Honda is recalling nearly 721,000 vehicles due to possible fuel leaks

Diving certificate:

• According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, America’s Honda Motor Co. recalled nearly 721,000 vehicles in the U.S. last week because of a potentially defective high-pressure fuel pump that could crack and cause leaks that could increase the risk of fire.
• The recall affects certain 2023-2024 Honda Accord and Accord Hybrid models, 2023-2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid, and 2025 Honda Civic and Civic Hybrid models. The vehicles were produced between November 2022 and September 2024.
• Customers are advised to visit a dealer to have the fuel pump checked or replaced if necessary. Owner notification letters are expected to be sent on December 4, 2024.

Insight into the dive:

Honda was first made aware of the issue on February 11, 2023, after receiving the first warranty claim for the issue. Following the lawsuit, Honda received a market quality report on the issue and commenced an investigation on March 3, 2023.

As the investigation progressed, Honda increased the priority of its market quality report on April 17, 2023 and continued to investigate the issue with its Tier 2 supplier and fuel pump manufacturer Hitachi Astemo.

After Honda investigators confirmed the presence of a fuel leak and smell of steam, the automaker decided to stop shipping the affected vehicles on September 23, 2024. The automaker then issued a voluntary safety recall on October 7, 2024.

According to the NHTSA report, Honda received 145 warranty claims for the problem from February 23, 2023 to September 2024, but no reports of injuries. The exact number of vehicles with potentially defective fuel pumps was determined from manufacturing records and is estimated to be approximately 1% of recalled models.

The recall report cited improper machining of the fuel pump’s solenoid components as the cause of the defect, which can result in cracks in the solenoid housing that can cause fuel to leak when the pump is pressurized.

An updated fuel pump production process was completed by Honda’s supplier at the end of August and the The redesigned pump was introduced into vehicle production around September 5th.

The recall is the automaker’s second this month after up to 1.7 million Honda and Acura vehicles were recalled because of a manufacturing defect in the steering gear.

According to the NHTSA, Honda has now conducted 12 separate recalls in 2024. However, it is far less than some of its competitors. Ford Motor Co. has issued 52 recalls so far this year, while Stellantis subsidiary FCA US has issued a total of 54 recalls.