MARCH 2010 - Honda has notified NHTSA of a defect in certain model year 2007 and 2008 Odyssey and Element passenger vehicles manufactured between July 28, 2006 and August 21, 2008. Air can enter the VSA modular pump during an initial self-check process that occurs shortly after each time the engine is started.It is possible for enough air to enter the system to result in a brake pedal that feels soft or lower to thefloor. If the owner does not have any brake service or maintenance performed over a period of months or years, the system can continue to accumulate enough air to affect braking performance, increasing the riskof a crash. Honda will notify owners and Honda dealers will repair the VSA modulator by removing any existing air in the brake system then apply sealant and caps to prevent air from entering the brake system free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during May 2010.  10V-098

NEWS:   Honda to recall 410,000 vehicles for brake problem

YAHOO NEWS – March 16, 2010 – Honda Motor Co. will recall more than 410,000 Odyssey minivans and Element small trucks because of braking system problems that could make it tougher to stop the vehicle if not repaired.

The recall includes 344,000 Odysseys and 68,000 Elements from the 2007 and 2008 model years.

Honda said in a statement that over time, brake pedals can feel "soft" and must be pressed closer to the floor to stop the vehicles. Left unrepaired, the problem could cause loss of braking power and possibly a crash, Honda spokesman.....said.

"It's definitely not operating the way it should, and it's safety systems, so it brings it to the recall status," he said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported three crashes due to the problem with minor injuries and no deaths, Martin said. Honda notified NHTSA of the recall on Monday, he said.

Honda has traced the problem to the device that powers the electronic stability control system, which selectively brakes each of the wheels to keep the vehicles upright during an emergency situation.

When the device, called a "vehicle stability assist modulator," tests itself when the vehicles are started, it allows a small amount of air into the hydraulic brake lines. Over time, an air bubble in the lines can cause a loss of braking power and require that the pedal be pushed farther toward the floor than normal to stop the vehicles, said.

"Although not all vehicles being recalled are affected by this issue, we are recalling all possible units to assure all customers that their vehicles will perform correctly," Honda said in a statement.

Under the recall, which Honda said it volunteered to do, Honda said that owners should wait to get a letter from the company before scheduling a repair because the parts are not yet available. Letters should go out toward the end of April.

Drivers who fear that they've lost braking power should have their dealer check the brakes sooner, ...said. The dealer can "bleed" air bubbles out of the hydraulic lines, which should fix the problem until the parts arrive for the final repair, he said.

Honda technicians will put plastic caps and sealant over two small holes in the device to stop the air from getting in, ... said.

The automaker is still preparing a list of affected vehicles. After April 19, owners can determine if their vehicles are being recalled by going to http://www.recalls.honda.com or by calling (800) 999-1009, and selecting option number four.

The safety recall is Honda's second in the past two months. In February it recalled 952,118 vehicles globally due to air bag problems.

It comes on the heels of Toyota Motor Corp.'s spate of safety recalls that include more than 8 million vehicles worldwide for braking and sudden acceleration problems.

One of the Toyota recalls is a braking software problem that causes the pedal of the Prius gas-electric hybrid to momentarily drop toward the floor.

Ford Motor Co. had a similar software problem with its Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids. The company told owners of 17,600 cars to bring them in for a software update because a glitch can give drivers the impression that the brakes have failed when they haven't.

The automaker called the repairs a "customer satisfaction program" and said it was not a full-fledged recall.

MORE RECALL INFO

• Honda Odyssey
• Honda Element

FEBRUARY 2010 -- Honda is conducting a safety improvement campaign involving certain model year 2005 Odyssey Touring vehicles equipped with power operated rear liftgate. The power liftgate gas struts may deteriorate unexpectedly early. Struts that have worn out prematurely may fail to hold the power liftgate in the fully open position, causing the power liftgate to close unexpectedly. Injury may result from a power liftgate closing unexpectedly when a person is within the closing path of the liftgate. Dealers will inspect the gas liftgate struts and replace if within the recall population. This service will be performed free of charge. The campaign is expected to begin during March 2010.  10V-055

FEBRUARY 2010 -- Honda is recalling certain model year 2001-2002 Honda Accord and Civic, model year 2002 CR-V and Odyssey, model year 2002-2003 3.2TL and one vehicle for model year 2003 Honda Pilot, Civic and Acura 3.2CL passenger vehicles. The driver's airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure. If an affected airbag deploys, the increased internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. Metal fragments could pass through the airbag cushion material possibly causing injury or fatality to vehicle occupants. Dealers will replace the airbag inflator free of charge. The safety recall began on February 26, 2010. Owners may contact . 10V-041

FEBRUARY 2009 --  Honda is recalling 421 MY 2009 Odyssey vehicles. During assembly, incorrect front brake hoses were installed. The brake hose can contact the caliper bolt and over time a hole may develop which will allow brake fluid to leak. This would eventually result in reduced brake system performance. Drivers would not be aware of brake system failure and braking capability would not be possible, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will inspect both front brake hoses and replace with the correct brake hoses free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2009. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.  09V-057

NEWS:    Engine problems force Honda recall

WASHINGTON - March 19, 2007 - Honda Motor Corp. said Monday that it was recalling about 165,000 vehicles from the 2005-06 model years in the United States to deal with potential engine problems

Honda said the recall affected 2005 models of the Acura RL, TL and TSX sedans, 2005 Honda Accord coupes, sedans and hybrids, 2005 Odyssey minivans and 2006 Ridgeline trucks.

The move is part of a global recall because of similar problems, said Honda spokesman Chris Martin. Details on the total number of vehicles and the number of countries where the vehicles were sold were not immediately available, he said.

Martin said the automaker discovered that sealer material leaked onto a coil wire inside the fuel pump relay on some of the vehicles. The wire can become brittle and snap, causing the engine to stall or fail to start.

NEWS:   Honda to recall minivan

August 4, 2005 - Detroit Free Press - Honda Motor Co. will recall thousands of its Odyssey minivans amid concerns that potentially faulty sensors for the front air bag system could make a warning lamp on the instrument panel remain illuminated, the company said Wednesday.

Honda said the recall involves 85,154 Odyssey minivans from the 2005 model year. The company said the two sensors near the front bumper could be susceptible to corrosion from road salt, leading the warning light to turn on.

The warning light indicates a malfunction and instructs the driver to have the vehicle repaired. The company said in a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that some of the sensors were insufficiently sealed during manufacturing.

Sara Pines, a Honda spokeswoman, said there have been no reports of the front air bags improperly deploying or failing to deploy and there have been no injuries associated with the sensors.

Owners will be notified beginning in late August and dealers will replace the sensors at no additional cost to the consumers.