Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (HMC) has a problem, and it involves more than a quarter-million hybrid sedans that might decide to stop working while you're driving them. Not ideal!

The Software Bug That Could Leave You Stranded

The Japanese automaker notified the NHTSA on Monday that it's recalling 256,603 Accord Hybrid vehicles manufactured between 2023 and 2025. The issue? A software error that could cause the integrated control module's central processing unit to reset while you're cruising down the highway, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power.

"Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power," Honda explained in its acknowledgement to regulators.

It's the kind of malfunction that makes you appreciate old-fashioned mechanical systems, even if they weren't as fuel-efficient.

Honda's Electric Vehicle Retreat

The recall arrives during a rocky period for Honda's electrification strategy. Back in September, the company pulled the plug on development of the Acura ZDX EV, which was built on General Motors Co. (GM)'s Ultium platform. Honda blamed lackluster EV demand in the United States for scaling back the crossover project.

It seems hybrids are having their own troubles too, at least on the software front.

Meanwhile, Across the Auto Industry

Honda isn't alone in navigating choppy waters. Fellow Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp (TM) recently opened its first battery plant outside Japan in Liberty, North Carolina, marking its eleventh production site in the United States. Toyota's clearly betting big on the American market, even as others hesitate.

Over at Ford Motor Co. (F), CEO Jim Farley is dealing with his own headaches. The company has issued 134 recalls in 2025 alone, though Farley is spinning it positively, calling them the "largest" near-term opportunity for Ford.

Farley also highlighted a more fundamental industry challenge: finding qualified technicians. Ford currently has 5,000 open positions paying $120,000 annually that it can't fill. "We are not investing in educating a next generation," Farley said, pointing to a skills gap that could plague automakers for years to come.