Honda recall of odyssey and element for brake pedal mushiness

so wassup with this?

sounds like the master cylinders from the 1980s/1990s.

do these lines use different brake components than the Accords or
Civics of the same year, or the odyssey/elements of other years? just
wondering.

J.


http://www.marketwatch.com/story/honda-shares-hit-by-odyssey-element-recall-2010-03-17

Honda shares hit by Odyssey, Element recall
By MarketWatch

TOKYO (MarketWatch) -- Shares of Honda Motor Co. lagged the market
Wednesday in Tokyo amid pressure by the Japanese auto giant's plans
for a vehicle recall.

On Tuesday, the car maker said it will recall about 344,000 Odyssey
minivans and 68,000 Element sports utility vehicles from the 2007-2008
model years in the U.S. following customer complaints of brake pedals
problems.

"Honda has received customer complaints of brake pedals that feel
'soft' or that gradually exhibit a pedal height that gets lower
(closer to the floor) before the vehicle stops,' the car maker said in
a statement. "In affected vehicles, this condition tends to very
slowly increase over time." See Honda statement on recall.

Honda (NYSE:HMC) (TSE:JP:7267) said notifications to customers will
start in April.

Shares of Honda managed to close up 0.2% after trading down earlier in
the day, though the performance was well behind the 1.2% rise in the
benchmark Nikkei 225 Average.

The action follows the expansion of a separate recall involving close
to 1 million Honda vehicles due to concerns about their air bags.

 

sounds like any other progressive master cylinder failure that's ever
existed on any hydraulic brake ever since they were invented. the only
reason to make this a "recall" [apparently voluntary] is because this
may be happening sooner than normal. but the failure mode itself is
absolutely standard and will happen to any master cylinder eventually.

 

I found this at Temple of VTEC.


Statement by American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Regarding VSA Modulator
Recall
Date: March 16, 2010 15:58
Submitted by: Jeff
Source: Honda Press Release
Credibility Rating: Not Specified


03/16/2010 - TORRANCE, Calif. -

Honda will recall approximately 344,000 Odyssey and 68,000 Element
vehicles from the 2007-2008 model years in the U.S. to modify the
Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) modulator. Honda has received
customer complaints of brake pedals that feel "soft" or that gradually
exhibit a pedal height that gets lower (closer to the floor) before
the vehicle stops. In affected vehicles, this condition tends to very
slowly increase over time.

Some VSA modulators were assembled in a manner that could allow air
intrusion, making it possible for air to enter the modulator during
the VSA self-check mode. While only a miniscule amount of air can
enter the system during each check, over a period of months or years,
the air will accumulate and can result in the "soft brake pedal" or
"low brake pedal" condition symptoms associated with this issue.
Although not all vehicles being recalled are affected by this issue,
we are recalling all possible units to assure all customers that their
vehicles will perform correctly.

Honda is announcing this recall to encourage all owners of these
vehicles to take their vehicle to an authorized dealer as soon as they
receive notification from Honda that their vehicle is affected.
Notification to customers will start at the end of April.

Once owners of these vehicles receive written notification of this
recall from Honda, they should contact their authorized Honda dealer
to schedule an appointment for repair. When Honda identifies concerns
of this nature, nothing is more important to the company than
fulfilling our obligation and responsibility to alert our customers.
To this end in addition to contacting customers by mail, after April
19, 2010, owners of these vehicles will be able to determine if their
vehicle requires repair by going on-line or calling. Honda owners can
go to www.recalls.honda.com or call (800) 999-1009, and select option
4.

 

A similar recall was announced in Canada. A representative from
Honda Canada said the fix was "to remove air", presumably by
bleeding, and to "seal the VSA".

How is "seal the VSA" to be done?