Honda Pilot Recall 26V721: MDX, TLX & CA Lemon Law Rights

If your Honda Pilot, Acura MDX, or Acura TLX is part of NHTSA recall 26V721, The Barry Law Firm can help you understand where you stand under California lemon law. We’re a Los Angeles firm that handles only California lemon law cases, and a case review costs you nothing.

Is my car affected? The recall covers 635,808 vehicles: the 2023 to 2025 Honda Pilot, the 2022 to 2024 Acura MDX, and the 2021 to 2025 Acura TLX. You can check your VIN on NHTSA’s recall page, where VINs became searchable on November 11, 2026.

What are my rights? You’re entitled to the recall repair, a software update to the electric power steering control unit, at no charge. A recall alone doesn’t make your vehicle a lemon, but if the steering problem kept coming back under warranty after repeat dealer visits, California law may give you more.

What is the Honda Pilot recall for power steering?

You count on the steering wheel to turn the same way every time. That’s the whole deal.

In these vehicles, a software error can switch the power steering assist off while you’re driving. Steering takes more effort, and warning lights come on.

Here’s what Honda told NHTSA in its Part 573 Safety Recall Report, submitted October 29, 2026:

• The defect: The electric power steering (EPS) software was configured incorrectly. An internal error can push the system into failsafe mode, a protective setting that disables power steering assist and lights the EPS warning lamps.
• The cause: The supplier’s software has an error in the Driver Attention Monitor’s road-condition compensation calculation. Under certain conditions, it divides by zero, and the system was set up to respond by turning assist off.
• The risk: Steering effort goes up, which can reduce control and raise the risk of a crash or injury.
• The supplier: Robert Bosch Automotive Steering LLC of Florence, Kentucky. The affected part is the power steering rack assembly.
• How many have it: Honda estimates 100% of the recalled vehicles have the defect.
• Reports so far: 146 warranty claims, one injury report, and no deaths between May 22, 2022, and October 22, 2026.

Honda’s recall numbers are KQB and TQA. NHTSA’s recall page doesn’t show a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory for this campaign.

Which Honda and Acura models are in recall 26V721?

Three models, with these counts and build dates from the filing:

• Honda Pilot, 2023 to 2025: 383,110 vehicles built September 13, 2022 through December 23, 2025.
• Acura MDX, 2022 to 2024: 177,100 vehicles built December 10, 2020 through July 10, 2024.
• Acura TLX, 2021 to 2025: 75,598 vehicles built August 11, 2020 through August 18, 2025.

Two things worth knowing. Honda’s own announcement is titled “2022-2025,” but the NHTSA filing includes the 2021 TLX. And the 2026 Pilot isn’t in the recall population. The filing says only that the affected models are no longer in production. It doesn’t say what software the 2026 Pilot carries.

What does the failure feel like?

Honda’s filing says the problem happens only under certain conditions while the vehicle is driving straight. So it may look like this:

• You’re on a straight road, and the steering suddenly feels heavy.
• EPS warning lights come on in the dash.
• Turning the wheel takes noticeably more muscle than it did a second ago.

Has that happened to you? Did you take it to the dealer? Did they tell you they couldn’t find anything?

If so, the next section matters.

Why did some dealers find nothing wrong?

This part of the filing is easy to miss.

Honda received its first report on November 29, 2021. More reports came in from August 2023 through August 2025. Honda and the supplier looked at returned parts and found no fault. The filing says that’s because error codes had been deleted by the dealer or the supplier.

The timeline from there:

• August 22, 2025: The supplier identified the failure by analyzing returned parts.
• December 2025: Honda recreated the issue using dashcam footage.
• February 2026: Honda confirmed it happens only under certain conditions while driving straight.
• October 22, 2026: Honda decided a safety defect exists and chose to recall.

The filing doesn’t say why codes were cleared, and we won’t guess. What it does tell you is practical. For years, deleted error codes meant returned parts showed no fault. If you reported heavy steering during that time, your dealer visit may have ended without a repair.

That’s frustrating. It can also still count.

Do “could not duplicate” visits count under California lemon law?

They can. The standard instruction California juries get on repair opportunities says each time the vehicle was given to the manufacturer or its authorized repair facility for repair counts as an opportunity to repair, “even if [it/they] did not do any repair work.”

A California appeals court said much the same in Oregel v. American Isuzu Motors. Your job is to give the manufacturer a reasonable chance to fix the vehicle. Whether its dealers use that chance, or can’t isolate the problem, isn’t something you’re responsible for.

There are limits. That rule applies to claims under Civil Code section 1793.2(d), California’s main repair-or-replace provision. One visit generally isn’t enough, and how many is “reasonable” depends on your facts. But a stack of “no problem found” or “could not duplicate” repair orders isn’t worthless. It may be the record that shows you kept asking for help.

What is the fix, and when can you get it?

Dealers will reprogram the EPS control unit with corrected software. It’s free.

• Dealers were notified: on or about October 30, 2026.
• Owner letters: scheduled for on or about December 14, 2026.
• Already paid for a related repair? The filing says Honda is using its general reimbursement plan on file with NHTSA. It doesn’t spell out terms or time limits, so ask Honda or Acura directly and keep your receipts.

The filing doesn’t say whether the corrected software is at dealers today, and it doesn’t mention loaners or rentals. Call your dealer before you go. Honda and Acura both list 1-888-234-2138 as their recall line, and NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline is 1-888-327-4236.

Does this recall make your Pilot, MDX, or TLX a lemon?

Not by itself. A recall alone doesn’t make a vehicle a lemon. If the software update fixes your steering and the problem never returns, the recall did its job.

California’s lemon law, the Song-Beverly Act, looks at something else. Under Civil Code section 1793.2, if the manufacturer can’t repair a vehicle to match its warranty after a reasonable number of attempts, it has to replace the vehicle or buy it back.

So the questions we ask are simple:

• Did you buy or lease the vehicle in California, new or certified pre-owned with a manufacturer-backed warranty?
• Did the steering problem start while the manufacturer’s warranty was in effect?
• Have you taken it to an authorized dealer more than once for the same problem?

Three yeses don’t guarantee a case. It does mean it’s worth a conversation.

How many repair attempts are enough?

There’s no single number. California law gives you a head start, called a presumption, during the first 18 months or 18,000 miles. As our lemon law requirements guide explains, the presumption can apply after two or more attempts for a serious safety defect, four or more for other defects, or 30 or more total days in the shop.

Does losing steering assist at speed count as a serious safety defect? Honda’s own filing ties it to crash and injury risk. Whether it meets the legal standard in your case depends on your repair history. And the presumption is a guideline, not the only path.

Does the recall visit itself count as a repair attempt?

That’s unsettled. We haven’t found a California decision that answers it squarely either way. What we can say is that what happens after the update matters. If the assist cuts out again, go back to the dealer and get that visit in writing.

What about warranty coverage?

Honda’s new vehicle warranty runs 3 years or 36,000 miles. Acura’s current warranty booklet lists 4 years or 50,000 miles. Check the booklet for your own model year to confirm your terms. The longer powertrain warranties don’t list the power steering system among covered parts.

That means some of the earliest TLX and MDX vehicles in this recall may be past basic coverage now. It doesn’t automatically end your rights. What matters most is whether the problem and the repair visits happened while the warranty was in effect. California also sets time limits for filing that are tied to your warranty and delivery date, so they vary from one owner to the next.

What should you do now?

1. Check your VIN on NHTSA’s site or with your dealer.
2. Schedule the software update once your dealer confirms it’s available.
3. Keep every repair order. Especially the ones that say “no problem found” or “could not duplicate.” Before you leave the dealership, make sure the order shows the date, mileage, your complaint in your words, and what the dealer did.
4. Save any dashcam footage. Honda itself used dashcam video to recreate this failure.
5. Write down each event. Date, speed, road, which lights came on, how long it lasted.
6. Keep receipts for towing, rentals, and any repair you paid for.

Our guide to the California lemon law process lists the other paperwork that helps.

Is this the same as earlier Honda and Acura recalls?

No. These models have been through several campaigns, and it’s easy to mix them up.

• Recall 23V735: 519 Honda Pilots from 2023 and 2024, for a loose ball bearing in the steering gearbox. A hardware problem, fixed by replacing the steering rack.
• Recall 25V582: 17,334 Acura RDX vehicles from 2025, for a different EPS software setting from a different supplier.
• Recall 25V031: 294,612 vehicles, including the 2023 to 2025 Pilot and the MDX and TLX Type S, for fuel injection software that could cause a stall. Not steering.

We’ve also covered the brake pedal recall on the Pilot, TLX, and MDX and an earlier Honda steering gearbox recall on other models. For another assist-loss campaign, see the Ram ProMaster recall 26V621.

If your vehicle has been back to the dealer for more than one of these, keep those records together. Repeat trips to the shop are part of the picture.

Recall, investigation, class action, lemon law claim: what’s the difference?

Four different things.

• A recall is the manufacturer’s free fix for a safety defect. That’s what 26V721 is.
• An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. We haven’t found one open on this issue.
• A class action groups many owners into one lawsuit. We haven’t found one confirmed on a court docket over this recall.
• A lemon law claim is yours alone. It’s about your vehicle, your repair history, and your warranty.

The Barry Law Firm represents consumers against manufacturers. We aren’t affiliated with Honda, Acura, or NHTSA.

Who can help if your steering keeps failing?

We’ve handled only California lemon law since 2010. We take Honda and Acura cases anywhere in the state, including steering defects.

Three things you can expect from us:

• An attorney who knows your manufacturer. Each Honda case is matched to an attorney who has handled Honda claims before. No mass settlements.
• Clear updates. Plain language, from the first call to resolution. David Barry personally speaks with every client.
• No bill. The manufacturer pays our fees. You don’t.

Clients rate us 4.9 stars across 459 Google reviews, and we’ve recovered approximately $150 million for clients over the past ten years. Past results don’t guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different.

We’ll also tell you honestly if the recall fix is likely all you need. Sometimes it is.

Not sure if you have a case? Let’s find out. Call 424-688-9088 or get clear answers about your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to drive my Honda Pilot before the recall repair?

NHTSA’s recall page doesn’t show a do-not-drive advisory for recall 26V721. Honda’s filing says failsafe mode turns off power steering assist, which increases steering effort and can raise crash risk. If you have questions about your vehicle, call your dealer, and The Barry Law Firm can talk through your lemon law options if the problem has already happened more than once.

Is the 2026 Honda Pilot included in recall 26V721?

No. The recall covers 2023 to 2025 Pilots built September 13, 2022 through December 23, 2025. If you own a 2026 Pilot with steering problems, The Barry Law Firm can still review your repair history.

How much does the recall repair cost?

Nothing. Honda and Acura dealers will reprogram the EPS control unit for free. The Barry Law Firm’s case review is free too, and the manufacturer pays our fees.

My dealer said “no problem found.” Does that visit still matter?

It can. The instruction California juries get on repair opportunities says each time you hand the vehicle over for repair counts, even if no repair work is done. Keep that repair order and share it with The Barry Law Firm so we can look at your full history.

Does the Honda Pilot recall mean I get a buyback?

Not automatically. A buyback or replacement under California law depends on repeated unsuccessful repairs under warranty, not on the recall alone. The Barry Law Firm can review your records and tell you plainly whether you may have a claim.

Can I bring a claim if I bought my Pilot, MDX, or TLX certified pre-owned?

Possibly. A certified pre-owned vehicle can qualify when the manufacturer issued its own warranty with the sale. The Barry Law Firm reviews 2020 and newer vehicles bought or leased new or certified pre-owned in California.

Is there a class action over this recall?

We haven’t found one confirmed on a court docket. A class action is also different from an individual lemon law claim, which is based on your own vehicle and repair history. The Barry Law Firm handles each case individually.