general problems of the 2016 Honda Pilot - part 2

Car had a low oil light and started a knocking noise on 6/6. Stopped vehicle and had it towed to dealership on 6/7 report came back with a connecting rod problem. No further inspection after that. Was made aware that there is a current recall on my vehicle specs but not my specific VIN number.

According to the Honda dealership of winchester, west virginia, an engine rod came through back of block and into oil plan, causing oil to leak on exhaust, which then caused the car to catch on fire. My daughter was driving and her safety was at risk. There were no warning signs about this prior to the incident. We had just driven the car from nashville to west virginia with no problems. I was told that there was a recall for this for 2016 Honda Pilots, but that my VIN was not included. This has cost me $215. 31 in car rental fees, $169. 38 in uber fees, $1661. 35 in auto transport and towing fees, $165. 99 inspection from Honda. I'm still waiting on final costs for a new engine; I was quoted $12k from Honda; trying to find a cheaper alternative.

I was driving in the interstate today. Car started knocking really hard and shuts off. Dealership replaced fuel injectors. 2 weeks later car started knocking. Dealership said I need a new engine as they found metal shavings in the oil.

Honda technician upon inspection found code p0175 fuel system too rich, preformed af test found bank 2 failed on all injectors, injectors need to be replaced. But the Honda dealer is not willing to replace the fuel injector based on "service bulletin 20-100, & 20-11 warranty extension". The service bulletin ask for replacement of the fuel injectors and/or a software update.

2016 Honda Pilot ex-l (80k miles) that has been always serviced at Honda dealership for all regular oil changes and all regularly needed service. Very well maintained and low miles. We heard a knocking sound from the front and brought it to Honda for diagnosis and repair. They informed us it’s a “connecting rod bearing” issue with “no signs of external abuse. ” this car has been unsafe to drive for 2 months while we worked with Honda to repair this issue and cover the cost of this. They declined to cover the cost of anything since this VIN hasn’t been recalled, while other 2016 Honda Pilots have had the exact same issue and were in the recall list.

While driving vehicle lost power and started smoking; and would not restart. Towed to Honda, they stated engine siezed and connecting rod was protruding out of the side of engine. Took to another shop and they confirmed rod bearings failed and caused connecting rod to break causing it to go through the engine. When attempted to restart car check engine light was on. Heads to the engine were good. Had to replace engine at 157k with all service being done at Honda on time or early with all maintenance being done on time. Vehicle lost power on highway in far left lane, very dangerous.

I had just left my house and, approximately five minutes or 1. 2 miles into my drive, the engine suddenly stopped in the middle of the road, leaving me stranded and in a dangerous situation. I had the vehicle towed to a Honda dealership, where I was informed that the engine had failed. However, I was given no explanation as to why this happened—only the option to replace the engine at my own expense.

Check engine light on emissions system problem and transmission system problem, there is loss power of engine light, after 2 gear transmission feel like it jerks I don't have save to drive my car, I would like to request a recall to be inspected and repair by warranty of Honda because my car is defective by manufacturer code are: p0420 (rear bank catalyst system efficiency below threshold [bank 1]) p0430 (front bank catalyst system efficiency below threshold [bank 2]) p0300-p0306 (misfire) p219a (air-fuel ratio variation of cylinder [bank 1, rear bank]) p219b (air-fuel ratio variation of cylinder [bank 2, front bank]).

Driving regular highway speed and lost power with a number 6 engine misfire. Towed vehicle to house and eventually to dealer to investigate.

I was on my way to work and was in a neighborhood going 25 mph and came to a stop. My engine cut off and would not restart. I bought the car with somewhere around 120,000 miles in 2021. . It is the end of may 2015 and the car has a little less than 152,000 on it. I kept up with required oil changes and I have been told that the engine is siezed. As well as the torque converter being stuck. . . Sounds like the same issues listed in the recall.

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart, and the contact heard a loud knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.

When the auto idle feature is on, the car will often completely turn off when at a red light or in stop & go traffic. When it is time to move again, I cannot go. Cars are honking at me to move, but the car will not start. I have to put the car in park, completely turn it off, and restart it. This sometimes happens on the interstate in heavy traffic, which can be extremely dangerous. My car’s engine light had been having a warning sign “emissions system problem”. I took it to the dealer, and told them about the auto idle problem & the light, but they could not find anything wrong. A few months later, my engine failed & they said it wasn’t covered under the recent recall so I had to pay $7,000 for a new engine. Now a few months later, the auto idle problem is happening again & the emissions system problem light is back on again. The new engine is only a few months old.

Engine knocking rod causing it safety is at risk with engine knocking took vehicle to independent service center vehicle or component have been inspected by independent service center there was no warning until I heard the noise and saw the check engine light come on while driving home from work.

Auto start/stop not working at stop. Vehicle fails to restart when engine has turned off at intersection. On occasion, vehicle fails to start and loses total power. Often, it takes several minutes to regain power. This has occurred in intersections, almost causing accidents. The car was repaired per a TSB, but the issue continues, and has for the last 4 years since purchase.

Ecm failure with fuel rail/system pressure code. Safety issue due to no prior issue and all of a sudden engine stalling in the middle of a busy intersection and taking 10 mins to get started and shift gears to get out of the way of oncoming traffic with all dashboard lights illuminated to include check engine light, trailer stability assist problem light, hill assist problem light, lkas light, and acc light.

Driving on [xxx] ) at highway speed in traffic when the engine started making a sudden rattling noise, shaking, and had immediate power loss. Within seconds the engine light started blinking, the oil light illuminated and the information light came on. I was forced to pull over and shut the vehicle off. We were forced to stand on the side of [xxx] on a Friday evening while we waited for a tow truck to come get us. I have had the vehicle towed to the dealership where we purchased it and they have indicated that the engine needs to be replaced due to failed rod bearings. The vehicle is currently at ralph Honda in rochester NY. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

There was a small ticking/knocking noise that started the week before I took my Honda Pilot in to the dealer. I took the car in for regular service and told them about this noise. Under further inspection, I was advised by the Honda dealership that the piston connecting rod bearing had failed causing damage to the motor. I had to pay to replace the motor at my own expense. This is a safety issue as I did not really have a warning that anything was wrong with the vehicle and the engine could have seized up and caught fire while I was driving putting my family and other vehicles in harms way. It is my understanding that Honda had a partial recall on this issue in which my VIN was not covered. I was not notified that this was even an issue for the 2016 Honda Pilots and I should have been notified and and this should have been fixed before it occurred. The dealer reached out to Honda corporate to request coverage of this cost and they denied it even though this is a known issue with this motor.

1. The engine system failed, specifically due to a connecting rod bearing failure caused by improper machining of the crankshaft journals. This led to internal metal-on-metal contact and abnormal wear. The engine is still installed in the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. 2. The engine failure caused jerking during acceleration, hesitation, and intermittent stalling, particularly when attempting to merge onto highways or accelerate from a stop. This significantly increased the risk of losing power while driving, which could have led to rear-end collisions or sudden stalls in traffic, putting both my safety and the safety of others at risk. 3. Yes. The problem was initially identified by an independent, authorized mechanical shop, which suggested that the failure resembled a known engine-related recall affecting other Honda Pilots. The issue was then formally confirmed by a certified Honda dealership (Honda superstore of lisle) on April 19, 2025, which diagnosed connecting rod bearing failure and recommended a full engine replacement. 4. Yes. An authorized third-party mechanical shop, which initially suspected the issue was linked to a known Honda recall. A certified Honda dealership, which confirmed the diagnosis and recommended engine replacement. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. 5. There were no warning lamps or dashboard messages. However, physical symptoms began appearing around April 1, 2025, and included: loud ticking and knocking noises on engine startup. Jerking and hesitation during acceleration. Occasional stalling and reduced power while driving. These symptoms worsened over time, prompting me to stop driving the vehicle due to safety concerns.

Rattling noise in engine. Feels unsafe to drive. Honda mechanic confirmed new engine needed due to worn rod bearings.

Vehicle was fixed for auto start stop under recall. They changed all the parts including capacitors. Within 5000 miles it started happening again. I’ve informed Honda about this from 20k miles. The vehicle now has 165k. I’ve told them on multiple occasions that this is a serious safety issue. They said they have this fixed and they do not. They closed my case even though I asked them to keep it open as they have not proved to me that it is fixed. The only way to fix this is to have Honda program the care to not allow start stop as someone is going to get killed. It’s just a matter of time.

The car has trouble starting. It has been occurring for years. (1) it cycles like it has a bad battery. (2) it cycles like the starter is not getting power or is bad. (3) sometimes this causes the engine starting cycle to completely fail and restart is not immediately possible. (4) the auto stop/restart feature cannot be used because it requires frequent stopping and starting of engine which is not possible. I’ve had many Honda dealers and Honda mechanics looking at the issue and none have been able to determine the problem.

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and then stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact research and was made aware of an unknown NHTSA campaign number; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 173,055.

Pilot has auto start/stop problems. When it stops, if the exact pedal procedure isn't followed the car will lurch forward and stall engine. After that is it difficult to restart. This situation creates a dangerous situation as the vehicle fails to pull out in traffic under power. Very poor design by Honda and should be permanently disabled for driver/occupant safety.

Car fails to restart after idle stop is engaged and will stall out car. Causing significant safety hazard trying to restart car after idle stop.

My car started having the knocking sound from the engine on 3/26/25. Took it to the dealer on 3/27 for diagnosis and was told that the engine rod block needs replacement and it is not covered under warranty. They quoted $10700 for a new engine with 1 year/12000 warranty. Then, I contacted Honda corporate and after a week of their investigation was told that my car is not under warranty, hence they couldn't help with the repair. This is a manufacturing defect and Honda should cover this expense. Although, they sent out a recall notice but they said my VIN is not part of it. Please help!.

I have to drive with my idle off because when I drive with it on, there were 4 instances where my car idled & it idled so much that the whole car just turned completely off when I was waiting at an intersection or at a red light or getting off an exit & there were numerous cars behind me waiting. I would have to keep pressing different buttons or drive to park then try to turn the car back on & it would take awhile to turn back on. So to avoid this, I would just drive with my idle off. I did bring it up the the service department at the dealership but they said they didn’t see anything wrong, because it doesn’t happen all the time or maybe because they were just driving around one block, I don’t know. But it happened with me and when my husband drove my car. It’s very dangerous. I finance my car with the dealership and it happened ever since I bought the car. But I bought it as is, so they said they can’t do anything about it.

This vehicle has a good service history but when I was driving on the highway the motor stalled almost causing an accident I heard a popping sound then the motor started to knock like crazy I know there was a recall on these vehicles for the same issue I feel that Honda should honor the recall on the Pilot elite as well.

Purchased 2016 Honda Pilot elite used from a Hyundai dealership in Feb 2024 with ~70,000 miles. At approximately 89,000 miles noticed a ticking sound from engine that corresponded with engine rpm. Brought car in for oil change at 91,000 miles and noticed ticking had progressed to a more concerning knocking sound, however no codes or warnings were thrown and power seemed unaffected. Approximately 6 days later while on freeway felt a large shuddering, check engine light came on and power was significantly reduced, especially at higher rpms. Limped directly to Honda dealership, who inspected and advised of metal shavings in oil filter. Advised by Honda techs there was evidence of camshaft rod failure and recommended total engine replacement ($11,330 quote). Mileage at failure was ~92,000. VIN check showed no unresolved recalls, despite remarkable similarity of symptoms and failure to recall #23v-751. I did not receive a notice in the mail about this recall.

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving 30-35 mph, the check engine warning light started flashing, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with rod bearing knock and internal engine failure. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number 23v751000(engine and engine cooling). The contact stated that the water pump and timing chain replacement, and recommended maintenance of the vehicle were previously completed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered because the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 105,700.

2016 Honda Pilot with 77,000 (with additional transmission coolant system added upon purchase new) randomly blew the engine yesterday getting off of the interstate exit ramp. Minimal symptoms ahead of time. . . Starting driving a little rough over last day but then complete engine and electrical failure out of nowhere. Honda dealership made it clear that it's no longer under warranty. Also said its very rare. Another mechanic told me that they've seen a few of these with 2016-2017 Honda Pilots with relatively low mileage and suggested I look online for others. (which led me to report this). This car has had issues since I bought it brand new including air conditioning system, excessive heat in the car from the engine, electrical quirks, etc.

Auto idle restart and transmission is unexpectedly put in park upon restart. On occasion then car goes into limp mode and powers off.

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate uphill while the accelerator pedal was depressed. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle lost automotive power and her daughter was able to pull over to the shoulder of the highway. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced along with several other undisclosed repairs. Upon further investigation, the local dealer related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 23v751000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 178,069.

I have 130k miles on my 2016 Honda Pilot and I recently noticed a knocking sound under the hood. I took it to a local mechanic who let me know it is likely a rod knock and that I will need a new engine replaced for an estimated $8k. I am concerned that if the connecting rod bearing seizes, the engine can be damaged and run improperly, stall, stop while driving and/or not start, increasing the risk of a fire, crash or injury. When I called Honda and had them run my VIN, they said my vehicle is not listed in the 2016, 2018 or 2019 vehicles that were included in the list of vehicles for the connecting rod recall. I am concerned for my safety and I am wondering why my 2016 is not included with other 2016s with the same issue. I am taking my vehicle to a Honda dealership tomorrow to get an official diagnosis and will connect with Honda corporate again and submit a request for review of this situation.

Our stop/start feature consistently causes the car to stall instead of restarting the engine. This leaves us stranded in or at intersections while waiting for the car to respond to pressing the park and restart buttons. This regularly takes enough time we have narrowly avoided being hit multiple times from suddenly not being able to move. Because it can turn off at any time you are fully stoped we have been caught after having to make a complete stop in the middle of an intersection and then still being stalled when the light changed. Honda has experienced the problem and has only been willing to change the battery. A fully charged and new battery does temporarily reduce the number of occurrences. This has only been inspected by Honda because we have not had an actual accident yet. There are no other warning lights on the car at any point. This is a regular and known issue that they have failed to fix.

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at approximately 40 mph, the vehicle was shaking, and the engine made a loud knocking sound. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle went into limp mode and was towed to the dealer. The dealer determined that the connecting rod bearings had failed, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to brannon Honda (300 gadsden hwy, birmingham, al 35235); who also determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 23v751000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact also related the failure to NHTSA action number: rq24013 (engine). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was under review. The failure mileage was 121,006.