Honda is recalling a large batch of Accord Hybrid sedans after discovering a software defect that can abruptly cut propulsion, raising the risk of a crash if it happens in traffic. The company has identified more than a quarter of a million vehicles in the United States that need a fix, and regulators say the remedy will come in the form of a software update rather than a mechanical repair.

The recall underscores how deeply modern vehicles depend on code, and how a glitch in that code can have real-world safety consequences. It also puts a spotlight on how Honda and federal safety officials are handling the risk, what owners should expect next, and how this case fits into a broader pattern of software-driven recalls across the auto industry.

What Honda’s recall covers and how the defect shows up on the road

Honda has told regulators it is recalling approximately 256,000 Accord Hybrid sedans because a control software error can cause the car to lose drive power while in motion. The affected vehicles are specific model years of the Accord Hybrid, and the issue centers on how the hybrid control system manages power delivery between the gasoline engine and the electric components, which can result in an unexpected shutdown of propulsion even though the vehicle’s electrical systems remain powered, according to the official recall filing.

In its report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Honda said the defect can manifest as a sudden loss of motive power that may not be preceded by warning lights or error messages, leaving drivers with little time to react. The company and regulators describe the safety risk as an increased chance of a collision if the vehicle slows or stalls in moving traffic, particularly at highway speeds or while turning across lanes, a concern detailed in the NHTSA campaign summary.

Root cause, software remedy, and how Honda plans to fix it

Honda’s internal investigation traced the problem to the programming logic in the powertrain control module that governs the hybrid system’s response to certain operating conditions. Under specific loads, the software can mismanage torque requests and trigger a protective shutdown of propulsion, even though the underlying hardware is functioning correctly, according to the technical explanation in the defect information report. Engineers concluded that revising the control logic would prevent the unintended loss of drive power without requiring replacement of major components.

To address the issue, Honda plans to update the relevant control software on all affected Accord Hybrids at no cost to owners, using dealer service tools to reflash the powertrain control module and, where applicable, related hybrid system controllers. The company told NHTSA that dealer notification and owner outreach will follow the standard recall timeline, with letters mailed to registered owners and instructions for scheduling a service appointment, as outlined in the agency’s owner notification schedule. Until the update is installed, regulators advise drivers who experience unexpected power loss to contact a dealer and follow the guidance in the recall notice.

Regulatory scrutiny, owner impact, and the broader software recall trend

NHTSA has been tracking complaints and field reports related to sudden power loss in late-model Accord Hybrids, and the agency’s recall database shows that Honda’s action follows a pattern of software-related safety campaigns across multiple brands. In its summary of the case, the regulator notes that the defect can increase crash risk and that the remedy is a software reprogramming, a combination that has become more common as vehicles rely on complex control code for critical functions, as reflected in the broader set of recent recall records. The agency will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the fix and any additional complaints after the update is deployed.

For owners, the immediate impact is the inconvenience of scheduling a dealer visit and the concern about driving a vehicle that could lose propulsion before the repair is completed. Honda’s recall documentation indicates that the company is not charging for the software update and that it will reimburse eligible owners for prior repairs related to the same defect, consistent with federal recall rules, as described in the reimbursement plan. The case also illustrates a broader shift in automotive safety, where critical fixes increasingly arrive as code changes rather than parts replacements, a trend that is likely to accelerate as more vehicles adopt hybrid and fully electric drivetrains.