WASHINGTON, DC — Honda is recalling 635,808 vehicles in the United States because of a problem with power steering assist software that could make some models harder to steer, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Tuesday.
The safety agency said the issue can push the electronic power steering system into a failsafe mode that turns off steering assist. That condition can increase the chance of a crash if the driver has to apply more effort to control the vehicle.
Honda said the repair will be handled by dealers at no cost to owners. The company will reprogram the electronic power steering control unit as the remedy.
Which Acura and Honda models are included in the recall
The recall covers certain 2021 through 2025 Acura TLX sedans, 2022 through 2024 Acura MDX SUVs and 2023 through 2025 Honda Pilot SUVs, according to NHTSA.
Those models span several recent production years, making the action one of Honda’s larger U.S. safety recalls tied to a software issue. The agency did not say in the notice that any injuries or crashes had been reported in connection with the defect.
Owners of affected vehicles are expected to receive recall notices with instructions on how to arrange the free software update through a dealer.
Why the steering assist problem raises safety concerns
Electronic power steering is designed to reduce the effort needed to turn the wheel, especially at low speeds and during parking maneuvers. When the system fails into a backup mode without steering assist, driving can become noticeably heavier and less predictable for the motorist.
NHTSA said that loss of assist can increase crash risk because the driver may need more force to steer the vehicle in an emergency or while making a quick correction. The agency’s warning centers on the possibility that a software fault, not a mechanical failure, could trigger the change in steering behavior.
That distinction matters because the recall response focuses on updating the software rather than replacing a hardware component.
What Honda dealers will do to fix the problem
Under the recall remedy, Honda dealers will reprogram the electronic power steering control unit free of charge. The update is intended to prevent the software from entering the failsafe mode that disables steering assist.
NHTSA said the repair is part of the broader recall process, which typically begins after vehicle owners are notified by mail. Once owners bring their vehicles in, dealers can apply the fix and return the car to service after the software update is completed.
Honda has not said in the notice how long the repair will take for each vehicle, but the fix is meant to restore normal steering assistance and reduce the safety risk identified by regulators.
How the recall fits into federal auto safety oversight
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration oversees vehicle defect recalls in the U.S. and can announce safety actions when it determines a risk to drivers. In this case, the agency identified a software issue affecting steering assistance and linked it to an increased crash hazard.
Recalls like this can involve both premium and mainstream vehicles, depending on the affected platforms and model years. Because the notice spans Acura and Honda nameplates, it reaches a broad group of owners across multiple vehicle types.
For drivers, the main takeaway is straightforward: if a recall notice arrives, the remedy is free, and Honda says dealers will handle the software reprogramming without charge.
What owners of affected vehicles should watch for next
Owners of the recalled vehicles should wait for official notice from Honda and then schedule service with a dealer once they are contacted. The recall covers only the models and years listed by NHTSA, so vehicle identification will matter when checking whether a car is included.
If the electronic power steering system enters failsafe mode, the vehicle may become harder to steer until it is repaired. Even though the fix is a software update, regulators are treating the issue as a safety matter because it affects the driver’s ability to control the vehicle.
Honda has said the work will be done at no charge, giving owners a clear path to have the recalled vehicles updated and returned to normal use.
Leave a Reply