Honda Recalls Over 256,000 Accord Hybrids Due to Potential Loss of Drive Power

American Honda Motor Co. is initiating a safety recall for over 256,000 of its 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles due to a defect that could cause the vehicles to lose drive power while in operation. The recall, submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on November 13, 2025, stems from improper software programming in the Integrated Control Module (ICM) CPU. This issue could lead to an increased risk of a crash or injury.

The defect arises from a misunderstanding by the software supplier of the component specifications for the ICM’s CPU abnormality monitoring software. This led to the software misidentifying internal communication errors within the ICM as CPU abnormalities. Furthermore, the integration of new functions controlled by the ICM amplified electrical load and noise, exacerbating these communication errors, resulting in false abnormality detections and unintended ICM resets. These resets can cause the vehicle to lose its ability to drive. Honda identified 832 warranty claims related to this issue as of November 6, 2025, though no injuries or deaths have been reported in connection with the defect.

Honda began investigating the issue on March 8, 2024. By June 9, 2025, both Honda and the supplier of the ICM CPU had identified a potential cause and continued their investigation. The company began analyzing regulatory requirements and quarantining potentially affected vehicles on October 23, 2025. Following the identification of potential safety-related symptoms on October 27, 2025, Honda determined on November 6, 2025, that a safety defect existed and decided to proceed with a recall. The manufacturer has stated that the corrected software, which resolves the defect, was implemented into production on October 24, 2025.

Owners of the affected 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicles to an authorized Honda dealer. At the dealership, the ICM CPU will be reprogrammed with the updated software to rectify the issue. The remedy software differs from the recalled component by containing an improved program designed to correct the defect. Honda has indicated that dealer notification is scheduled to begin and conclude around November 17, 2025, with owner notification commencing and concluding on or about January 5, 2026. A general reimbursement plan is in place for this recall. Owners are advised not to drive the vehicle and to park it outside if possible until the remedy is performed.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from American Honda Motor Co.

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