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Honda and Acura brake recalls: leaks, weak stopping and shifting pedals
These five hydraulic brake recalls split between assembly mistakes and fluid leaks. The most serious is a brake booster tie rod fastener improperly assembled on 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. A second assembly defect, an unsecured brake pedal pivot pin, lets the pedal shift out of position on 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot models. Leaks account for much of the rest: a vehicle stability assist modulator ball valve on 2023 Civic, Acura RDX and Integra and 2022 Accord, and grease-fouled ABS modulators on 2019-2020 CB500X and CBR500R motorcycles. Insufficient caliper piston coating weakened rear braking on 2017-2019 Acura MDX and 2018-2019 HR-V and Odyssey models.
Warning signs to watch for
- Brake pedal that travels farther than usual before the brakes bite
- Pedal that sits out of position or moves oddly under your foot (TLX, MDX, Pilot)
- Reduced rear braking performance and longer stops
- Vehicle moving unintentionally while the brake hold feature is engaged
- Brake fluid leaking from the ABS modulator on affected CB500X and CBR500R motorcycles
Is it safe to keep driving?
No stop-driving or park-outside order accompanies any of these five, including the critical brake booster recall — but that one, where losing brake function can cause a crash with little or no warning, should be inspected right away. The same urgency applies to the brake pedal pivot pin and the VSA modulator leak. Riders of affected CB500X and CBR500R motorcycles should have the ABS modulator checked before riding much further. The rear caliper coating recall is the least urgent, but schedule it soon.
What the free repair involves
Everything is done free of charge, and none of it is over-the-air. Dealers inspect and repair the brake booster assembly, inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, and check the ABS modulator lot number on the motorcycles, replacing the modulator if affected. The VSA modulator is replaced outright, and the rear caliper recall is remedied by bleeding the brakes.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 1 |
| high | 4 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-06-12 | Acura and Honda brake pedal can shift out of position | high |
| 2023-06-29 | Honda Civic, Pilot and Acura MDX Brake Failure Risk | critical |
| 2023-06-15 | Acura RDX and Integra brake unit can leak fluid | high |
| 2021-09-02 | Honda CB500X and CBR500R motorcycles may leak brake fluid | high |
| 2018-11-01 | Honda and Acura rear brakes may stop poorly | high |
Common questions
How urgent is the brake booster recall on my Pilot or Passport?
It's the most severe in this group. The tie rod fastener joining the brake booster and master cylinder may have been improperly assembled, and losing brake function can cause a crash with little warning. Honda doesn't order owners to park, but get inspected immediately.
Why does my car creep when brake hold is engaged?
A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist modulator can leak brake fluid on 2023 Civic, Acura RDX and Integra and 2022 Accord vehicles, causing unintended movement with brake hold on or a pedal that travels farther. Dealers replace the modulator.
Is bleeding the brakes really enough for the rear caliper recall?
That's Honda's stated remedy. Insufficient coating on the rear brake caliper pistons lets gas pockets form and reduces brake performance, so Honda or Acura dealers bleed the brakes free of charge on the affected MDX, HR-V and Odyssey models.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.