Honda to recall 410,000 vehicles

March 17, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

DETROIT

Honda Motor Co. will recall more than 410,000 Odyssey minivans and Element small trucks because of braking- system problems that could make it tougher to stop the vehicle if not repaired.

The recall includes 68,000 Elements and 344,000 Odysseys from the 2007 and 2008 model years.

The automaker is still preparing a list of affected vehicles. After April 19, owners can determine if their vehicles are being recalled by going to www.recalls.honda.com or by calling (800) 999-1009, and selecting option No. 4.

Honda said that over time, brake pedals can feel “soft” and must be pressed closer to the floor to stop the vehicles. Left unfixed, the problem could cause loss of braking power and possibly a crash, Honda spokesman Chris Martin said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported three crashes due to the problem with minor injuries and no deaths, Martin said. Honda notified NHTSA of the recall Monday, he said.

Honda has traced the problem to the device that powers the electronic stability-control system, which selectively brakes each of the wheels to keep the vehicles upright in an emergency.

When the device, called a “vehicle stability assist modulator,” tests itself when the vehicles are started, it allows a small amount of air into the hydraulic brake lines. Over time, an air bubble in the lines can cause a loss of braking power and require that the pedal be pushed farther toward the floor than normal to stop the vehicles, Martin said.

In the recall, which Honda volunteered to do, Honda said owners should wait to get a letter from the company before scheduling a repair because the parts are not yet available. Letters should go out by the end of April.

Drivers who fear that they’ve lost braking power should have their dealer check the brakes sooner, Martin said.