Honda Expands Sudden Fuel Pump Failure Recalls

American Honda Motor is recalling more than 2.5 million gasoline and hybrid vehicles because the Denso-made fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. In the required safety defect report just made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Honda said the fuel pump impeller was improperly molded, resulting in low density impellers. Over time, the low-density impeller can deform and interfere with the fuel pump body, making the fuel pump inoperative. If the fuel pump module is inoperative, the engine may not start or can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

This is an expansion of previous fuel pump safety defect recalls. The latest Honda recall affects 2018-2020 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2020 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2017-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles.

Chronology

• 21 May 2020: Honda determined that a defect related to motor vehicle safety existed and decided to conduct a safety recall (NHTSA ID no. 20V-314).
• 19 March 2021: Honda determined that a defect related to motor vehicle safety existed and decided to conduct a safety recall (NHTSA ID no. 21V-215).
• 11 September 2023: Honda observed a trend of incidents in vehicles outside of the affected population in Japan and restarted its investigation of the defect.
• 29 October 2023: Honda analyzed the recovered parts and continued to investigate.
• 1 December 2023: Honda decided to conduct a foreign safety recall of certain vehicles in Japan and China. (NHTSA ID no. 23F-254). Honda continued to investigate and analyze the issue for other countries.
• 12 December 2023: After confirming the affected population of vehicles expanded, Honda determined that a defect related to motor vehicle safety existed and decided to conduct a safety recall.
• As of 12 December 2023, Honda has had 4042 warranty claims, and no reports of injuries or deaths related to this safety defect from January 2018 through 12 December 2023.

Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge as required by US safety regulations. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 5 February 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda’s numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov. about NHTSA recall 23V858.