’s how to proceed:
- Verify if your specific vehicle is included in the recall by visiting Honda’s recall website or the NHTSA’s recall lookup page and entering your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- Contact an authorized dealer to schedule the free software update once you confirm your vehicle is affected
- Exercise caution if you notice symptoms such as engine hesitation, stalling, or an illuminated check engine light
- Keep an eye out for the official recall notice from Honda, expected to arrive by mail in mid-March 2025
Vehicle owners can also call Honda customer service at (888) 234-2138 for additional information about this recall.
This recall serves as an important reminder of how software bugs in modern vehicles can create significant safety issues – but also how these problems can often be resolved with a relatively simple update rather than complex mechanical repairs.
