Honda Pilot, Passport, Ridgeline, Acura MDX Recall 2026

880,514 Honda and Acura SUVs and trucks may have a rear subframe that corrodes until the suspension fails. Honda filed recall 26V365 with NHTSA on June 9, 2026, covering four model lines across a nine-year production window. Unlike most safety recalls, this one isn't defined by the vehicle's VIN alone. It's defined by geography.

Only vehicles originally sold in specific salt-belt states qualify. If you bought a used Pilot that started its life in Georgia, you're not covered, even if you've been driving it through Chicago winters for three years.

What's Defective

The rear subframe on these vehicles has factory-applied protective paint over the steel mounting points where the rear suspension attaches. On affected vehicles, that paint can fail or peel in localized areas, exposing bare steel to road salt, moisture, and the freeze-thaw cycles common in northeastern and midwestern winters.

NHTSA recall 26V365 covers 880,514 Honda Pilot, Ridgeline, Passport, and Acura MDX vehicles. The rear subframe mounting points may corrode until the surrounding metal loses structural integrity, creating a rear suspension failure risk during normal driving.

Once the steel corrodes at the mounting points, the suspension arms lose their anchoring. Components can separate from the subframe without warning.

Which Vehicles Are Covered

The recall spans four model lines and a wide year range.

The Geographic Rule That Catches Used Buyers Off Guard

Coverage under 26V365 is based on where the vehicle was originally sold, not where it currently lives. The covered states are Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington D.C.

That list is extensive. It still leaves out the entire south, southwest, and most of the west. If a 2019 Honda Passport was originally sold at a dealership in Arizona, it is not covered under this recall, even if it's now garaged in Buffalo and driven on salted roads every winter. The corrosion risk is real. The recall remedy isn't available.

Honda and Acura vehicles sold outside the salt-belt states are excluded from 26V365 even if they later relocated. A used Pilot that changed hands twice and now lives in Ohio but was first sold in Florida gets nothing from this recall.

This creates a specific step for used car shoppers. The vehicle's original sale location, not just its VIN, determines coverage.

What to Do If You Own One

Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov. The recall lookup tool went live June 10, 2026. Enter your 17-digit VIN and search for campaign number 26V365.

If your vehicle is covered, Honda will schedule the repair through your dealer at no charge. Owner notification letters are scheduled to go out July 7, 2026. You don't need to wait for the letter. Dealers can pull the recall by VIN today.

The dealer will inspect the rear subframe at the suspension mounting points. If corrosion exceeds Honda's threshold, they'll repair or replace the affected components. Honda covers the full cost.

What to Do If You're Shopping for One

Run the VIN before making an offer. An open, unrepaired recall is negotiating leverage or future liability, depending on how you handle it.

For these four models, there's an extra step: ask where the vehicle was originally sold. A dealer or private seller may not know. If they don't, pull a vehicle history report before you commit. The original sale state tells you whether a free repair is available or whether you're buying a problem with no manufacturer remedy attached.

CarScout shows recall status alongside listing data for Pilots, Ridgelines, Passports, and MDXs, so you can see open recalls before you drive to see the car. Search any of the covered models and 26V365 will surface if it's unrepaired.

For private party sales: most states don't require sellers to disclose open recalls. The VIN check is on you.

How Much Inventory Is Affected

The 2016-2022 Pilot is one of the most common used 3-row SUVs on the market. Acura MDX listings spanning 2014-2020 cover both the third-generation and fourth-generation platforms, a wide swath of popular used luxury inventory. The Passport has thinner supply overall but is hitting the used market in volume now that 2020-2023 models are off lease. The Ridgeline has a devoted buyer base among truck shoppers who want car-like ride quality.

This recall doesn't mean these vehicles are unsafe to drive in their current state. Rear subframe corrosion is a progressive defect. A 2014 MDX that's been in Massachusetts for twelve winters is in a different position than a 2022 Pilot with two winters on it. But NHTSA filed 26V365 because corrosion-induced suspension failure during driving is a documented risk, not a theoretical one.

FAQ

Does it matter if I moved to a salt state after buying this vehicle somewhere else?

No. Coverage is tied to where the vehicle was originally sold, not where it currently lives. A 2020 Honda Pilot originally sold in South Carolina and later relocated to New York is not included in recall 26V365. The NHTSA VIN lookup at NHTSA.gov will confirm your vehicle's specific status.

What does rear suspension failure actually look like?

The rear suspension arms attach to the subframe at mounting points. As those points corrode, the hardware loses its anchor in the surrounding metal. Under load, the suspension components can separate from the subframe. Honda describes the risk as potential rear suspension failure during normal operation, which means possible loss of vehicle control.

My Ridgeline looks fine underneath. Do I still need the recall check?

Yes. The defect starts with paint failure in specific areas of the subframe that are difficult to inspect without lifting the vehicle. Surface rust elsewhere doesn't indicate whether the recall-specific mounting points are affected. A dealer inspection under 26V365 is the only way to confirm.

If you're shopping for a used Pilot, Ridgeline, Passport, or Acura MDX, start at the CarScout market page for current listings with recall status included.