Motoring: Honda Canada recalls 31,000 vehicles for faulty Brake Master Cylinder Seal

Honda Canada Inc. announced a voluntary safety recall of 1,002 model-year 2005 to 2007 Acura RL and 30,501 model-year 2005 to early 2007 Honda Odyssey vehicles to replace a seal in the brake master cylinder.  There have been no accidents nor injuries reported in Canada resulting from this situation.

Honda made this decision to prevent the unlikely failure of a seal in the brake master cylinder. It is possible for the seal to fail if the Honda Genuine DOT 3 brake fluid installed at the factory is replaced with certain aftermarket brake fluids with reduced lubrication properties, followed by a manual brake bleed with full and rapid stroke of the brake pedal. This could cause the seal to become twisted within its retention groove. The twisted seal could then leak a small amount of brake fluid when the vehicle is used. A brake fluid leak due to this would cause the low brake fluid warning lamp to illuminate until repaired. Failure to repair the master cylinder seal would eventually result in a soft or "spongy" brake pedal and the possible loss of one of the two hydraulic braking circuits.

Drivers of affected vehicles should be aware that this condition will always cause the low brake fluid light to illuminate. If any of the vehicle's malfunction indicators are illuminated, owners should take their vehicle to a dealer for immediate repair.

Honda Canada will begin to notify owners of affected vehicles within the month or two. Acura and Honda dealers will repair affected vehicles free of charge using a revised design of the brake master cylinder seal.

When Honda identifies concerns of this nature, nothing is more important to the company than fulfilling our obligation and responsibility to alert our customers. To this end, Honda will contact customers by mail and owners of these vehicles may also contact their dealer or Customer Relations toll-free at 1-888-946-6329.