2023-2025 Honda Pilot Electrical Software Recall (25V031)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · 294,612 vehicles · Reported January 23, 2025
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling 294,612 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type S; 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type S; 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. A software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) may cause an engine stall or a loss of power. An engine stall or loss of power can increase the risk of a crash or injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 25V031 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V031000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | EL1, AL0 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | January 23, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| Vehicles | 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type S; 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type S; 2023-2025 Honda Pilot |
| Units affected | 294,612 |
| Component | Electrical System > Software |
| Safety risk | An engine stall or loss of power can increase the risk of a crash or injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2023-2025 Honda Pilot in recall 25V031?
A software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) may cause an engine stall or a loss of power.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type-S, 2023-2025 Honda Pilot, and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type-S vehicles. A software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) may cause an engine stall or a loss of power.
Is it safe to drive a 2023-2025 Pilot with recall 25V031?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An engine stall or loss of power can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An engine stall or loss of power can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the software.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V031?
Recall 25V031 covers 294,612 vehicles: 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type S; 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type S; 2023-2025 Honda Pilot.
NHTSA lists 294,612 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2025 | Acura | MDX Type S |
| 2021-2025 | Acura | TLX Type S |
| 2023-2025 | Honda | Pilot |
What is the fix for the Pilot electrical software recall?
Yes. Dealers will reprogram the FI-ECU software, free of charge.
Dealers will reprogram the FI-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EL1 and AL0.
Manufacturer recall number: EL1, AL0.
When was recall 25V031 announced?
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) reported recall 25V031 to NHTSA on January 23, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as March 17, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| January 23, 2025 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V031000. |
| March 17, 2025 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 20 months ago. If your Pilot was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Pilot is part of recall 25V031?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V031 is open on your Pilot, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 25V031000 is open on your Pilot, it will be listed there, along with Honda recall number EL1, AL0. You can also ask any Honda dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Pilot owners do about recall 25V031?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 25V031000 applies to your Pilot.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Honda dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Keep a simple log of any software symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Pilot owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 539 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 83 of them about the electrical system.
Since recall 25V031 was reported on January 23, 2025, owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 8 of them (15%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the electrical system and were received on or after January 23, 2025, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related electrical system issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 539 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 83 of them involve the electrical system. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2025 Honda Pilot: 202 complaints in total, 41 about the electrical system
- 2023 Honda Pilot: 144 complaints in total, 28 about the electrical system
- 2024 Honda Pilot: 114 complaints in total, 10 about the electrical system
- 2021 Acura TLX Type S: 32 complaints in total, 2 about the electrical system
- 2022 Acura MDX Type S: 23 complaints in total, 1 about the electrical system
- 2022 Acura TLX Type S: 9 complaints in total, 0 about the electrical system
- 2023 Acura TLX Type S: 8 complaints in total, 0 about the electrical system
- 2023 Acura MDX Type S: 5 complaints in total, 0 about the electrical system
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
I am reporting a critical safety issue with my 2021 Acura TLX (VIN: [XXX] ), specifically related to the transmission and transfer case. The problem is centered around the transmission’s spline splitting into the transfer case, which causes severe jerking while driving.
2021 Acura TLX Type S owner, TN, NHTSA complaint 11615217, filed September 18, 2024
I would like to report a serious safety issue with the 2021 Acura TLX Type s. Recently in April 2024, while driving, I heard a loud pop from the vehicle, and it turned out that the transfer case had burst into the transmission. This failure has rendered the rear-wheel drive non-functional, resulting in severe oversteer.
2021 Acura TLX Type S owner, TN, NHTSA complaint 11624322, filed November 9, 2024
Twice earlier in the year as I was pulling into a parking spot the brakes seemed to have failed, car auto accelerated, but was stopped by a parking block. Air suspension warning light was on, car was evaluated three times 6/2023-8/2023, air suspension sensor replaced, Acura reported car was otherwise fine.
2022 Acura MDX Type S owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11556090, filed November 20, 2023
Can recall 25V031 make my Pilot a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 25V031000 does not automatically make your Pilot a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
Intermittent electrical problems are a frequent source of repeat repair visits: the dealer cannot reproduce the fault, the owner brings the 2023-2025 Honda Pilot back, and the problem shows up again.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2023-2025 Honda Pilot has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Pilot been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Honda Pilot recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 25V031
Did the recall 25V031 fix work?
Since recall 25V031 was reported on January 23, 2025, owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 8 of them (15%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed March 17, 2025.
Is the 25V031000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Pilot is part of recall 25V031000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 25V031000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Acura, Honda. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.