2007 Honda Odyssey

Last week, Toyota recalled a total of 740,000 vehicles.  This week, because it uses the same supplier for some of its brake components, Honda is recalling almost 472,000 vehicles for the same issue – leaking brake fluid can cause loss of pedal pressure and result in more effort required to stop an affected vehicle.  Interestingly, the only vehicles mentioned in the recall are the Acura RL and Honda Odyssey, which nobody would suspect of sharing braking components.  Click past the jump for the press release and details.

Even if they couldn’t be more different – a flagship luxury sedan and a people-mover, the RL and Odyssey must share brake master cylinders, the components in your braking system that amplifies your pedal effort to stop your car.

2006 Acura RL

The recall affects 2005-2007 Acura RLs and Honda Odysseys, so if you own one, expect to get a recall notice from Honda in the near future.

Honda gets a nod for their quickness in identifying the supplier and issuing a recall on this matter, but seriously, it seems like it’s Recall Month on Road Reality!

Show Press Release

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s): ACURA / RL 2005-2007 HONDA / ODYSSEY 2005-2007 Manufacturer: HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) Mfr’s Report Date: OCT 21, 2010 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V504000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

Potential Number of Units Affected: 471820

Summary: HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ODYSSEY AND ACURA RL VEHICLES. BRAKE FLUID CONTAINING POLYMERS IS USED THAT ACTS AS A LUBRICANT FOR CERTAIN BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. IF REPLACEMENT BRAKE FLUID IS USED THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN SUCH POLYMERS, OR THAT CONTAINS ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS, A PART OF THE RUBBER SEAL LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BECOME DRY, AND THE SEAL MAY CURL DURING MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON. IF THIS OCCURS, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID COULD SLOWLY LEAK FROM THE SEAL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.

Consequence: A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID COULD LEAD TO A CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL AND OVERTIME A DEGRADATION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER SEAL FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.

Notes: OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TOHTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

by John Suit

Source: NHTSA

Related posts:

1. Honda to recall 412,000 vehicles over brake issue
2. Toyota’s Problems Continue: New Brake System Recall
3. Honda recalls 7,600 2006-2007 Ridgeline trucks over … kicks?

2007 Honda Odyssey

In the current recall frenzy, automakers are very quick to announce recalls, and I personally think it’s a good thing.  Just yesterday, Honda announced a recall for brake issues with the Element and Odyssey vehicles.  The recall includes some 2007-2008 Elements and Odysseys.  Read on for more details.

Approximately 344,000 Odysseys and 68,000 Elements are being recalled, for a total of about 412,000 vehicles.

The issue stems from the Vehicle Stability Assist modulators, also known as VSA, which modulates the brakes as well as other systems to help prevent rollovers.  According to Honda, a defect during the manufacturing process can cause a “miniscule amount of air” to get into the brake system during a self-check.  Over time, usually months or years, those small bits of air can add up to a soft brake pedal feel, or worse, the pedal getting closer and closer to the floor before the brakes effectively slow the car.

2007 Honda Element

The reason the air causes such problems in a braking system is because of the extreme pressures in a car’s brake lines and the fact that the brake fluid used in cars compressed less than air.  When the air is compressed, the driver is left with a soft pedal and required pedal pressure in order to slow the car, whereas a system with no leaks would react more quickly.

Owners should expect to be notified via mail in the second half of April.  You can also go to www.recalls.honda.com or call 1-800-999-1009 and select Option 4.

by John Suit

Source: Honda

Related posts:

1. Update: Toyota to Recall 3.8 Million Vehicles over Gas Pedal issue
2. Nissan to recall 539,864 vehicles for brake pins, fuel gauges
3. Honda Recalls Odyssey, Acura RL because of Shared Supplier