Honda Announces Recall of Over 259,000 Vehicles in the US for Brake Pedal Problem: Essential Details You Need to Know

NEW YORK — Honda is issuing a recall for over 259,000 cars in the U.S. due to an issue that could cause the brake pedal to move out of position, which might impair the driver’s ability to stop or decelerate.

The recall, detailed in documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, involves specific Honda Pilots from the 2023 to 2025 model years, as well as vehicles from Honda’s luxury line, Acura: namely, the 2021-2025 Acura TLX and 2023-2025 Acura MDX models.

According to the NHTSA’s recall notice, the problem stems from a brake pedal pivot pin that was inadequately secured during manufacturing. This flaw can allow the pedal to shift from its intended position and may cause “unintended application,” thereby heightening crash risk.

“The issue could also cause an abnormal brake pedal feeling during operation, illuminate the brake malfunction light in the instrument cluster, or cause the vehicle’s brake lights to remain lit even when the brake pedal is not applied,” America Honda said in a statement Wednesday.

As a remedy, Honda says authorized dealers will inspect the vehicles covered by this recall and replace the brake pedal assembly if necessary, free of charge. Per the NHTSA’s report, the company estimates 1% of these vehicles have this issue.

Dealer notifications began on June 13. And mailed owner notification letters are set to follow on July 28. In the meantime, drivers can also confirm if their specific vehicle is included in this recall and find more information using the NHTSA site or Honda’s recall lookup.

Between February 2024 and June 5, the NHSTA notes, Honda received three warranty claims related to this issue – but no reports of injuries.

Honda began investigating the faulty brake pedal in April 2024, after receiving a report of a vehicle experiencing this issue. The company later determined that improper assembly of the brake pedal pivot pin occurred at a supplier’s U.S. plant, which has since been closed. Production was transferred to a plant in Mexico – where the supplier now uses a camera sensor “to verify whether the pivot pin is staked,” the recall report notes.