U.S. Regulators Investigate Engine Failures in 1.4 Million Honda Vehicles

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into potential engine failures affecting up to 1.4 million Honda and Acura vehicles. The probe covers certain models equipped with 3.5-liter V6 engines, including the 2016-2020 Honda Pilot, Acura MDX, 2018-2020 Honda Odyssey, Acura TLX, and 2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline.

According to NHTSA documents, the issue stems from defective connecting rod bearings, which link the pistons to the crankshaft. If these bearings fail, they can lead to complete engine shutdown. Honda previously issued a recall in November 2023 for approximately 250,000 vehicles to address this issue, but the NHTSA has since received 173 additional complaints, including one incident involving a crash. The new complaints pertain to vehicles not covered in the initial recall.

As part of the investigation, NHTSA will assess the scope and impact of the engine failures on the remaining vehicles. Honda has stated that it will fully cooperate with the inquiry.

The investigation will determine whether additional recalls are needed to address the problem in affected Honda and Acura models.