Acura Recalls Over 80,000 ILX sedans for Potentially Faulty Brakes

 

Acura must recall approximately 81,000 ILX sedans from the 2016 to 2020 model years due to a problem with the brake master cylinder, which could reduce braking force and increase stopping distance.

• Production of the Acura ILX ended after 2022

• Acura has been investigating this issue for 10 years

• Just over 10,500 models are affected in Canada

It goes without saying that longer stopping distances due to reduced braking force increase the risk of accidents and injuries.

In the United States, 70,658 models are affected by this campaign, while in Canada, Acura has identified 10,572 potentially defective units.

Potentially, yes, because Acura estimates that only 0.3% of the recalled models are affected by the problem. However, since this involves a critical safety component, it is crucial to be thorough and relay the message to owners.

The recalled models were built between October 9, 2014, and January 29, 2020.

Root Cause

The problem lies with the brake reservoir hose, where plasticizer residue from the manufacturing process can infiltrate the brake fluid. Over time, this contamination can cause one of the brake master cylinder’s secondary seals to swell and deform. This seal then loses its sealing capability, allowing brake fluid to bypass it when the brake pedal is pressed.

If the pressure is not optimal, braking performance suffers accordingly.

Honda has been aware of this issue for nearly 10 years. The first complaint dates back to 2015. An investigation was launched in October 2021, but they were unable to reproduce the problem, which delayed the process. On December 5 of this year, the correlation between cause and effect was confirmed, leading to the current recall.

The repair, which consists of replacing the master cylinder, will, of course, be carried out at no cost to owners.