Honda set to recall vehicles in US

17 March 2010

Honda is set to recall more than 410,000 vehicles in the US to fix braking problems.

The Japanese car giant is recalling 344,000 Odyssey minivans and 68,000 Element small trucks that were manufactured between 2007 and 2008.

Honda said that over a period of time brake pedals can feel "soft" and needs to be pressed closer to the floor to stop the vehicles.

This is due to the device, called a "vehicle stability assist modulator", which allows a small amount of air into the hydraulic brake lines when the vehicle is started.

Honda spokesman Chris Martin added that if this problem is left unattended, with time an air bubble in the lines can lead to loss of braking power and possibly a crash.

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

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - which has reported three crashes due to the problem, with minor injuries and no deaths - has been informed about the recall by the car maker.

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