Honda Recalls 256,000 Cars That Can Lose Power While Driving

Honda is recalling 256,000 cars because of a software error that can cause vehicles to lose power while driving. Not slow down gradually. Just lose power. While you're driving.

The recall affects certain Accord Hybrid models that may experience malfunctions with the Integrated Control Module due to "improper software programming by a supplier," according to a notice Honda shared Tuesday, November 18.

The module may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power and increasing crash and injury risk, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says.

Which Hondas Are Recalled

Just one model across three years:

2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid

That's it. Regular gas-powered Accords aren't affected. Just the hybrid versions from the past three model years.

What Actually Happens

The Integrated Control Module can malfunction and reset itself while you're driving. When that happens, you lose drive power. Your car just stops accelerating.

Imagine merging onto a highway when your car suddenly decides to reset its control module. Or accelerating through an intersection. Or passing another vehicle.

Loss of drive power at the wrong moment creates serious crash risk. Honda's acknowledging this by issuing the recall.

The problem traces back to a supplier's improper software programming. So it's not Honda's engineering team that screwed up—it's whoever supplied the software for the control module. Doesn't matter much to drivers whose cars might lose power unexpectedly.

The Fix

Owners of recalled cars should locate their closest authorized Honda dealer. The vehicles will be reprogrammed with improved software free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed by January 5, 2026. So don't wait for a letter if you own one of these cars. Check now.

Owners can contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138 with recall number TN2.

How to Check If Your Car Is Affected

Car owners can enter their information into the NHTSA recall database to check if their vehicle is effected.

Easiest way: go to NHTSA.gov, enter your VIN, and see if your vehicle is part of this or any other recall. Takes two minutes.

If your 2023-2025 Accord Hybrid is affected, schedule the software update as soon as possible. Don't wait for the notification letter. Those won't go out until early January, and your car could lose power before then.

Software Problems in Modern Cars

This recall highlights how much modern vehicles rely on software. The Integrated Control Module is essentially a computer managing critical vehicle functions. When the software has bugs, the car malfunctions.

A software reset while driving isn't like your phone rebooting. Your phone rebooting is annoying. Your car losing drive power while merging onto a highway is dangerous.

The fact that 256,000 vehicles shipped with faulty software from a supplier suggests quality control gaps. These modules should have been tested extensively before installation in hundreds of thousands of vehicles.

Instead, Honda's now recalling three years worth of Accord Hybrids to fix software that should have worked correctly from the start.

What to Do Now

If you own a 2023, 2024, or 2025 Honda Accord Hybrid, check if your vehicle is affected. Don't assume it's not. With 256,000 cars recalled, odds are decent your car is included.

If it is, schedule the software update immediately. Free fix, takes however long reprogramming takes at the dealer, solves the problem.

Don't put it off. Losing drive power while driving isn't something you want to experience firsthand to confirm your car has the defect.

The notification letters won't arrive until January 5, 2026. That's over a month away. Your car could malfunction tomorrow. Check now, schedule service now, get it fixed now.

256,000 Honda Accord Hybrids with software that can reset and kill drive power while you're driving. That's the reality. Supplier screwed up the programming, Honda shipped the cars anyway, now everyone needs a software update to fix it.

Get it done before your control module decides to reset at 65 mph on the highway. Inconvenient? Sure. Better than crashing because your car lost power at the wrong moment? Definitely.

Check your VIN. Schedule service. Problem solved.

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