Recalls are part of the manufacturing world. Recently, Honda announced a fuel pump recall that affects many vehicles on the road in the United States.
When we talk about car brands and overall reliability, Honda is almost always near the top of the list. Just because this brand is one of the best in the business and easily an excellent choice most of the time, doesn’t mean it’s without some challenges. Vehicle recalls are part of driving a car. They happen all the time and help ensure vehicles stay safe.
What are the details of this Honda recall?
The fuel pump in your car does exactly what the name suggests; it pumps fuel from the gas tank to the engine. If this part fails, your vehicle could fail to start or stall while driving. This can create an extremely dangerous situation in which you might lose control or suddenly slow down without warning while driving. Thankfully, Honda hasn’t received any reports of crashes or injuries associated with this recent recall yet. Still, its important to get out ahead of the problem when there is one, which is what Honda is trying to do.
How many vehicles are impacted?
The Honda fuel pump recall impacts nearly 2.6 million Honda and Acura vehicles in the United States from model years 2017-2020. Honda will replace the fuel pumps at no charge to owners. It’s important to check your specific VIN to learn whether or not your vehicle is part of the recall before heading to your local Honda or Acura service center. The list of affected models are:
Acura Models
- 2018-2020 ILX
- 2018-2020 MDX
- 2018-2020 MDX Sport Hybrid
- 2017-2020 NSX
- 2018-2020 RDX
- 2018-2020 RLX
- 2018-2020 TLX
Honda Models
- 2018-2020 Accord
- 2017-2020 Accord Hybrid
- 2018-2020 Civic
- 2018-2020 Civic Type R
- 2018-2019 Clarity Plug-in Hybrid
- 2018-2020 CR-V
- 2020 CR-V Hybrid
- 2018-2019 Fit
- 2018-2020 HR-V
- 2019-2020 Insight
- 2018-2020 Odyssey
- 2019-2020 Passport
- 2017-2020 Pilot
- 2018-2020 Ridgeline
What’s caused this recall?
The fuel pumps used in these models were improperly built. The impeller was improperly molded, which results in low-density impellers. This can cause the fuel pump to fail due to deformity and interference with the fuel pump body. When the fuel pump is rendered inoperative, the engine could fail to start or stall while driving, which creates a dangerous situation that requires a recall to be issued.
How long will it take the fuel pump to be replaced?
It should take less than four hours for Honda and Acura service centers to complete the Honda fuel pump recall work. This involves removing the old, defective pump and replacing it with a new model. It’s a good idea to have less than half a tank of gas in your vehicle when you bring it to the service center to have this work performed. If the tank is above half, the service team will need to pump out enough gas to get to this level before replacing the fuel pump.
Is there a delay in this recall service?
The original announcement of this recall took place in December 2023, with letters going out in February. These letters have gone out, but many state the new fuel pumps won’t be available until the fall. This could cause some owners to become frustrated. Some wonder what to do if the part fails between now and when the fuel pumps are available. Thankfully, only two per 1,000 models actually fail, which means most owners will be able to schedule service when these new pumps are available at Honda and Acura service centers.
What should owners of impacted vehicles do in the meantime?
The first step in any recall action is to ensure your vehicle is part of the recall. If you’ve received the letter from Honda and still own and drive the impacted vehicle, you can skip this step. If you haven’t received the letter, check your VIN on the Honda or NHTSA VIN check websites. Once you verify that your vehicle is impacted, contact your local Honda or Acura service center. This will give you a better idea of when you can have the recall service completed.
Some service centers should receive new fuel pumps sooner than others and if your vehicle fails between now and when the service center receives a shipment, your vehicle will be moved to the front of the line to be fixed earlier in the process. This Honda fuel pump recall impacts many vehicles but could be nothing more than a blip on the Honda radar once completed.
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