Honda Recalls 470,000 Vehicles for Brake Fluid Leaks
WASHINGTON — Honda Motor Co. said it is recalling 470,000 vehicles in the United States over possible brake fluid leaks — one day after Toyota Motor Corp. issued a recall for the same problem, reported The Detroit News.
The recall covers some 2005-07 Acura RL and 2005-07 Honda Odyssey vehicles. Worldwide, Honda is recalling about 528,000 vehicles over the issue, company spokeswoman Christina Ra
Toyota recalled 1.53 million vehicles globally for the problem, including 740,000 in the United States. Both Honda and Toyota used the same supplier for the problematic part — Advics Co. Ltd. in Japan.
The leak concerns arise when customers don't use the original type of brake fluid. That can allow the seal on the master cylinder to fail.
Honda said it doesn't know how many of the vehicles may fail or have failed. It said it was alerted to Toyota's investigation of the issue on Sept. 16.
Honda will replace the brake master cylinder seal in all of the vehicles - and if leaking occurred, it also will replace the brake booster.
But Honda — like Toyota — said it doesn't believe the glitch poses a safety issue. Toyota said that even if the fluid leaks, drivers would have enough power to stop the vehicles.
Ra noted that if the fluid leaked, it "will result in the brake fluid light illuminating before there is any loss of brake system performance. Although one brake circuit could gradually lose performance due to this cause, there would be no effect on the other brake circuit."
She said if drivers see a warning light go on, "they should take their vehicle to a dealer for repair immediately."
Honda hasn't yet set the schedule for notifying dealers and customers of the problem.
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