2017 Honda Pilot

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 414 reports of connecting rod bearing failures in the 3.5L V6 engine used in the following vehicles: Model Years (MY) 2018-2020 Acura TLX, MY2016-2020 Acura MDX, MY2016-2020 Honda Pilot, MY2018-2020 Honda Odyssey, and MY2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline.  The subject engine failures were analyzed as part of a Recall Query (RQ24013).  It was determined that these engine failures are outside the scope of Honda Recall 23V-751. Further, evidence gathered in conjunction with RQ24013 does not suggest this failure is caused by the same crankshaft manufacturing defect that is addressed by Honda in Recall 23V-751.  Based on analysis of data from RQ24013, NHTSA has closed that investigation. The significant number of reports of engine failure in vehicles outside the scope of RQ24013 presents a potential safety risk that warrants further investigation.  ODI is opening this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to further evaluate the scope and severity of the potential problem and to fully assess the potential safety-related issues.  To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

On November 8, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ24013 to assess the scope of Honda recall 23V-751 after receiving complaints that alleged connecting rod bearing failures in vehicles that were not within the scope of recall 23V-751. In November 2023, Honda recalled 248,999 various Model Year (MY)2016–2020 Honda and Acura vehicles equipped with the 3.5L V6 engine. Honda recalled these vehicles due to a crankshaft manufacturing defect that caused premature connecting rod bearing wear and engine seizure. While the out-of-scope failures involved in these complaints appear to have a very similar failure mechanism as the recalled engines, a thorough analysis of all available data from Honda has not indicated that the same manufacturing defect exists in the out-of-scope engines as the engines recalled by 23V-751. Based on this analysis ODI has determined that Honda has properly defined the scope of recall 23V-751. Consequently, ODI will close this RQ investigation.  NHTSA will continue to investigate these complaints of engine failure as part of a new Preliminary Evaluation Investigation (PE25008). The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.

On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.NHTSA has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Preliminary Evaluation is being upgraded to an Engineering Analysis, EA25004, to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope for the Engineering Analysis to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaigns. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

On 11/08/2026, My daughter was driving our 2017 Honda Pilot at highway speeds on the freeway when the engine suffered a sudden, violent, and complete seizure. The vehicle experienced an immediate, dangerous loss of motive power while traveling in active traffic, presenting an extreme safety hazard to herself and surrounding motorists. First the engine was running rough, then the accelerator stoped working, then the battery and the oil lights came on, then she pulled over to the side and the brake stopped working (the brake pedal locked and wouldn’t let me press down anymore) then she put the car in park and put the emergency brake on, the the brake failure warning screen popped up, then when she tried to turn the car on and off the engine wouldn’t start and all the warning lights would flicker on the panel, and the engine rpm indicator would just shake around 0 RPM The vehicle was towed to a secure location and has been diagnosed with total internal engine failure. This catastrophic failure mirrors the exact parameters outlined in the active NHTSA Recall Query RQ24013 regarding premature connecting rod bearing wear on Honda 3.5L V6 engines. The 2017 model year was improperly excluded from the previous engine recall (Campaign 23V751000), despite suffering from the identical manufacturing defect. I am requesting that NHTSA expedite this investigation to force a mandatory safety recall before this defect causes severe crashes or injuries.

NHTSA ID

11776795

Incident

Nov 8, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while her husband was driving approximately 35 - 40 MPH, another vehicle crashed head-on into the vehicle. The driver's seat belt failed to retract upon impact and retracted after the crash, and the air bags failed to deploy. The driver's head struck the steering wheel causing severe head, neck, and back pain, which resulted in abnormal body heat and tingling sensations down to the toes. Medical attention was needed. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was undrivable and was scheduled to be towed to a tow lot for evaluation. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, a case was filed, and the contact was referred to the dealer for a loaner vehicle. The dealer was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

NHTSA ID

11775627

Incident

Nov 3, 2026

Mileage

96,000 mi

Dash lights light up for LKAS, brake system, abs, lane departure disabled, Road Departure Mitigation and acc. I can't just enable cruise control and sensors do not beep for detecting cars, people and stationary things.

NHTSA ID

11775482

Incident

Sep 25, 2026

The manufacturer has failed or is unable to remedy this safety recall (subframe) as there are no available parts. The local dealer is refusing to even preform an inspection to determine if the car is safe to drive in the meantime, and is unable to provide a timeframe in which this seemingly serious recall will be addressed.

NHTSA ID

11775146

Incident

Nov 1, 2026

The car was being driven at Expressway speed and the engine started making noise and then just stopped. There was some smoke and the engine completely quit afterwards we notice some oil dripping underneath the car from the engine. We took it to the Honda dealer and they said that it had thrown a rod and it was sticking through the block.

NHTSA ID

11774783

Incident

Apr 27, 2026

My 2017 honda pilot suddenly experienced engine failure. While drive the check engine light came on and could hear engine noise. Towed vehicle to a repair shop where they found bearing material in the oil filter. This vehicle has been well maintained, with regular oil changes.

NHTSA ID

11774318

Incident

Oct 12, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V365000 (Structure, Suspension). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that a fee was required for the rear passenger-side lower control arm replacement because the lower control arm bolt could not be loosened to complete the recall repair. The contact declined to pay the fee. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was filed, and the contact received an email confirming that the lower control arm replacement cost was at the owner's expense. The contact stated that the manufacturer failed to provide the recall repair free of charge.

NHTSA ID

11773675

Incident

Jun 17, 2026

We just purchased last month a 2017 Honda Pilot Elite. We have had issues with the auto start/stop function. Once at a drive through and once at a stoplight. After letting off break, it failed to restart and had to put it in park and restart. This is a dangerous situation being stalled in the road at a busy intersection. I haven't got it in the shop yet, but planning it next week.

NHTSA ID

11772873

Incident

Oct 10, 2026

Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the auto idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart. In other circumstances, vehicles may experience a slow crank or fail to start under hot ambient temperature conditions.

Dealer Message - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart. In other circumstances, vehicles may experience a slow crank or fail to start under hot ambient temperature conditions. The customer should be able to restart the vehicle by selecting Park and pushing the ENGINE START/STOP button.

Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop, the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque. Typically, the customer can immediately restart the vehicle by selecting Park and pressing the ENGINE START/STOP button.

Service Bulletin - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications. As a result, the torque converter lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock-up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the transmission indicator flashing “D” and set DTC P0741 Torque Converter Clutch Performance or Stuck OFF.

Service Bulletin - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications. As a result, the lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock-up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the transmission indicator flashing “D” and set the DTC P0741 Torque Converter Clutch Performance or Stuck OFF.

Dealer Message - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications. As a result, the torque converter lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock-up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the MIL not illuminating. “D” flashes and “Transmission Overheat” message appears setting DTC P0741 Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance or Stuck OFF.