A bad coaxial cable is leading to a major recall of 2018 to 2023 Honda Odysseys, Pilots, and Passports. As a result of the production error, the automaker must now recall 1,198,280 vehicles in the U.S. over the loss of the backup camera feed.
Specifically, the fault lies with the Media Oriented Systems Transport communication coaxial cable, which Honda says was improperly designed and manufactured, in documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
This error can lead to deformed terminals in the cable, which can, in turn, cause poor or lost connections between the reversing camera and the infotainment screen. If the connection is lost for more than 20 seconds, the rearview camera will fail completely.
Read: The Mirrors Could Fall Off Honda Pilot, Passport, Ridgeline, And Odyssey Models
That’s a problem for Honda because all vehicles manufactured after 2018 must have a backup camera. For drivers, it’s also a nuisance, but total rearview camera failure may be preceded by an audio system that pops or crackles, and a flickering display screen.
The problem has been a persistent one for Honda, which first became aware of issues in the cable in February 2019, initially receiving reports of display flickering issues. It started an investigation, and by June 2020, its supplier, TE Connectivity, began adjusting cable lengths to improve the connection to the display unit.
That doesn’t appear to have solved the problem, though. So, in February 2021, Honda started using a waterproof coupler to address the connection issue. After that, recurring issues led it to determine that a safety defect existed, and it decided to initiate a recall campaign for 2018-2023 Honda Odysseys, 2019–2022 Pilots, and 2019–2023 Passports.
The automaker plans to start getting in touch with the owners of those vehicles on July 24 and will ask them to return their vehicle to a nearby dealer. There, a technician will install an improved cable harness and a straightening cover to ensure that the connection remains secure.
