The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently looking into reports regarding potential engine failures affecting approximately 1.4 million vehicles from Honda and Acura.
This investigation encompasses multiple models, including the 2016 to 2020 Honda Pilot, the Acura MDX for the same model years, as well as the 2018 to 2020 Honda Odyssey and Acura TLX. Additionally, it covers the 2017 to 2019 Honda Ridgeline.
According to the documents released on the NHTSA website, the issue centers around the failure of connecting rod bearings in vehicles powered by 3.5-liter V6 engines. A failure of these bearings can result in total engine failure, which poses significant risks to vehicle owners. Connecting rods play a critical role by linking the pistons to the crankshaft, facilitating the conversion of vertical motion into rotational force to drive the vehicle’s wheels.
Previously, in November 2023, Honda initiated a recall for around 250,000 vehicles to address this identical concern. However, the NHTSA has documented 173 complaints from vehicle owners who experienced connecting rod bearing failures but whose vehicles were not included in the recall scope. Alarmingly, at least one individual reported a crash related to this issue, although no injuries were noted.
In light of these findings, the NHTSA has decided to launch a recall query to better assess the extent of the problem in vehicles that were not part of the recent recall announcement.
A request for comments was made from Honda on Monday.
In the details regarding the 2023 recall, Honda stated that it received 1,450 warranty claims connected to the bearing issue, yet reported no associated injuries from these incidents. As part of the recall process, dealers are expected to inspect the vehicles and either perform repairs or replace the engines based on the inspection outcomes.
