The 2005 Acura MDX is one of three models targeted by Honda's latest recall.
Honda continues to be plagued by safety-related problems that have resulted in it being at the top of the automotive recall list in recent years – the latest announcement targeting 250,000 vehicles sold worldwide due to potential brake problems.
More than 180,000 of the vehicles impacted by the new recall were sold in the United States through both the flagship Honda, as well as the upscale Acura, brands. Some of the vehicles were sold in Japan, Canada, Mexico and other parts of the world, according to the maker.
According to Honda, “If ann electrical capacitor on the VSA control unit was damaged during manufacture, the VSA system could malfunction and apply a small amount of brake force for a fraction of a second, without any input by the driver.”
“Further,” the maker adds, “if the driver applies the brakes during a VSA system malfunction, the amount of brake force applied could exceed the driver’s intended input. In either instance, unexpected brake activation could increase the risk of a crash.”
The three models targeted in the U.S. are the 2005 Acura MDX crossover and RL sedan, as well as the 2005 Honda Pilot. In all, about 182,000 of those models were sold in the States. Another 800 Acura MDX models are included in the recall.
The various models affected by the service action were sold under different names in other markets, such as the Japanese Honda Legand and StepWgn.
The maker plans to begin notifying owners next month and will make inspections and repairs at no charge. Honda says owners can also determine if they’re impacted by the recall by checking www.recalls.honda.com and www.recalls.acura.com or by calling (800) 999-1009 for Honda owners or (800) 382-2238 for Acura owners, and selecting option 4.
The announcement is just the latest in an ongoing series of safety-related headaches for Japan’s third-largest automaker. It recalled more vehicles than any other maker operating in the U.S. during 2011 and remained at the number two position, behind Toyota, last year. It has gotten off to a rough start for 2013 with a January recall that involved 748,000 vehicles sold in U.S. due to faulty airbags.