Honda Motor America announced a recall covering 880,514 vehicles in the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported on Wednesday. The recall targets specific examples of the Honda Pilot, Ridgeline and Passport, as well as the Acura MDX.
According to the NHTSA notice, selected vehicles are susceptible to failure of rear suspension components. The agency identified the rear control arm and related subframe parts as potential points of failure that could result in loss of handling and control. NHTSA said such failures increase the risk of a crash or injury.
As the corrective action, Honda dealers will perform inspections of the rear subframe on the affected vehicles. Where required, dealers will install a rear subframe reinforcement kit. In addition, if inspection reveals damaged parts, those rear subframe components will be repaired or replaced at no cost to the vehicle owner.
The recall notice lists the specific vehicle nameplates included - Honda Pilot, Ridgeline and Passport, and the Acura MDX - and states the total number of vehicles in the United States subject to the action as 880,514. The NHTSA communicated the risk as related to rear suspension components, citing the potential for compromised handling and an elevated risk of crash or injury.
Honda's chosen remedy comprises a three-step process carried out through its dealer network: inspection of the rear subframe, installation of a reinforcement kit when indicated, and repair or replacement of rear subframe components if necessary, with no charge to owners. The NHTSA notice provides these measures as the path to address the identified safety concern.
Clear summary
Honda Motor America is recalling 880,514 U.S. vehicles across several Honda and Acura models due to the risk that rear suspension components may fail, which could cause loss of handling and increase the likelihood of a crash or injury. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, reinforce or repair rear subframes at no cost to owners.
Key points
- The recall covers 880,514 vehicles in the United States, including Honda Pilot, Ridgeline, Passport and Acura MDX models.
- The safety concern centers on rear suspension components - including the rear control arm and rear subframe - which could fail and cause loss of handling and control.
- The remedy involves dealer inspection, installation of a rear subframe reinforcement kit, and repair or replacement of rear subframe components where required, free of charge.
Risks and uncertainties noted in the announcement
- Failure of rear suspension components could lead to loss of handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- The recall affects a large population of vehicles in the United States - 880,514 - but the notice does not specify what fraction of those will require repairs beyond inspection.
- The notification outlines the inspection and repair steps but does not include timing details for when inspections and reinforcement kit installations will be completed for all affected vehicles.