Recall: 344,000 Honda Odyssey minivans for sudden braking

Honda is recalling 344,187 Odyssey minivans for stability control systems that can apply the brakes without necessity or warning, according to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Yaw sensors on 2007-2008 Honda Odyssey models can allow the brakes to build hydraulic pressure if they fail to calibrate the vehicle's physical orientation and steering angle on each startup. If there is too much pressure in the brake lines, "heavy and unexpected" braking can result without the driver tapping the brake pedal and without any brake lights flashing, Honda said.

In June, the NHTSA opened an investigation into the 2007-2008 Odyssey after receiving 22 owner complaints of sudden braking, which in some cases caused "vehicle speed to drop by as much as 30 mph in a very brief amount of time." Honda said it had received 109 warranty claims and 205 additional reports of sudden braking starting in April 2012. No injuries or accidents have been reported, Honda said.

Honda said it did not have any new yaw sensors available and dealers would not fix the cars until parts arrive in March 2014. In the meantime, Honda will send out letters in December instructing owners how to calibrate the stability control system to prevent sudden braking and how to deal with the problem if it occurs while driving. Those instructions should be available on www.recalls.honda.co​m or by calling Honda at 1-800-999-1009.

Honda has had several problems with its stability control systems on other models. In April and July, Honda recalled nearly 92,000 Fit hatchbacks due to a stability control system that allowed the car to skid at a greater angle than allowed by federal requirements.

In March, Honda recalled nearly 250,000 vehicles for a similar problem to the Odyssey in which the stability control system was inadvertently applying the brakes. This problem, which affected the 2005 Pilot, 2005 Acura RL and 2005-2006 Acura MDX, was due to damaged electrical capacitors that could send false signals that the vehicle was sliding and apply the brakes for a "fraction of a second," Honda said. If the driver were to brake at the same time, the computer could increase the braking force, due to a feature called brake assist, without the driver's input.

Earlier model years of the Odyssey have been affected by other major recalls. In September, Honda recalled 404,700 minivans and SUVs, including the 2003-2004 Odyssey, to fix airbags that could deploy inadvertently.

Honda recalled 870,000 models in December 2012, including the 2003-2004 Odyssey, for faulty ignition interlocks that could let them roll away unexpectedly. The 2002-2004 Odyssey were also recalled in 2004 for faulty transmissions that could lock up, and the 2003 Odyssey was recalled in 2003 for leaking fuel tanks.

[Source: NHTSA]


Source: MSN