general problems of the 2016 Honda Pilot - part 2

The fuel injection system routinely fails or misfires. Not only does this cause an issue with said system but it also triggers a host of other dashboard alerts. The alerts display all wheel drive problem, emission system problem, power steering problem, hill start problem, vehicle stability assist problem. This is a safety issue because the amount of alerts especially unrelated alerts is obfuscating any actual problems and making it difficult to diagnose the real issue. Investigation shows many other drivers having the same issues with this model only going away when the fuel injection system is replaced. It's also safety issue because if the fuel injection is failing then the car may shut off at a danger to the driver and the public. Given that it is known and chronic it should be a recall.

I am writing to formally report a serious and dangerous mechanical failure that occurred while I was driving my 2016 Honda Pilot, which was later diagnosed by a certified bell Honda dealership as a rod bearing failure. On July 25 2025, I was driving on the freeway at approximately 65 mph when, without warning, the vehicle began to shake violently, and I lost power and control of the car. The engine began making a loud knocking sound, and the vehicle decelerated rapidly, creating a hazardous situation in the middle of high-speed traffic. I narrowly avoided a collision while attempting to safely maneuver the car to the shoulder of the road. After the vehicle was towed to my home and to bell Honda dealership when they open, their inspection confirmed that the engine had suffered a rod bearing failure, which ultimately led to catastrophic engine damage. I was informed that the entire engine would need to be replaced at significant cost. This vehicle has been regularly maintained, including a recent [60k/other] mile service. It has never missed scheduled maintenance, and I have always followed Honda’s service recommendations. Despite this, I was told my VIN is not included in any current recall, even though this type of failure is a well-documented issue for 2016 Honda Pilots and is currently under NHTSA investigation. Honda of America has since denied my goodwill repair request, citing the age of the vehicle — despite the clear evidence that this was not due to owner neglect, but due to a manufacturing defect that poses a major safety risk. I am requesting that this incident be reviewed carefully, as it represents not just a financial burden, but a life-threatening mechanical failure. I am pursuing further action, including reporting this to the NHTSA, filing through bbb auto line, and seeking legal counsel if necessary. Please contact me if you need additional documentation, including the dealership’s diagnosis, repair estimates, maintenance records.

For the past three years or more the car does randomly turns of the engine often at a red light stop and sometimes requires multiple push on the start button to start the motor running. We have complained to the local Honda dealer of this issue several times through the years. They run all the tests needed and that the car has no problem. The can has been unreliable to drive in fact it is scary to drive.

Engine seized, mechanic mentioned potential connecting rod bearing failure. Was on freeway when car started to malfunction. Car was immediately taken to trusted mechanic and issue was found. Towed to additional mechanic following that. Honda dealership/service center was called regarding recalls on other 2016 Honda Pilots engine seizures and no response yet, want to have car inspected by them if possible.

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine. The contact was unsure if the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the rod bearings had failed, causing catastrophic damage to the engine. In addition, there were metal shavings inside the engine oil. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 23v751000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred contact to the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

The vehicle has started displaying numerous codes/error messages on the display. Vehicle jerks while attempting to accelerate and loses power. Dealership diagnosed the problem as a camshaft, stating the camshaft, timing belt, camshaft thrust cover, and spark plugs would all need to be replaced. They also said this may have caused damage to the converter, which will not be known until other repairs are made. This is apparently a common and widespread issue with these Hondas despite no recall being issued.

2016 Honda Pilot was taken to utah moto shop for routine maintenance and to diagnose engine noise after Honda replaced fuel injectors Nov 2024. Noise started right after injectors were replaced but customer was told that noise was normal. Utah moto shop found rod knock and diagnosed issues with connecting rod bearings. The shop contacted Honda in regards to NHTSA campaign number: 23v751000 and the related connecting rod bearing recall by Honda. Utah moto shop was told the VIN did not qualify. The vehicle has been deemed unsafe to drive due to the likelihood of engine failure at any time. The vehicle remains unrepaired and undriveable at 147,996 miles.

Driving home on a Thursday evening and experienced engine knocking sound(only heard when pulling into garage) after 30 minute drive of mixed highway and street driving. Shut down car and restarted engine. Engine knocking sound occurs just above normal idle rpm and also when rpm is going back down(deceleration) advised spouse not to drive car until it is diagnosed. Not ideal due to a family vacation the following week. Drove very slowly to dealer on Sunday evening for a Monday mid day diagnosis appointment. SUV did have a check engine light on ( Thursday) but did go away after sitting over weekend(Sunday night drop off) Honda dealer diagnosed my engine has a damaged connecting rod bearing on cylinder #6. The dealer then proceeded to quote around $12,000 usd to replace the engine with a used engine with 115,000 miles on it already. The quote also has individual cost to replace the timing belt, water pump, coolant, hydraulic tensioner on the used motor. My vehicle has 141,000 miles. I estimate the value of the car to be around $12-14k. I am an ase master certified technician who at one point did work for a Honda dealer. I am very familiar and comfortable with the manufacturer. I have owned 7 Honda/Acura vehicles over my lifetime. I have meticulously cared for this vehicle as I am now older with a family (3 kids)that relies on this SUV. Never once has the oil life reminder been below 10%. Honda brand transmission fluid, front axle fluid, rear diff fluid (purchased from Honda)x2 and of course all oil changes done by me. I am a believer in not trusting anyone putting any brand oil/fluids in your vehicle. Vehicle has not seen anything else besides mobil-1 full synthetic and Honda brand filters. This combo has served me well in my 6 other Honda/ Acura vehicles. With all that being said, I strongly believe this Pilot should be included in the connecting rod bearing recall that is currently affecting other 2016 model year Pilots. My VIN is not included.

Engine started knocking going down highway then shut off imeediatly. Dealer said engine needs replaced due to rod bearings. Dealer also said there was a recall for this exact issue but only certain VIN numbers were included. How can an engine type have the same issue but not be included in the recall?.

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at 68 mph on the interstate, the vehicle suddenly began to decelerate. There was an abnormal grinding odor detected. The contact was able to take the exit ramp. The engine light illuminated, and the vehicle became inoperable. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA action number: rq24013 (engine). The vehicle was towed to her residence. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was jump-started, and the contact was informed about an engine replacement. The vehicle was diagnosed that crank shaft split. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who confirmed no additional assistance would be provided. The manufacturer was no longer returning her calls. The failure mileage was approximately 237,000.

While traveling at highway speed a rod knock suddenly developed inside the engine. Engine lost power which could have led to crash or injury. Had vehicle towed to the nearest Honda dealer (fox Honda in grand rapids, mi) and they reported broken pieces internal to the engine coming out when draining the oil. There is an existing Honda service bulletin 24-001 that covers this issue on some 2016 Pilots but we were told by the dealer that our VIN does not fall within the range. I have seen reports online of other owners of 2016 Pilots being affected by this and being told the same thing.

In my 2016 Honda Pilot a lot of buttons are popping up on the screen with no information about how to fix it. My car is having trouble accelerating and is hesitating when needing to accelerate. I was unable to speed up while driving to get to 45 mph because it would not speed up. All the buttons that are coming up on my car or not correct it’s showing trailer issues and I’ve never once trailed anything with my car. It seems like it’s having extra trouble when the air condition is on as well. I’m unable to figure out what is wrong with my car because all the buttons are not coming up correct when they plug it in for a diagnostic. I have had the alternator replaced and that did not change anything.

Engineer appears to have seized while driving in the mountains. I was able to pull off to the side but the steering and braking was very hard and we were going 55mph with a car full on our way back from camping. I had my family in the car and I’m thankful there wasn’t a disaster that happened due to the failure.

Engine seems to have failed. Having it towed to get a final diagnosis but it seems seized/blown.

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 70 mph, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light and the low oil pressure warning light were illuminated. The contact's wife pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was then towed to dennis automotive care, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not under recall or warranty coverage. The manufacturer referred the contact to a dealer for additional diagnostic testing. The dealer was not contacted. The contact related the failure to NHTSA action number: rq24013 (engine). The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving 50 mph, there was an abnormal rattling and vibration in the engine. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA action number: rq24013. The contact stated that the failure was like the failure documented in NHTSA campaign number: 23v751000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was scorching on rod bearing 1,2,3,4, and 6 rod bearings were damaged, and the crankshaft was damaged. The mechanic recommended that the engine be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Driving at highway speeds the vehicle began to shudder and make a loud screeching/banging sound. Once shut off it would not start. Mechanic determined the vehicle had no compression on one cylinder and further observed that while the valves did operate, the piston was not moving in the cylinder. The conclusion was the connecting rod had broken. Engine is still sealed and has not been taken apart for inspection. Engine has been replaced at customer expense.

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.