Honda recalls 412,000 cars for soft brakes

In January,some 646,000 Honda Fit and Jazz vehicles were recalled worldwide because the power window switch could short out and cause a fire if too much water got into the door handle. Hondas latest recall affects 2007-2008 model years of the Odyssey minivan and boxy Element sport utility vehicle.

Honda said some accidents involving soft brakes were reported to safety regulators in the vehicles covered under the recall but that it was unlikely the soft pedal problem was a significant factor. There are three injuries reported to NHTSA for vehicles in this range but it’s tough to link those injuries to this cause, Honda spokesman Chris Martin said.

Thats because the brakes continue to function long after they begin to soften and the softening process takes a long time to develop. Its a very slow progression because its a tiny,tiny amount of air that gets in its smaller than a drop of water, Martin said.

If the problem goes untreated,however,the brakes could eventually stop working,Martin said.

Hondas woes come as Toyota is struggling to rebuild its once stellar reputation for quality and safety after a series of mass recalls due to faulty accelerator and brake systems.

Toyota has insisted that it has found a solution to defects that triggered the recall of more than eight million vehicles worldwide,including six million in the United States,and have been blamed for about 50 US deaths.

But critics have accused Toyota of intentionally hiding deadly defects from consumers and ignoring potential problems with its electronics.

Honda will be sending letters out to owners next month asking them to schedule an appointment to have the modulator sealed to prevent air intrusion.