Honda Hood Problems Result in Recall of 725K SUV, Pickup Trucks at Risk of Latch Opening Unexpectedly

Air flowing under the hood could cause the latch to fail, causing the hood to open during operation.

Honda is recalling nearly 725,000 SUVs and pick-up trucks after more than 100 reports of hood latch problems, which could result in the hood opening while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a car accident.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Honda hood problems recall on November 29, due to design defects that involve a gap between the hood latch striker and hood to grill gap, could cause the latch to fail. There have been no collisions or injuries associated with the hood latch problem reported to date.

Testing performed by American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) between July 2016 and October 2021 revealed that the hood to grill gap setting could allow greater than expected air pressure, resulting in hood vibration under certain driving conditions. This vibration could cause stress fractures in the hood latch striker resulting in a mechanical failure where the hood could open during operation and obstruct the driver’s view.

Honda reports that 116 warranty claims have been made by consumers over this issue.

The recall impacts model year 2016 to 2019 Honda Pilot vehicles,  model year 2017 to 2020 Honda Ridgeline vehicles , and model year 2019 Honda Passport vehicles. An estimated 724,826 vehicles are included in the recall.

Honda is requiring all dealerships which currently have these vehicles on their lots to perform inspections to determine if the hood is repairable. The repairs needed range from removing and replacing the striker plate and bolts to replacing the entire hood if necessary. This same inspection and repair is being made available to current owners of affected Honda Pilots, Passports, and Ridgelines free of charge.

Honda plans to mail notification letters to owners beginning January 17, 2022. Consumers seeking more information about the recall can contact Honda at 888-234-2138 for additional information.