Honda and Acura Recall Issued Over Brake Master Cylinder Failure, Accident Risk

American Honda Motor, Co. has issued a recall impacting more than 124,000 Honda Civic, Passport, Ridgeline, Pilot and Acura MDX vehicles, which are equipped with brake master cylinders that may fail during normal operation of the vehicle, increasing the risk of an auto accident.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Honda and Acura recall on July 3, after the manufacturer confirmed a defect in the assembly of the brake master cylinders may cause the cylinder to separate from the booster assembly and subsequently fail.

Officials warn that a brake master cylinder separation and failure event can occur without warning while the vehicle is moving, and can diminish or cause complete failure of the vehicle’s braking function, hindering the driver’s ability to stop the vehicle.

The affected brake master cylinder is attached to the brake booster inside of the engine compartment firewall, and is an essential component which the entire brake system relies on in order to function properly. Once the brake pedal is activated, brake fluid is forced through the cylinder to build hydraulic pressure, which is then applied to pistons and forces friction against the wheel hubs to stop the vehicle.

However, in the event the brake master cylinder separates from the brake booster assembly and fails, the braking system function will also fail and the vehicle will lose its ability to stop.

Honda initially became aware of the issue in December 2020, after the automaker’s manufacturing facility found a nut missing from the tie rods of a vehicle’s brake booster assembly. While Honda states they promptly notified their part supplier to prevent further incidents, an investigation was later opened in December 2022, after the automaker received a report of a braking system failure in a 2021 Honda Pilot.

The automaker determined that the issues stemmed from an improper assembly during the manufacturing of the braking system. According to the recall report, the tie rod fasteners used to connect the brake master cylinder to the brake booster may have been improperly fastened, resulting in unsecured or absent tire rod nuts. Due to the missing parts, the tire rods can sustain uneven pressure and bend or break when the brake pedal is applied, causing the master cylinder to detach from the brake booster.

While no accidents or injuries have been reported in relation to the recall, Honda has received at least two warranty claims related to the issue.

The Honda and Acura recall impacts approximately 124,077 vehicles, including;

• 2020 – 2021 Honda Civic
• 2020 – 2023 Honda Ridgeline
• 2021 – 2023 Honda Passport
• 2021 – 2022 Honda Pilot
• 2020 Acura MDX

Honda expects recall notification letters to be mailed to registered owners beginning August 7, with instructions on how to schedule an appointment with an authorized Honda or Acura dealer to receive free vehicle inspection and replacement of damaged brake booster assembly components and any missing tire rod nuts.

For more information on the recall, owners may contact Honda customer service by phone at 1-888-234-2138 and reference recall VEU, AEV, or ZET. They may also contact the NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline by phone at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or visit their website at www.nhtsa.gov.