Clearwater, FL — NHTSA: More than 250,000 Honda Accord Hybrid Vehicles Recalled for Crash-Risk Defect

Clearwater, FL (November 18th, 2025) – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a major safety recall impacting over a quarter of a million Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles due to a software defect that can cause a sudden, catastrophic loss of drive power. For drivers on major thoroughfares in Florida and across the nation, this is not a simple inconvenience; it is a deadly threat engineered into the vehicle.

When a manufacturer like Honda sells a product known to contain a life-threatening defect, they must be held accountable. A sudden loss of power on I-4 in Orlando or I-75 near Tampa can instantly turn a routine commute into a multi-car accident. If you or a loved one have been severely injured or tragically killed due to a defect in a Honda Accord Hybrid, contact our defective product lawyers at Light & Wyatt Law Group. We provide the clear, confident, and aggressive legal representation necessary to pursue maximum compensation. Call 727-499-9900 to schedule a free initial consultation.

What Florida Drivers Need to Know About the Honda Accord Hybrid Recall

This recall specifically targets certain 2023 through 2025 model year Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. While Honda has indicated that only a small percentage of the recalled vehicles are likely to exhibit the defect, the sheer number of affected cars has thousands of drivers operating vehicles with a severe safety risk.

The Imminent Danger: Why This Honda Defect Creates Crash and Injury Risk

The risk associated with this specific defect is immediate and severe. As such, it moves the situation beyond standard recall issues and directly into the realm of product liability.

The Mechanism of Catastrophe: Loss of Power at Speed

The core of the defect lies in a software error within the vehicle’s integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU). This programming flaw causes the ICM software to unexpectedly reset while the vehicle is operating.

The result is the sudden and complete loss of motive power. When this occurs, the driver cannot maintain speed, accelerate, or safely maneuver to the side of the road, leaving the vehicle vulnerable to:

• High-speed rear-end collisions: Especially on highways where speeds exceed 60 mph.
• Chain-reaction pileups: Caused by the sudden, unexpected deceleration in heavy traffic.
• Loss of control: If the power failure occurs during a critical turning or merging maneuver.

These types of accidents often result in severe or catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord damage, paralysis, broken bones, and, tragically, wrongful death. 

The Legal Standard: Manufacturer Negligence and Product Liability

In cases involving dangerous defects that cause injury, the legal focus shifts from simple repair to proving the manufacturer’s fault and liability. When Honda designed, manufactured, and distributed the Accord Hybrid with this known-or-knowable software flaw, they violated their fundamental duty to provide a safe product.

Establishing Liability Against Honda

For victims injured in Florida due to this defect, our firm focuses on three main theories of liability:

Negligent Design

Honda or its supplier designed the ICM with improper software programming, creating an inherently dangerous condition.

Manufacturing Defect

The specific batch of vehicles was manufactured with the flawed component or software programming.

Failure to Warn

The manufacturer knew, or should have known, about the potential for sudden power loss and failed to adequately warn consumers until forced to by the NHTSA.

It is clear that Honda was aware of the problem, citing hundreds of warranty claims related to the issue before the official recall was announced. This pattern of delayed response strengthens the injury claim, as it demonstrates that the manufacturer prioritized production and sales over consumer safety. A dedicated defective product lawyer understands how to use this evidence to maximize the compensation secured for victims.

Fighting for Full Compensation After a Defective Product Injury

If the Honda Accord Hybrid defect led to an accident resulting in serious harm, you are entitled to compensation for all resulting damages. These cases are complex, requiring deep knowledge of both automotive engineering and product liability law. Categories of compensation include:

• Past and Future Medical Expenses: Covering emergency care, hospitalization, long-term rehabilitation, and ongoing therapy.
• Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: Compensation for income lost due to recovery time and reduced future ability to work.
• Pain and Suffering: Damages for physical pain, emotional distress, and the reduction in quality of life caused by the permanent injury.
• Wrongful Death: If the defect resulted in a fatality, we pursue claims to cover funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and financial support.

A product liability lawyer will handle the aggressive strategies employed by major automotive corporations and their insurance carriers. An attorney will gather irrefutable evidence, consult with expert engineers and accident reconstruction specialists, and build a logical, airtight case proving the direct link between the software defect and the client’s catastrophic injuries.

Frequently Asked Questions for Defective Product Victims

Q: If I was injured, but Honda is offering a free repair, does that affect my personal injury claim?

No. The free repair is the manufacturer’s attempt to fix the safety defect moving forward. It does not negate their past negligence in selling a dangerous product, nor does it reduce your right to seek compensation for injuries and losses you suffered as a direct result of that defect.

Q: What should I do immediately after an accident caused by the power loss defect?

Your first step must be to seek medical attention. Second, do not agree to any repair or accept any settlement offer from Honda or their insurer without first consulting an experienced defective product lawyer. We must inspect the vehicle and preserve the evidence of the software failure.

Q: How does a defective product lawyer prove the software caused my crash and injury?

We prove causation by utilizing expert witnesses, including biomechanical engineers and accident reconstructionists, who analyze the vehicle data, the crash scene, and the manufacturer’s internal documents. This detailed, logical approach links the specific ICM software defect directly to the loss of power and the subsequent injury-causing crash.

Taking the Lead Against Corporate Negligence

The safety recall affecting hundreds of thousands of Honda Accord Hybrids underscores the critical need for vigilance against corporate negligence. When a car defect leads to injury, the fight for justice is intense. You need a dedicated, confident, and clear defective product lawyer on your side.

Light & Wyatt Law Group is prepared to stand against Honda and fight relentlessly for the compensation you need to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Don’t wait; evidence degrades, and the statute of limitations may be running. Call 727-499-9900 today.

Jim Magazine

James (Jim) Magazine is a Florida Board Certified Civil Trial lawyer who has spent his career helping injured victims. Jim is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida since 1990 and is also admitted to practice at the Appellate level and admitted to the United States Supreme Court.

Years of Experience: More than 30 years
Florida Registration Status: Active
Bar Admissions:
Clearwater Bar Association
West Pasco Bar Association