In January, Honda recalled approximately 295,000 vehicles in the United States due to engine stalls or loss of power resulting from a software error in the fuel injection electronic unit, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The company explained sudden changes in the throttle could illuminate the check engine light and cause the engine to lose power, increasing the risk of a crash. Let’s explore this information further in the article below.
What Does It Mean When a Car Stalls?
Before delving into the topic, let me provide a brief explanation of the engine stall risk.
Imagine you’re driving down a busy road and suddenly your engine stalls without any warning. When the engine stalls, the steering will become stiff, and you will need to apply a significant amount of brake pedal pressure to slow or stop the car.
It is hazardous, as it puts you at risk of being involved in traffic accidents.
What Honda Models Were Recalled?
The exact number of recalls is 294,612, which includes 2023-2025 Honda Pilot sport utility vehicles (SUVs), 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type-S SUVs, and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type-S sedans.
What is the Reason Behind the Recall?
The primary reason behind the recall, as already discussed, was the engine stall or loss of power resulting from a software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit.
The automaker claimed it could heighten crash or injury risks. They announced this recall to encourage owners of affected vehicles to take them to an authorized dealer as soon as possible to prevent any accidents or injuries.
Thankfully, to date, there have been no reports of crashes or accidents involving these affected vehicles.
Why Did these Honda Vehicles Face an Engine Stall Issue?
In the recall report, Honda discovered that they had made sudden changes to the throttle that could illuminate the check engine light, potentially causing the engine to stall or lose drive power.
The automaker claimed there could be a programming failure of the fuel injection electronic control unit.
Other Potential Reasons for the Engine to Stall
Here are some other common potential reasons for your car’s engine to stall.
- Ignition Coil Failure: A malfunctioning ignition coil can cause a loss of spark, leading to engine stalling.
- Fuel Pump Failure: When there is a malfunction in the fuel pump, it will result in insufficient fuel delivery to the engine, causing the engine to stall.
- Dead Battery: A Dead battery can also lead to insufficient power for the engine to operate.
- Overheated Engine: An overheated engine can cause vapor locks or warped components, leading to engine stalling.
- Sensor Malfunctions: Sensor malfunctioning, such as the crankshaft position sensor or camshaft position sensor, can also result in engine stalling.
- Clutch Problems: Damaged clutch components can lead to a loss of power transfer to the engine.
- Faulty Transmission Control Module: A faulty transmission control module may affect the transmission’s working, resulting in stalling.
- Vacuum Leaks: Sometimes, air enters the engine due to vacuum leaks, disrupting the fuel-air mixture and causing the engine to stall.
- Bad Driving Technique: A stalled engine is more common in cars with manual transmissions, so your poor driving technique may contribute to the issue. You may be choosing the wrong gear, stopping without fully depressing the clutch, or releasing the clutch too quickly.
What to do if the recall impacts you?
If you’re affected by the recall, the first thing you should do is take your car to an authorized dealer as soon as possible to fix the issue.
Just as during the January recall, Honda urged all owners of affected models to take their vehicles to an authorized Honda or Acura dealer to update the FI-ECU software free of charge.
Owners may also contact Honda’s customer service at 1-888-234-2138 or NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
What To Do if Your Car Suddenly Stalls on the Road?
Suppose you’re driving on a highway and suddenly the engine stalls and your vehicle gets stuck in the middle of the road. In this case, the first thing you have to do is turn off the engine, restart it, and see if it stalls again.
Turning off the engine will prevent further damage to your car’s components and will allow the engine to cool down. Just restart and apply just a bit of throttle to see if the problem persists. If you’re able to start the engine, immediately pull over to the side of the road.
Make sure to use your turn signals and be aware of other vehicles around you. Once you’ve reached the side of the road, start looking for any visible problems. If you notice any leaks, smoke, or unusual sounds, please call a mechanic immediately.
You can also safely take your car to the mechanic’s shop if it successfully restarts. If not, you can call roadside assistance or a tow truck.
How to Prevent Engine Stalling?
Engine stalling is more common with manual vehicles. It may occur due to your poor driving technique, as discussed in the article above. In this case, you can practice these steps to prevent your car from stalling.
- First, press the clutch fully to the floor and engage first gear.
- Now, slowly press the accelerator until the engine starts to rev.
- Slowly lift your foot from the clutch until you reach the biting point. At this stage, the revs will slow down, and your car will try to move forward.
- While pressing the accelerator, release the handbrake.
- Once your car starts moving, you must fully release your foot from the clutch.
These steps will help your car recover from stalling. If your vehicle continues to stall, there must be another significant issue. In that case, you can check for any broken parts, such as fuel pumps or timing belts.
These broken parts can compromise other systems in your vehicle. Therefore, it’s best not to delay and call your mechanic as soon as possible.
Wrapping Up
Recalls and engine stalling are not the things to worry about. A stalled engine is a prevalent issue that mostly occurs in manual vehicles. And if the automaker requests a recall of the affected vehicle, as Honda did, you don’t have to worry. Just take your car to an authorized dealer immediately.
There are several reasons behind the engine stalling. In Honda vehicles, a software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit caused the issue.
If your car is facing this stalling issue, it can be dangerous as it could lead to an accident. Therefore, you should immediately call a mechanic and have the problem fixed as soon as possible to prevent further damage.
Sources: USA Today, Fox Business, carparts.com, Go Girl
