More than 1.4 million Honda vehicles are under a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation for an issue with their rod bearings that could cause engine failure. The problem relates to the automaker’s widely used 3.5-liter V6 engine and impacts vehicles from both Honda and Acura.
This isn’t a recall yet, but the investigation covers:
- 2018-2020 Acura TLX
- 2016-2020 Acura MDX
- 2016-2020 Honda Pilot
- 2018-2020 Honda Odyssey
- 2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline
The NHTSA looked at a similar number of vehicles in 2023, leading to the recall of almost a quarter-million units. That recall was issued to fix a manufacturing defect in the crankshaft that could cause premature rod bearing wear and potential engine failure. This investigation was prompted by 414 reports of the problem in various Honda and Acura models.
The earlier investigations found that the engines had a machining defect that increased friction between the journals and bearings, which could cause it to seize and kill the engine. The problem also increases the fire risk.
Honda has used that V6 in a wide range of models, including the Passport and Odyssey, but the issues appear tied to models from a few years back, suggesting that the problem has been fixed in newer models. That said, multiple investigations and recalls for the same issue isn’t a good look.
[Images: Honda]
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