Honda has recalled two groups of drive-by-wire outboards since 2023 for a shift actuator link rod that can break and leave the boat stuck in gear: the BF200D, BF225D and BF250D in September 2023, and the BF115J, BF140A, BF150D and BF350A in June 2025. Neither recall is in the US Coast Guard's recall database. A search there on 5 November 2026 for Honda, or for the BF115, BF250 or BF350, found nothing newer than January 2017. Transport Canada updated its notice on the 2025 recall on 30 October 2026.
The two shift recalls
Both recalls cover Honda's drive-by-wire (DBW) shifting, sold on the newer engines as Intelligent Shift and Throttle (iST). If the link rod breaks, the engine can't shift between forward, neutral and reverse. Honda says the operator finds out when they move the lever and the boat keeps going in the direction of the last gear. For the 2023 engines, Honda's notice says not to use the outboard until it is repaired. Health Canada's notice on the 2025 engines told owners to "immediately stop using the recalled products and contact an authorized Honda Marine dealer for a free repair."
| Model | Gear case | Affected frame serials | Recall |
|---|---|---|---|
| BF350A | Standard | BBYJ-1000055 to 1003095 | June 2025 |
| BF350A | Counter-rotating | BBYJ-8000012 to 8001345 | June 2025 |
| BF150D | Standard | BBTJ-1000026 to 1100371 | June 2025 |
| BF150D | Counter-rotating | BBTJ-8000006 to 8100118 | June 2025 |
| BF140A | Standard | BBUJ-1000003 to 1100063 | June 2025 |
| BF140A | Counter-rotating | BBUJ-8000001 to 8000075 | June 2025 |
| BF115J | Standard | BBWJ-1000003 to 1100282 | June 2025 |
| BF115J | Counter-rotating | BBWJ-8000002 to 8100008 | June 2025 |
| BF250D | Standard | BBNJ-1010708 to 1023456 | Sept 2023 |
| BF250D | Counter-rotating | BBNJ-8010148 to 8014544 | Sept 2023 |
| BF225D | Standard | BBPJ-1010286 to 1014399 | Sept 2023 |
| BF225D | Counter-rotating | BBPJ-8010176 to 8012350 | Sept 2023 |
| BF200D | Standard | BBRJ-1010380 to 1015617 | Sept 2023 |
| BF200D | Counter-rotating | BBRJ-8010059 to 8011269 | Sept 2023 |
Source: the recall notices on Honda Marine's recall page. The 2023 notice covers DBW engines and the 2025 notice covers iST DBW engines only, so an engine with mechanical cable controls inside those serial ranges is not included.
Older Honda outboard recalls
Honda lists these on the same page. The two marked "product update" were published as service campaigns rather than safety recalls. Honda's 2024 notice says the dealer does that work at no cost.
| Date | Models | Problem |
|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | BF200D, BF225D, BF250D | Alternator belt can fail and tangle with the timing belt (product update) |
| July 2022 | BF200D, BF225D, BF250D | Cooling system water tube (product update) |
| Nov 2017 | BF115D, BF135A, BF150A, BF200A, BF225A, BF250A | Fuel overflows from the vapor separator vent tube |
| April 2017 | BF250A with iST | Shifts from neutral to forward on its own |
| May 2013 | BF2.3 | Gas cap vent leak |
| May 2011 | 16 models from the BF2D to the BF225A | Emergency stop switch may crack |
| Dec 2007 | BF15D, BF20D | Fuel chamber |
| May 2005 | BF8A | Flywheel breakage |
| May 2003 | BF200A, BF225A | Main engine wiring harness |
| March 2003 | BF135A, BF150A | Shift arm may break |
Most of these cover a narrow serial range, not every engine of that model. Honda's page has the exact ranges for each one.
Where to find the frame serial number
Honda stamps the frame serial number into a metal plate on or near the stern bracket. It is four letters, a dash and seven digits, for example BBYJ-1000055. The four letters identify the model family, so BBNJ is a BF250D and BBYJ is a BF350A. In every range in the table above, standard rotation engines start with 1 after the dash and counter-rotating engines start with 8. Honda also notes that the "BF" in the model name does not appear on the cowling sticker.
Honda's lookup takes the full serial and covers US models built since 2004. For an older engine, Honda asks owners to contact a dealer. Mercury and Yamaha work differently, and how to check any outboard for recalls by serial covers where their numbers are and which lookup to use.
If your engine is in range
Honda sends a letter to owners who registered the engine with American Honda. If it was never registered, or you bought the boat second hand, nobody may have told you. Take the serial to a Honda Marine dealer, or call American Honda on (888) 888-3139. Ask the dealer to confirm in writing that the recall work is done, because that record is what the next buyer will want to see.
Buying a used boat with a Honda on the back
Engine recalls follow the engine serial, not the boat. A check on the hull number will not catch them, and the engine on the transom may not be the one the boat left the factory with. Read the frame serial off the bracket, run it through Honda's lookup and ask the seller for the dealer's work order if it is in range. Then check the hull separately. The free HIN decoder confirms the builder and model year, and the boat recall check lists any Coast Guard recall campaigns on record for that builder. A full rundown of what free checks exist is in boat VIN lookup.
Check the boat, not just the listing
Type the 12-character hull number from the transom. The decoder reads the builder, build month and model year, and the recall lookup lists any US Coast Guard recall campaign on record for that manufacturer. Free, no account.
