'The Pedal [Could] Shift Out of Position:' Honda Recalls a Quarter-Million Cars Over Faulty Brake Pedals

Honda has issued a recall for 259,033 vehicles in the United States. The cars may have a brake pedal assembly with an improperly staked pivot pin, which could allow the pedal to shift laterally out of position. If this happens, it could compromise the driver's braking ability and cause a crash.

The recall affects the 2023-2025 Honda Pilot, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and the 2021-2025 Acura TLX. The Pilot makes up most of the recalled cars—184,243 vehicles. Honda estimates that one percent of the affected models have the defect.

Honda received its first report of a vehicle experiencing brake pedal movement in April 2024. It received a second report in December 2024 and began investigating the parts inventory from the supplier in February 2025 before determining, earlier this month, to issue a voluntary recall.

Honda discovered that when the supplier relocated production from the United States to Mexico, it increased staffing and production to offset any supply shortages. However, the staff failed to perform the staking process due to insufficient training, resulting in brake pedals with unstaked pins. 

In the Safety Recall Report, Honda states it's not aware of any reported injuries or deaths related to this issue. However, it is aware of three related warranty claims. The company will begin notifying affected customers by the end of July, instructing owners to take their vehicles to a dealer for an inspection. Service technicians will replace the assembly if necessary.