In essence Honda has issued a recall for the above-mentioned vehicles because of an automatic transmission software problem. The issue is not a life-threatening situation such as the Toyota sticking  pedal. It’s more of a preventative recall.

With the current software, the quick transition from reverse to neutral to drive and back again (you know, the type of shifting you do if you’re stuck in mud or stuck in the snow), may lead to bearing damage. The damage may cause the engine to stall or make it difficult to shift the gear into Park.

What to Do Next

Honda is sending out a notice to its customers. They will start sending the notices out on August 31, 2011. However, if you’re the impatient type, visit Honda’s Automobile Recall Information website. Armed with your vehicle identification number you can find up-to-date information on outstanding recalls specific to your vehicle.

Keep in mind that this is a voluntary recall and that many of the vehicles may not actually need the updated software. However, Honda decided to err on the side of safety and issued the recall anyway.

It sounds like folk who enjoy driving off road and/or who live in areas with seasonal snow, are the ones who are most affected.

They have recently announced that they will recall an additional 379,758 US vehicles to fix the driver side airbag. Apparently there is a problem with the airbag inflator which may cause it to deploy using too much force thus causing injury or even death to the driver.

Honda first issued a recall in 2009 which affected some 2001 and 2002 model year cars, but recently they expanded the recall to include the 2001 and 2002 Accord, Civic, Odyssey, CR-V and some 2002 Acura TL, Honda Pilot and Acura CL vehicles.

Find out if Your Honda is Affected

Honda is working diligently to notify drivers of the recall. They are sending notifications by mail. If you’re not willing to wait for your mail notification, you can go online to find out if your car is affected.

Honda owners can find out more about Honda recalls by visiting the Honda Recall  website or calling 800-999-1009. Similarly, Acura owners can learn more about Acura recalls by visiting the Acura recall  website or calling 800-382-2238.

Make sure to have your vehicle identification number (VIN) when visiting the site to obtain information specific to your vehicle.

Fixing the Airbag Problem

If your vehicle requires repair, make an appointment with the nearest authorized Honda dealership to have the defect repaired as soon as possible.