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Why do Honda transmissions, driveshafts and shift levers keep getting recalled?
Across these six Honda power train recalls, two storylines repeat. On the motorcycle side, shifting hardware comes apart: a circlip on the transmission main shaft of 2018 CBR300R, CRF250L and CRF250L Rally, 2018-2019 CMX300 and 2019 CB300R bikes can detach and misalign gears, while gear shift arm fasteners on 2024 CB650R and CBR650R models, and the gearshift pedal pivot bolt on the 2025 CB1000SP Hornet SP, can loosen and fall off. On the car side, hybrids and minivans dominate: the 2023 CR-V Hybrid and Accord Hybrid e-CVT can lose drive power, 2021 Acura RDX and 2022 CR-V Hybrid front driveshafts were improperly heat-treated, and 2018-2019 Odyssey TCU reboots can leave the van able to roll away after parking.
Warning signs to watch for
- Gear lever feels loose or suddenly won't shift on a CB650R, CBR650R or CB1000SP Hornet SP
- Rear wheel locking up while riding an affected 300-class Honda
- Odyssey that rolls after you park, or a transmission that shifts itself into Park
- Loss of drive power in a 2023 CR-V Hybrid or Accord Hybrid
- The improperly heat-treated driveshafts can fail suddenly with no advance warning
Is it safe to keep driving?
None of these six recalls carries a stop-driving or park-outside order from Honda or NHTSA. The two-wheel ones are the most urgent: the notice on the 300-class transmission circlip says to get it repaired before riding further, and Honda's guidance on the CB650R and CBR650R gear shift arm is to avoid riding until the free repair is done. For the 2018-2019 Odyssey and the RDX/CR-V Hybrid driveshafts, driving is acceptable, but set the parking brake every time you park. Schedule the e-CVT repair right away.
What the free repair involves
Repairs are hardware-first and always free. Dealers replace the transmission main shaft on the affected 300-class motorcycles, the gear shift arm on CB650R and CBR650R bikes, and the gearshift pedal pivot bolt on the CB1000SP. Cars get a new front driveshaft or a new e-CVT. Only the Odyssey recall involves software: dealers secure the battery terminals, update the TCU, and check parking rod effectiveness. No fix is over-the-air.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 1 |
| high | 5 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-23 | Honda CB1000SP Hornet shift lever bolt may fall out | high |
| 2025-02-20 | Honda CB650R and CBR650R gear shift arm can fall off | high |
| 2023-08-17 | Honda CR-V, Accord Hybrid transmission may lose power | high |
| 2021-12-02 | Acura RDX and Honda CR-V Hybrid driveshafts may break | high |
| 2019-06-04 | Honda CB300R, CBR300R and CRF250L transmission can lock up | critical |
| 2019-04-12 | Honda Odyssey may roll away after being parked | high |
Common questions
Can I still ride my CB300R or CRF250L before the recall repair?
The notice calls a rear wheel that locks while moving very serious and says to get it repaired before riding further. Dealers replace the transmission main shaft free of charge; Honda customer service is at 1-866-784-1870.
Why does my Odyssey need a battery check for a transmission recall?
Loose battery terminal connections or a degraded battery can make the Transmission Control Unit reboot. On rebooting, the TCU may shift the transmission into Park, which can damage the parking mechanism and let the van roll away after it's parked.
Does the CR-V Hybrid recall mean a whole new transmission?
Yes. Honda says the electronic transmission in 2023 CR-V Hybrid and Accord Hybrid vehicles may have been improperly manufactured, and dealers replace the e-CVT free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 11, 2023.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.