A recall is being issued for approximately 412,000 Honda Odyssey minivans and Honda Element sport utility vehicles (SUVs) due to brake problems that have caused a number of crashes.
The Honda brake recall was announced on Tuesday by American Honda Motor Co., Inc. after the Japanese automaker received complaints that the brakes in certain 2007-2008 model year vehicles felt “soft” and lost effectiveness over time.
Defective manufacturing allows air to slowly enter into the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) modulator, which is part of the brake systems of the recalled vehicles, Honda said. This results in the brakes not engaging until the pedal is pushed closer to the floor than usual, and the Honda brake problems may worsen over time.
The Honda recall comes about a month after the company was forced to expand an airbag recall that now encompasses more than 826,000 2001 and 2002 model year Honda vehicles. The Honda airbag problems can result in the airbags exploding, sending deadly shrapnel into the passenger compartment. At least one person has been killed and several others injured by defective Honda airbags.
Honda said it has received reports of several crashes and at least three minor injuries as a result of the Element and Odyssey brake problems, but no serious personal injury or deaths have been attributed to the problem.
The company says that the defect does not affect all of the recalled vehicles, however the company decided to recall all of them “to assure all customers that their vehicles will perform correctly,” the Japanese automaker said in its statement. Recall notifications will be mailed to registered Honda owners at the end of April, the company has announced.
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