2017 Honda Pilot Engine

Connecting rod bearing failure at 118,000 miles. Followed all recommended Honda service schedules at authorized Honda dealerships. Need to replace crankshaft, main bearings, #2 cylinder connecting rod and connecting rod bearings and all related gaskets, o-rings, seals, etc. Could have been major safety issue if I was driving when the engine failed. Vehicle is at a Honda dealership and Honda corporate told me, sorry, but out of warranty. Worse customer service experience in my lifetime. No vehicle regardless of manufacturer and regular servicing should require this type of repair, ever at this mileage. There is a manufacturing defect since model years on both sides of the 2017 model are currently involved with engine recalls per the information below. Quite the coincidence that my Pilot experienced the exact same failure. No warning lights became illuminated. Engine and engine cooling: Engine: Hard parts internal/mechanical Recall date 2023-11-12 Recall no. 23V751000 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.

- Emission systems problem despite changing fuel injectors twice -- Dealer found DTC P0420 . Performed 20-100 under warranty extension Dealer replaced the fuel injectors last year in 2024 when the emissions systems problem indicator light appeared and recently again on September 04 2025. The repairs were performed free of charge. - The indicator now appears again on and off in the last two weeks after September 15, 2025. - The indicator sometimes shows up immediately after starting the engine and sometimes turn on while driving.

120k J35Y6 engine with good oil service and no major issues before. I heard a tapping/ticking noise emanating from the engine. So I brought the car to the local Honda service center for a diagnosis. Without opening the engine (i.e. purely based off sound) they claimed that the sound was "rod knock" caused by the crankshaft pin and the connecting rod bearing, and that the engine was effectively totaled. Upon doing some research I learned that that exact issue is the subject of an ongoing investigation so I decided to submit this report. My receipt and outline of that engine diagnosis is attached.

Vehicle Mileage - 87,200 In February I had the Fuel Pump recall completed after over a year of waiting for the parts to come to the Honda Dealer. I first noticed the recall being issued when I received my notice to renew my registration. Then, I received an official notice from Honda a few months later in the mail. I sent an online appointment form around that time and Bobbi at Honda told me that they did not have the parts and I should wait to check again in a few months as it was impossible for them to get the parts in. So I did - I periodically would call her directly in the service department to check and they still did not have it. FINALLY they got the parts in, and she let me know I could schedule to have the recall fixed. I came in about a week later in early February and had it fixed. Since then I've had issues with my emissions system light turning on randomly - usually whenever there was significant changes in the weather - very hot/much cooler. I just took it into the dealership on 8/4/25 because the light the last few days had stayed on. The dealership told me they needed to check the fuel pump for sure because when I explained the situation to them, it very well could be related to the recall being fixed. They informed me they ran several tests and discovered that I need to replace my catalytic converter. It is clear at this mileage on my Honda Pilot and the delays in having the fuel pump recall fixed caused the damage to the catalytic converter. I spent almost an entire year calling the dealership every few months to see if they had the parts in to fix the fuel pump recall, I was told that they did not have the parts in stock and that there was a significant backlog in getting the parts, that it was out of the dealership's hands and that they would let me know when the parts were in stock. After over a year of driving with a defective fuel pump that Honda knew was faulty without any advice received about potential secondary damage.

I believe my vehicle is impacted by the Honda/Acura related to recall 23V751000(Engine Damage from Connecting Rod Bearing Wear A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving). Ticking noise in engine. 2017 Honda Pilot 40,028 miles on it. Dealership has advised that this is not part of the VIN recall, the connecting rod bearing is spun and I now need to replace the engine.

I was told by my local Honda Dealer (Autofair Honda Manchester NH) that my very well maintained 2017 Honda Pilot, which I bought new, needed a new engine. After doing some research, I discovered that Honda has already recalled 249000 vehicles in the US with a 3.5 liter V6 engine that had manufacturing defects in the crankshaft that could cause connecting rod bearings to prematurely wear and seize leading to engine failure. NHTSA also said it was probing the severity of the issue to determine if the vehicles not included in the 2023 recall should be covered. My 2017 Pilot falls into the "investigation period" and has characteristics consistant with those addressed in the 2023 recall. Therefore, I wanted to add my information to your database. Thank you

On April 30, 2024, while sitting at a traffic light waiting to turn, my Honda Pilot experienced a catastrophic engine failure. The driver heard a loud knocking sound and the engine failed. The driver was left to navigate to a safe area through traffic. The vehicle was towed to a nearby auto mechanic for evaluation. It was determined that a connecting rod had penetrated the engine block and that engine would not be salvageable. The vehicle was towed again to another auto mechanic, where the engine was removed and replaced with a used engine of the same make and model with other required support equipment (timing belt, water pump, miscellaneous belts and hardware) at a cost of $8656.00 Given the passage of approximately 15 months since the engine was replaced, the catastrophically failed engine is no longer available to be inspected. Thankfully the vehicle was stationary when the failure occurred or the driver may have been at greater risk. He did need to walk through a busy intersection to get to safety. The engine failure and replacement was performed and documented by an independent service center. The failed engine was not inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance carrier’s representatives. Only observed by the two independent service centers. There were no warning lamps, or no messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. This issue appears to be related to NHTSA investigation: PE25008

Symptom: Knocking noise coming from engine. Diagnosis: Honda dealer removed oil pan and found connecting rod bearing material. Removed all connecting rod bearings and found cylinder 1 bearing had excessive wear and found bearing was bent. Engine replacement recommended as bearing material may have went through the entire engine and could cause engine failure.

(1)My local Honda Dealership (Herson's Honda, Rockville, MD), has diagnosed a knocking sound coming from my engine as a rod bearing failure, and they say I need a new engine. My 2017 Honda Pilot has only 56,755 on it, and I am aware my model car is now currently under NHTSA investigation as a part of the expanded probe of an earlier 2023 recall. It is available for inspection. (2)Your agency has identified this as a widespread problem among my model year, which could lead to complete engine failure. This event would put me as the driver, and any passengers I may be carrying at very serious risk. Other drivers could be at risk of injury if the engine were to fail and I were to lose control of the car. (3)Yes, I had the problem replicated by both my independent service center, and the Herson's Honda Dealership. I will upload the confirmation document in my report. (4)The car has not been inspected by a manufacturer to my knowledge (yet). Right now, the car is at the Herson's Honda dealership. Technicians have told me it is unsafe to drive the vehicle. (5)No lights appeared on the dashboard. I first noticed a slight knocking noise about a month ago, and then heard it again after returning from vacation, prompting us to take it into the dealership. It was quickly diagnosed as a rod bearing failure. -- Herson's let us know they would file a report with American Honda. Ricardo Benitez (Herson's) told us we were not the first to come in with this issue, and "would not be the last". Nevertheless, Herson's Honda has informed us that this is not currently under extended warranty, nor is it the subject of any current recall. This has left me with an inoperable car, with an engine replacement cost that I must bear to the tune of nearly $25,000. I urge NHTSA to compel Honda to issue a recall, given the widespread issue Honda is dealing with for my model year.

The Engine completely died and refused to start in the middle of a busy road. We had to call 911 and have a police car stop and re-reroute traffic to ensure that the stalled car didn't cause an accident. We thad the car towed to the dealer and they were able to confirm that the Engine was dead and needed to be replaced. We filed a ticket with Honda (Case #15428329) to have them cover the cost of the repair and they refused. We have since replaced the Engine and the car is back in service. Since they refused to pay, we didn't have much of a choice at the time so we paid out of pocket.

We have a 2017 Honda Pilot Touring with the 3.5L V6, and it developed a tick when running, and it turned into a rod knock. Found out about the crank and rod recall, but realized our 2017 is not included. Tore the engine down to find the #6 rod bearing destroyed. I still have the bearing if it is requested. The vehicle left us stranded in the middle of the highway with kids on board. The rod bearing and crank have not been inspected by anyone but me, as I cannot afford to take it into a shop or dealer. There were no warning lights or other symptoms besides the tick that turned into a knock.

Driving down the highway started having the check engine light start flashing and a loud clunking noise started in engine. Pulled over and shut off vehicle and tried restarting and it wouldn't. Tried again about 1 hr later and same noise came back. Stuck on side of highway for est 3 hrs. Had it towed to local Honda dealer (70 miles away) and it has a connecting rod/bearing failure and the engine is shot. No indication of the problem until the check engine light starting flashing. Car ran fine. This happened on 7/24/25 and has been at dealership since then because it cannot be driven.

Possible rod bearing, leading to engine failure.

Engine failure due to connecting rod bearings wearing prematurely.

Emissions system error repeatedly produced leading to ultimate engine failure. The initial error was fixed by a mechanic. Within 6 months the light was back on accompanied by a loud knocking in the engine. The check engine light indicated a misfire on cylinder one, the ignition coil was replaced, and the problem persisted. The vehicle was taken to the mechanic where they determined the lower part of the engine was failing and that it would need complete replacement. Vehicle is still in my possession as I'm not sure what to do with it. The vehicle has 135k miles on it.

The engine fails to restart on its own after a complete stop at a traffic light or intersection with the auto idle mode on.

The engine developed bottom end knock. We brought it into the Honda dealership and they opened the engine from the oilpan to conduct an inspection. The dealership confirmed that the crankshaft bearings have scoring and the engine short block or whole engine needs to be replaced. This is the same issue that is being investigated under NHTSA Action Number: RQ24013. There is a recall for this exact same issue for Honda Pilots model years 2016, 2018, 2019, but ours is a 2017 -- the active recall is Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-751. The dealership contacted Honda, who is only willing to issue a courtesy discount, so that the cost to fix is $8,000 to $9,000. The car only has 115,000 miles and has been regularly serviced by the dealership for oil changes and all other recommended repairs and service when due, so this is likely a defect with the crankshaft. The dealership that conducted the examination is Muller Honda at 550 Skokie Valley Rd, Highland Park, IL 60035

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the contact heard a chirping sound coming from the engine. The contact pulled over to the right side of the road and waited for tow assistance. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 96,400.

The cars RPM continuously os ul and down while driving causing the car the continously jerk while driving. Which has been to the shop two times for the same issue. The car hesitates a lot when pressing the gas as if it's lost power.

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that when the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the failure occurred while on a four-lane highway. The contact stated that later, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the contact's minor child was an occupant of the vehicle when the failure occurred. The contact and a nearby driver pushed the vehicle to the shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact was informed by the tow truck driver that the failure was engine failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact stated that the vehicle was scheduled for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 141,496.

There was a knocking noise from the engine. I took it in for repairs and I was told that it is due to an abnormally worn rod bearing. I looked into this problem and found that there is an open investigation for the Honda Pilot 3.5L V-6 and abnormally worn rod bearings leading to possible engine failure. I mentioned this to the Honda dealership and he informed me that it does apply to my vehicle because there is not a recall on my vehicle. The gentleman in the service department is now denying that he said that the rods are worn, but now he’s stating the rods are bent. I have the text message from yesterday where he was explaining what’s wrong with my vehicle and that the rods are abnormally worn. The Honda dealership in Enterprise, AL is the dealership that I’m working with. They informed me today that they are working on getting my engine replaced with an engine from a junkyard from a totaled vehicle. This doesn’t seem ok due to the issue at hand with the problems with the 3.5 L V-6 engines and my concern is that it will have the same problems. I’ve read that Honda Pilot owners are having these same issues even though there isn’t a recall on their vehicles either. I’m very concerned and I’m not sure what can be done about this. I would appreciate any assistance or advice. Thank you for your time

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? 2017 Honda Pilot (127K miles) has experienced complete engine failure. Independent mechanic and Honda service have both said an engine replacement is required. Vehicle is at Honda of Katy and available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? A breakdown occurred while my young son was driving. Thankfully, he was not on the highway, but the situation was distressing and has shaken my confidence in the vehicle's safety and reliability. He had to push it out of an intersection into a gas station, posing a safety risk to him, his passengers, and other cars on the road. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? It was towed to our mechanic and then to Honda after his inspection found the problem to be consistent with the NHTSA recall 23V-751. Honda's inspection shows that the engine needs to be replaced. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? An engine light came on 11/17 while my son was driving (1 mile from home.) Once he arrived, we immediately took it to the shop, but the light disappeared between his stop at home and when we started it up again. The mechanic could find nothing wrong. He took a drive for a few miles and the light never came back on and no codes were found. The oil was then changed (as part of routine maintenance) and the breakdown happened after driving about 10 miles post-visit. After having it towed back to the mechanic when the engine failed, it was confirmed that the oil levels were still good, but metal was found in the newly replaced clean oil.

I owned the referenced 2017 Honda Pilot vehicle. I was having transmission issues, which there were recalls for. I went to an authorized dealer to have the recall addressed. 6-8 months later same issue or I thought. Honda Dealer told me that the car was no longer in warranty, now I had to pay. What tripe! 6 months later engine blows up. Took car to a non-Honda repair shop. They tell me that there was an issue with the crankshaft and that the rod bearing went through the engine block. NICE. I pay for a used Honda engine over $8,000, NICE! I pick up the car now they tell me the transmission is shot. I take the car back to another Honda dealer complaining about a blown engine and previous trips to the other Honda dealer about transmission issues. Now after a new engine, which this dealer tells me there were no bulletins or recalls, that they'll push back on Honda about the transmission. They get Honda to pay for roughly 60% of a new transmission. Which cost's me another $3,600. Fantastic! I spend almost $12,000 on, at that time a 6 year old vehicle with just 80,000 miles, that I purchased used, in 2019 with just over 13,000 miles. I decided not to push my luck and sold the car to a dealer in 2023. I AM CONTACTING THE REPAIR SHOP THAT REPLACED THE ENGINE FOR A COPY OF THE INVOICE. Now, after almost 2-years, I find out Honda had issued recalls for the same issue I paid for. Do I have any recourse? Can the NHSTA assist with this issue? Anything you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

On [XXX] I was driving my 2017 Honda Pilot [XXX], 11 miles south of Mammoth Lakes, CA. about [XXX]. Suddenly, simultaneously, my Pilot’s engine light began to blink, the entire instrument panel lit up, and my steering wheel began to lock up as the vehicle was losing power. I was able to get the vehicle onto the shoulder without hitting the guardrail that was inches from where I stopped. Smoke began to pour out from under the hood, and liquid began to empty out from underneath. We needed to get towed to our vacation destination spot, which was 12 miles from where we broke down. Since this happened on the weekend, needed to get towed again on Monday April 14 to the Honda dealer in Bishop, 44 miles from where we were staying. The service manager took photos. There is a GIANT hole in the engine, none of which was caused by anything I’d come in contact with on the road. To American Honda Corp. I have some questions for you: Why isn’t the 2017 Pilot part of the recall? Why did you include 2016 and 2018 but not 2017? Do you expect me to have any more trust in your product, or think I will be recommending to friends and others that you make a safe, reliable vehicle? Can you begin to imagine the stress, anxiety and not to mention INSANE AMOUNT OF $ it will be costing me for a NEW ENGINE? NOT TO MENTION THE MONEY I’VE ALREADY SUNK INTO PAYING FOR THE VEHICLE AND IT’S REQUIRED MAINTENANCE? Did you also know that I have 80,000 miles on the Pilot’s current odometer? Do you know that I have never been in an accident or have had a speeding ticket? Do you care to know that I DID EVERY SERVICE REQUIRED, ON TIME, and ALWAYS AT THE HONDA DEALER NEAR MY HOUSE BECAUSE I AM ABOUT FOLLOWING RULES AND RECOMMENDATIONS PUT FORTH BY YOU, FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY OF MY HONDA PILOT? Do you realize how LUCKY AND GRATEFUL my husband and I are that, because of conditions and traffic the afternoon this happened we are lucky to be alive? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Vehicle: 2017 Honda Pilot VIN: [XXX] Mileage at failure: 111000 Summary of Issue: My 2017 Honda Pilot suffered a sudden engine failure diagnosed by a Honda dealer as internal damage due to a failed connecting rod bearing. This is the same failure mode documented in Honda TSB 23-097 / Safety Recall for other Pilot model years (2016, 2018–19), but my 2017 VIN was excluded. Circumstances of Failure: While driving, I first noticed a loud knocking/tapping sound from the engine, followed by reduced power and rough running while getting on the freeway. Within a very short time, the vehicle became difficult to drive and stalled. It had to be taken to a Honda dealership. The technician confirmed a failed rod bearing causing internal engine damage. The failure occurred without warning lights or prior indications, and if it had happened at highway speed, it could have led to a sudden loss of power and increased crash risk. Details: Dealer diagnosis: rod bearing failure requiring engine replacement. Repair estimate: over $13,000 (engine replacement + related service items). Vehicle has been maintained meticulously (full synthetic oil every 5–7K miles, AT fluid every 20K miles, recommended timing belt service). Honda America declined goodwill assistance, citing lack of Honda-dealer service records, even though independent/self-service maintenance records are available. Safety Concern: Rod bearing failure is a serious safety defect that can cause sudden loss of engine power while driving, posing a crash risk to the driver, passengers, and others on the road. Context: In Nov 2024, NHTSA opened an investigation into expanding the recall to include additional model years (including the 2017 Pilot) after more than 170 similar failures were reported outside current VIN coverage. My vehicle appears to be another case of this same defect, not yet included in the recall. Request: Please investigate and consider expanding the recall to include the 2017 Honda Pilot. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)