According to data compiled by Kelley Blue Book, some of the best-selling vehicles sold in the United States last year belonged to a Japanese automaker that has been a trusted manufacturer for many American motorists for decades.
On Kelley Blue Book's list of the top 25 best-selling cars of 2023, three belong to Honda (HMC) . The popular CR-V crossover is in sixth place, the compact Civic is in 16th, and the Accord is in 17th. In total, sales of the three models combined accounted for three-quarters of a million cars and are still strong sellers.
Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter
According to the latest data, Honda sold 13,425 Accords, 15,761 Civics and 29,217 CR-Vs in September 2024, including 6,762 Accord Hybrids, 2,794 Civic Hybrids, and 15,760 CR-V Hybrids.
These vehicles make up a significant portion of Honda's sales in the United States. However, a new development may threaten Honda's record for quality.
Honda
Honda's latest recall affects its bestsellers
According to new documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Honda is recalling over 720,000 vehicles in the United States over concerns that a vital component can leak fuel and increase the risk of a fire.
The component in question is the high-pressure fuel pump installed in 2025 Honda Civics and Civic Hybrids, 2023 and 2024 Accords, and 2023-2025 CR-V Hybrid models. According to the NHTSA, the problem stems from cracks caused by a manufacturing error with the pumps, which are responsible for transferring fuel from the tank to the engine.
In its findings, the regulators concluded that the affected parts, which Hitachi Astemo in Japan manufactured, were improperly manufactured. A vital component of the high-pressure fuel pump was found to contain cracks stemming from its manufacture, and it was found to be installed onto the affected Honda cars. As a consequence, the defective part allowed these Hondas to leak fuel.
More Automotive:
- The Buick Envista is America's wake-up call for Chinese cars
- Ford CEO says he's sick and tired of making 'boring' cars
- New study reveals a cold, harsh truth for thrifty new car buyers
“During vehicle operation, the high-pressure fuel pump can cause the unpenetrated and penetrated cracks to grow and allow fuel to leak,” the NHTSA said in its document.
The NHTSA warns drivers they can tell if a fuel leak is occurring if they smell gasoline when their cars are idling or in motion and that a fuel leak can lead to an increased fire risk.
In the regulatory documents, Honda says it received its first warranty claim over the defective parts in February 2023 and stopped shipment of the affected vehicles when it confirmed the presence of fuel leaks in September 2024.
So far, Honda claims it has had 145 warranty claims and no injuries or deaths related to the issue, starting from the time it began investigating the problem into September.
Honda will mail notification letters about the recall to affected car owners by December 4 and will replace the fuel pump in affected vehicles free of charge.
Related: Honda’s best-selling cars are facing a massive recall
Honda's recall trouble
This recall marks the second in less than a year that Honda has enacted a recall involving defective fuel pumps.
In December 2023, Honda recalled about 2.5 million of its cars, from the Accord, Civic, and CR-V to the Acura NSX supercar, due to defective parts that increased the risk of fuel pump failure, which can cause a crash. Additionally, the 2023 recall stems from the same problems that triggered a recall of 620,000 vehicles back in March 2021.
More critically, this recall is the second major recall that Honda announced in October 2024 alone. Earlier this month, Honda announced a recall of 2022-2025 models of the Honda Civic, CR-V, HR-V, and Acura Integra after it was found that a critical issue in their steering systems could make the vehicle difficult to steer and increase the risk of a crash.
The Honda Motor Company, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker HMC, is down 0.098% from the opening bell, trading at $30.47 at the time of writing.
Related: Veteran fund manager sees world of pain coming for stocks
