Honda has issued a recall for approximately 2.5 million vehicles in the U.S. due to defective fuel pumps that can cause engine problems and stall vehicles while driving. The recall impacts Honda and Acura brand vehicles from the 2018-2020 model years.
Over 2.5 Million Vehicles Impacted By Fuel Pump Defect
The expansive recall covers around 2 million Honda Accord, Civic, CR-V, Odyssey, Pilot and Ridgeline vehicles in the United States. It also includes Acura ILX, MDX, RDX and TLX models.
In total, the following number of vehicles are impacted:
| Brand | Number of Vehicles Recalled |
|---|---|
| Honda | 1,621,818 |
| Acura | 807,000 |
The safety recall includes vehicles that were manufactured between 2018-2020. The defective Denso fuel pumps can fail and cause the engine to stall while driving, increasing the risk for crashes. So far, Honda has identified 187 cases of stalling related to this issue. At least two crashes have been linked to the problem.
Recall Comes After NHTSA Investigation Finds Safety Risk
The massive recall comes after an extensive investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The agency opened a probe in 2019 after receiving over 3,000 complaints about Honda vehicles stalling due to fuel pump problems.
In July 2022, NHTSA elevated the investigation to an engineering analysis – a step that often proceeds safety recalls. The analysis determined that impellers inside the fuel pumps experience excessive wear over time. The degradation can restrict fuel flow, causing engine problems and stalling.
NHTSA found that the rate of incidents increased significantly over the 3-5 year period it examined. It concluded there was a defect that posed an unreasonable safety risk and called on Honda to issue a recall.
Honda Says Repair Kits Will Be Available in Early 2023
Honda has apologized for the inconvenience of the recall and says they will begin notifying owners in February 2023. Repair kits to replace the defective Denso fuel pumps are currently not available, but Honda expects to have a sufficient supply by early next year.
Dealerships will install new fuel pumps with improved impeller materials at no cost to customers. The repair is expected to take less than an hour. Until repair kits are ready, Honda advises owners to pay close attention to their fuel gauge and refuel frequently to reduce the changes of stalling.
More Recalls Possible As NHTSA Probes Other Automakers
The Honda and Acura recall may just be the beginning. NHTSA has also launched investigations into defective Denso fuel pumps installed in vehicles from Toyota, Ford, General Motors and other manufacturers.
If NHTSA determines those vehicles also pose an unreasonable safety risk, additional recalls from major automakers could follow. With millions of cars on the road using pumps with similar impeller wear issues, this emerging problem has the potential to impact the auto industry on a large scale.
NHTSA is encouraging all drivers to report any fuel pump failures or stalling incidents through their safety hotline or website. The additional data will help inform next steps as regulators continue investigating the issue across different manufacturers.
For now, Honda owners can check NHTSA’s recall website or Honda’s own recall lookup tool to see if their vehicle is affected. The expansive scale of this single action highlights that quality issues can still slip through the cracks, even among the most prominent brands. But with regulators and automakers now aligned on addressing the defect, owners impacted by engine stalling and failure events can soon expect repairs that will help mitigate a substantial safety risk.
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