Honda is recalling 635,808 vehicles in the United States after a software fault that can suddenly cut power steering assist, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. The Honda recall covers certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX sedans, 2022-2024 Acura MDX SUVs and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot SUVs. Dealers will reprogram the steering control unit free of charge. No deaths have been linked to the defect, and Honda has received one report of an injury connected to it.

Key Points

• Honda is recalling 635,808 vehicles in the US over a power steering software fault, NHTSA announced on November 10, 2026.
• The affected models are the 2021-2025 Acura TLX (75,598 vehicles), 2022-2024 Acura MDX (177,100) and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot (383,110).
• A supplier software error can send the electronic power steering system into a failsafe mode that disables steering assist, making the vehicle harder to steer.
• Honda determined a safety defect existed on October 22, 2026; the NHTSA campaign is 26V721, with Honda recall numbers KQB and TQA.
• Dealers will reprogram the steering control unit with improved software free of charge, and owner letters are expected on December 14, 2026.

What Happened

The NHTSA published the recall on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, after Honda told the agency it had determined a safety defect existed in the electronic power steering systems of three of its most popular models. The fault lies in software supplied by Robert Bosch Automotive Steering. In a calculation used by the Driver Attention Monitor to compensate for road conditions, the software can divide by zero. When that happens under certain conditions, the system can enter a failsafe mode that switches off power steering assist altogether.

A driver who loses steering assist does not lose steering itself. The wheels can still be turned, but only with far more physical effort, and the change can arrive without warning. That is why the NHTSA treats the loss of assist as a safety defect even though the steering column stays mechanically connected. The problem only occurs under certain conditions while driving straight, and warning lights for the power steering system illuminate when the fault triggers.

Background: How the Fault Was Found

Honda's investigation stretched back more than four years. The first reports connected to the defect date to May 2022. The culprit turned out to be a calculation inside the Driver Attention Monitor, a system that watches steering inputs and road conditions. Under a specific combination of inputs, the road-condition compensation calculation divides by zero, an error the software was not written to handle. The system responds by shutting down steering assist as a protective measure.

That sequence explains why the defect took so long to pin down. It does not appear in normal cornering or in everyday driving, and it needs the vehicle to be travelling straight when the calculation fails. Once Honda identified the trigger, it determined on October 22, 2026, that a safety defect existed and moved to recall the affected vehicles.

Honda Recall: Which Vehicles Are Affected

The recall covers 635,808 vehicles across three models. The largest group is the Honda Pilot, the brand's three-row family SUV, with 383,110 vehicles from model years 2023 to 2025. The Acura MDX, the luxury brand's three-row SUV, accounts for 177,100 vehicles from model years 2022 to 2024. The Acura TLX sports sedan accounts for 75,598 vehicles from model years 2021 to 2025.

Owners can check whether their specific vehicle is included by entering its 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) on the NHTSA website, NHTSA.gov, from November 11, 2026. Not every TLX, MDX or Pilot from those model years is affected. The recall applies only to vehicles fitted with the specific steering software version supplied by Bosch, so owners should check by VIN rather than guessing from the model year alone. Honda can also be reached at 866-784-1870.

Reactions and What Owners Should Do

The NHTSA described the risk plainly in its recall notice. "The software for the electric power steering (EPS) assist may cause the EPS system to enter a failsafe mode, resulting in a loss of power steering assist," the agency stated. The notice also warned that the loss of assist could cause drivers to lose control of the vehicle, raising the risk of injury or a crash.

Owners of affected vehicles should take their car to an authorised Honda or Acura dealer, where technicians will reprogram the electronic power steering control unit with improved software. The service is free of charge. Honda will begin mailing notification letters to owners on December 14, 2026, but owners do not need to wait for a letter to book the repair. There is no do-not-drive warning attached to this recall, but drivers should stay alert for the power steering warning light and be ready for heavier steering if it comes on.

Why It Matters

A recall of more than 635,000 vehicles is one of the largest single safety actions of the year, and it touches three models at the heart of Honda's American lineup. The Pilot is Honda's flagship family SUV, the MDX is Acura's best-selling SUV, and the TLX is Acura's main sedan. Together they represent a large share of the vehicles Honda and Acura have sold in the United States in the past five years, so the recall will be felt in dealerships across the country for months.

The defect also underlines how much of a modern car's safety now depends on software. A single division-by-zero error in one supplier's code was enough to disable a core safety system in hundreds of thousands of vehicles. For owners, the practical impact is limited: the fix is free and needs no new parts, but it does require a dealer visit.

What Happens Next

Vehicle identification numbers become searchable on NHTSA.gov from November 11, 2026, the day after the recall was announced. Owner notification letters are scheduled to go out on December 14, 2026. Dealers already have access to the improved software, so owners can book the reprogramming as soon as they confirm their vehicle is affected. Owners who have already paid for a related steering repair may be eligible for reimbursement under federal recall rules and should keep their receipts.

Related reading: Honda Ohio Auto Plant: New $3 Billion Factory to Bring 2,000 Jobs by 2029 and US Inflation Rose 0.4% in October, Hotter Than Forecast as Core Prices Climb Again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Honda and Acura vehicles are recalled?
Certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2022-2024 Acura MDX and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles, a total of 635,808 in the United States.

What is wrong with the steering?
A software error can divide by zero in a road-condition calculation, sending the steering system into a failsafe mode that disables assist.

Has anyone been hurt?
Honda has received one report of an injury and no reports of deaths connected to the defect between May 2022 and October 22, 2026.

How do I check if my car is affected?
Enter your 17-digit VIN on NHTSA.gov from November 11, 2026, or call Honda at 866-784-1870.

How much does the fix cost?
Nothing. Dealers will reprogram the steering control unit with improved software free of charge, and owner letters go out on December 14, 2026.