Honda hybrids in China facing large recall due to faulty pedals

HONDA Motor will recall more than 200,000 cars made in China, citing issues with brake pedal sensors that could make it harder to stop.

The Japanese carmaker will recall 105,608 hybrids made between October 2018 and September 2020 at its manufacturing venture with Dongfeng Motor Group, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation said in a statement on Thursday (Dec 29). Another 95,081 units from Honda’s separate partnership with Guangzhou Automobile Group will also be recalled over the same issue.

Honda assembled 1.62 million vehicles in China in the latest fiscal year, which ended in March, down 14 per cent from the previous year. The two local partners will test the affected vehicles and replace brake-pedal components that could cause a malfunction, according to the statement.

Honda shares fell as much as 1.3 per cent in Tokyo on Thursday to their lowest level since March 2021, on an intraday basis. The stock is down about 6 per cent this year.

The Chinese regulator said earlier this month Tesla will conduct an over-the-air software update on more than 435,000 electric vehicles made at its factory in China due to a rear-lighting defect. BLOOMBERG