More than 635,000 Honda and Acura vehicles are being recalled nationwide due to a dangerous software defect that can cause drivers to suddenly lose power steering assistance, dramatically increasing crash risk and putting American families in danger on our roads.
Which Vehicles Are Affected
The recall covers 383,110 Honda Pilot SUVs from 2023 through 2025 model years, 177,100 Acura MDX SUVs from 2022 through 2024 model years, and 75,598 Acura TLX sedans from 2021 through 2025 model years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Honda reported one injury and 146 warranty claims related to this dangerous defect as of October 22, though fortunately no deaths have been connected to the steering failures.
The problem stems from improperly configured electronic power steering software developed by automotive supplier Robert Bosch Automotive Steering. When the defect triggers, the steering system enters failsafe mode and completely shuts off power steering assistance. While drivers can still physically steer their vehicles, doing so requires significantly more effort, making the vehicle harder to control during critical driving moments.
Timeline of the Growing Problem
Honda first received reports of this steering issue back in November 2021 but continued investigating additional complaints over subsequent years. The supplier finally identified the specific software failure in August 2025, and Honda successfully reproduced the problem in December of that year. By February 2026, Honda confirmed the defect occurs only under certain operating conditions while vehicles travel straight.
Despite knowing about this safety issue for nearly five years, Honda only determined on October 22 that the defect posed a motor vehicle safety risk serious enough to warrant a recall. This delayed response raises questions about how long American drivers have been operating potentially dangerous vehicles without warning.
What Vehicle Owners Must Do Now
Affected vehicle owners need to bring their cars to authorized Honda or Acura dealerships, where technicians will reprogram the electronic power steering control unit with updated software to fix the dangerous defect. Honda plans to begin mailing owner notification letters on December 14. Vehicle owners can immediately check whether their car is subject to this or any open recall by entering their vehicle identification number at the NHTSA website. This free check takes only minutes and could protect your family from a potentially life-threatening steering failure.
Sources
Foxbusiness: Honda recalls more than 635,000 vehicles over steering defect that increases crash risk