Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Honda Pilot - part 1

The auto shut off has been not working properly and the vehicle wont restart after it shuts off. My wife was at a traffic light, and the vehicle shut off. When the light turned green, it did not restart. As a result of this she about got taken out by a semi that was coming in behind her. This could have been a deadly accident as it is raining and wet. She was stuck at the light on a busy highway for 3 minutes before the vehicle would restart.

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While driving the engine started smoking and stopped working. Upon checking by a mechanic it was found that the engine had no oil and was shut. Regular maintenance had been performed on a timely manner and there had been to previous issues or any oil leaks.

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When I am driving my car and stop at a stop light sometimes the car will fail to start up. It goes into neutral and then will take at least a minute to restart which is very dangerous. Its something with the start/stop feature and I had this problem two years ago and after many times dropping off my car at the Honda dealership and them telling me nothing is wrong with the car I finally said there had been a service bulletin on the start/stop system and they finally fixed it. Now two years later the same thing is happening. It is very dangerous as it happened when I was at a stop light getting off the highway and a car was coming from the highway and it took a couple minutes to restart and I almost got hit. Honda refuses address the issue and says there is nothing wrong. In fact they told me I needed to replace the mechanism with the park, neutral drive which I did for $1100 and then picked it up and the same thing happened again then they said it was the battery which was less than a year old so I replaced that and again same problem. This happens at least twice a week. This is dangerous!.

While stopped at a traffic light the “auto stop” engine shut off feature engaged. When releasing the brake, the vehicle completely shut down, all dash lights came on as did the transmission mode lights. Upon trying to restart with the start button, prompts came up to place the vehicle in park. Trans select button did not work. Pressed the start button several more times. At one time all dash lights went off, except for the battery light. Brake pedal went all the way down to the floor. Opened the drivers door and then tried the start button one more time with the autostart button switched off after dash lights returned. Vehicle started after that. Blocked traffic for one traffic light sequence. Occurred on route 30 and schoolhouse road; new lenox IL on 10/25/25. Attempted to restart several times afterward and vehicle restarted. Trying to drive with “autostart” feature manually turned off from now on, if I remember. Scheduled checkup @ dealer 10/29/25. Honda of joliet vehicle has slightly over 40k miles.

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The start/stop function caused the engine to shut off. At times we have to shake the battery to get the engine to go back on. We have replaced the battery and that didnt fix the issue. The dealership said they couldn't recreate the problem. The issue hasn't been inspected by anyone but the dealership and there were no warning messages or lights.

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The contact owns a 2025 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph up a ramp with an incline in the rain and merging onto the freeway, the accelerator pedal was depressed down to the floorboard, but the vehicle hesitated while responding and slowly accelerated. It was unknown whether a warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that it felt like the transmission was slipping. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,435.

Started hearing rattling sound on acceleration yesterday. Today heard it again. Engine light came on and a lot of other safety lights came on and noted less power with hitting accelerator. Took it to dealer. They are investigating but say it is the connecting rod bearing failure that so many Hondas have. My car currently is not in the recall list by Honda. It is a 2016 Pilot, 105,000 miles.

On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, my friend was driving my 2016 Honda Pilot on interstate 10 in new orleans when all the dashboard warning lights came on and the engine started clicking/ticking. He was on a bridge and had to pull to the side of the bridge during rush hour traffic. He said it was very unsafe and was afraid to stay with the car due to the high volume of traffic. The car was towed to the nearest Honda dealership. The dealership ran diagnostics on it and told me that it needs a new engine. The dealership checked to see if the vehicle was part of the connecting rod recall and confirmed the vehicle is not. Prior to this event, the car was running great. My brothers, who are retired mechanics, towed the car back home. They said a connecting rod is knocking and the car does not need to be driven until the issue has been fixed. I am sure if I continue driving the vehicle that the engine would eventually seize. The car is available for inspection.

Car is slow to start or doesn't start at all, particularly after frequent engine stops/starts or when engine has idled for a period of time. Battery has been replaced. Symptom comes and goes, but seems to get worse with frequent engine stops/starts (I. E. , driving to different locations with short stays at each, or with the automatic engine shut off).

Per the mechanic the rod bearing broke into the engine and caused sudden engine failure. I was on a highway when this occured, thankfully I was already in the right lane and right before an exit to which I took and secured the vehicle in a safe location. It was extremely dangerous location for this to occur and thankfully no one was right behind me. There were no warnings or messages prior to the incident. It was just routinely serviced within the past month. I heard a loud clank, the engine light started flashing, and the car started to slow down, there was knocking sounds in the engine. We had it towed to d and m service center then moved to gillman Honda service center. It was confirmed by two different shops, d and m service center at 1029 pat booker rd, universal city, TX 78148 and gillman Honda dealership at 16044 I-35 n selma, TX 78154 that the rod bearing cracked into the engine and metal shavings were identified in the engine oil.

I took my car in for a safety recall and was not provided a loaner vehicle. Both the dealer and Honda have refused to provide me a rental and now I will be picking my vehicle up and driving it while it’s unsafe with children in the car.

My Honda which has 120,000 miles is experiencing rod bearing issues. Honda refuses to help cover costs. I know there is an ongoing investigation with this year and similar mileage issues with Honda Pilots so I am submitting this as proof of another case this is happening.

After stopping at a traffic light or stop sign the car's auto-stop/restart feature has failed multiple times to restart the engine. This has left the car stalled at a light and needing to manually place the car in park, turn off the electrical, then attempt to restart the vehicle. The problem started about 4 months ago and has been starting to happen more frequently.

Hi, I have a hoda piot 2016 ex awd v6, with odometer around 90000 miles. Last weekend my son who's 17 with his friends tok the car to go camping on the coast. The car has no problem at all, and I have folllowed the all Honda recommended maintenance. In fact it just have the break job and inspection done by the dealer a month ago. Well, my son parked the car in fred meyer and couldn't start the car. I took it to the dealer and notice that there's a recall 23v-751 and the dealer said that my car is not part of the recall based on the VIN number. The dealer quote me to replace the engine with a used engine for $11,000 plus, they do not know what caused the engine to seize, and they can tear apart into the engine to know exacty what caused the issue for $616. How can I check if this is related to th erecall without paying $616 just to tear aprt the seized engine, and I also complain because I thought the car is the safest car my son can drive to his first camping trip.

My 2017 Honda Pilot has been diagnosed with engine failure by john hinderer Honda heath, OH despite having been cared for quite well. This failure occurred well before reaching the expected life of the vehicle at 106,515 miles, yet outside the warranty window and having no symptoms before the sudden failure. After doing some research on Pilot owner online forums, as well as, the NHTSA website, it seems similar complaints have been well reported and a recall has been issued for some vehicles in the same year and model under NHTSA campaign number 23v75100. This relates to Honda manufacturer recall xg1 and Honda recall gg0. I have reported my claim to Honda but received no resolution as of yet. My manufacturer claim number with Honda corp is 15916252. The failures of my engine should be considered in the NHTSA campaign number 23v751000. Honda recall number xg1, Honda recall gg0. In addition, my claim should be considered as part of NHTSA action number: rq24013. This is a current investigation as to why the NHTSA campaign number 23v751000 was limited to 249k vehicles while so many cars continue to have the same issue but fall out of the scope of the recall.

The mpg is advertised at 19-26 and after 3,000 miles I am getting 15-19.

Complete engine failure on our 2017 Honda Pilot ex-l on October 7, 2025. We purchased it new in 2017 and have maintained it per Honda recommendations, including oil changes. We have all of the records to support this. Based on research and the audio diagnosis from two separate mechanics (one being Honda), the failure was likely caused by a known connecting rod bearing issue that led to a recall of 249k Hondas in 2023. Please include this in the NHTSA odi evaluation pe25008, which is considering expanding the scope of that recall based on 414 additional incidents after the recall. Incident timeline & diagnostic summary October 7, 2025 (?12:30 pm) -took the vehicle to anthony’s auto for an audio diagnosis based on a knocking sound. --technician reported: knocking sound was slower than the piston rate, indicating a likely --rod bearing failure, leading to an inevitable and complete engine failure. --technician confirmed: oil level was normal (at the proper level). -anthony’s auto cautioned not to drive on the freeway, stating the engine could fail at any time. -I drove the vehicle home; less than ¼ mile from our house, the engine seized (knock ? failure). I put the car in neutral and drifted into our neighborhood. -vehicle was towed by aaa to marin Honda (appointment scheduled for October 8). October 8, 2025 (~5:10 pm) -marin Honda contacted us with their initial diagnosis and options: --Honda acknowledged that they had changed the oil at their facility in June 2025, per the schedule and criteria as recommended by Honda. --marin Honda confirmed the oil was at the proper level. Metal shavings were found in the engine oil during their inspection. --to fully diagnose the issue, they would need to take apart the entire engine. Teardown & reassembly “as-is” (I. E. No new engine) — $3,500 total. --teardown + installation of a refurbished engine, where the hours/parts from teardown would be credited toward replacement. Quoted $9,000–$10,000 for the refurb engine.

On October 3, 2025, our 2018 Honda Pilot was being driven a short distance locally when all ability for acceleration was lost. Fortunately the driver was able to navigate off the road safely. The auto shop that checked the engine determined that it had seized up. The oil was properly maintained and the auto shop believed it had to do with a connecting rod bearing issue. The vehicle odometer is only 101,375 and had been in great working condition. This was a sudden occurrence with the only symptom being a slight rattling that started about 3 weeks prior. We don't have a need to drive this vehicle much (once or twice a week for very short distances), so I scheduled an appointment for the rattling sound to be looked at by my auto shop, but the engine seized a few days before the appointment date.

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The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that when the vehicle was cold-started, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The knocking sound was constant. The contact stated that the vehicle nearly stalled recently, and the check engine warning light was flashing. The vehicle was no longer able to accelerate above 35 mph. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the connecting rods needed to be replaced, and the engine was inspected for internal damage. The contact stated that the independent mechanic checked the oil and observed that the oil was black and the oil level was low. The contact recently had an oil change prior to taking the vehicle to the independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 23v751000 (engine and engine cooling). The contact called a local dealer and was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

Our vehicle started making a knocking noise when being driven. We took it to the dealer for routine maintenance as well as to assess the noise. The dealership diagnosis is that the piston rods are knocking against the cylinder wall, causing a lot of metal shavings/glitter to be found in the oil. The service rep referred us to a recall for other vehicles of the same make and model for connecting rod bearings that can lead to the same mechanical failure. The issue can lead to an engine failure which can increase the risk of a crash, fire, or injury. The vehicle is currently available for inspection. The diagnosis from the dealership was based on the metal shavings in the oil, the noise that the engine made, and the recall of other similar vehicles. The engine has not yet been taken apart to confirm the damage. We are waiting on Honda corporate to give the go ahead for that. No warning lights or other dashboard messages have appeared.

The auto stop/start idle function does not re-engage after stopping the engine. This has happened at least 4 times in the last 3weeks with my vehicle. When stopped in traffic or at a light and stop sign the engine idle engages and stops running the engine, when releasing the brake pedal the engine does not turn on as it should and the car stalls. This requires the operator to engage hazard lights, shift into park and repeatedly try the push start button to turn on the vehicle to proceed. The passenger safety of myself and children are of concern. While having to wait on a car function, that is the core operation of the vehicle, it is dangerous to shut off a vehicle while in operation. Having other vehicles honking and trying to pass or even stopping at a highway entrance ramp then trying to engage the car to meet highway speeds is a dangerous time for an engine to stall and not re-engage. Yes, the issue has been reproduced and a dealer has already addressed the issue with a software update. This update has not resolved the issue. There are no current recalls on my vehicle. There are no warning signs or messages or the ability to turn off the function permanently. In addition, there a times during the operation of the vehicle where the engine stop/start function works after many stops but then randomly does not start. It is an inconsistent feature.

I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding a safety issue with my 2016 Honda Pilot. While driving and attempting to turn into my local walmart, my vehicle suddenly came to a complete stop without any warning. A vehicle traveling behind me had to swerve abruptly to avoid a collision, which could have resulted in a serious accident. After having my vehicle inspected by a local certified mechanic, I was informed that the engine had failed and that the estimated cost of repair would be approximately $9,000. Upon reviewing existing recall information for the 2016 Honda Pilot, I discovered that my vehicle is not currently included in the active recall related to engine failure. However, I have found numerous consumer reports describing the same issue with the 2016 Honda Pilot that were also not covered under the existing recall. I understand that as of August 2025, the NHTSA and Honda were reportedly reviewing the possibility of expanding the recall to include additional affected vehicles. Given the safety risks involved and the clear pattern of similar failures, I am respectfully requesting that my vehicle be considered for inclusion in the recall and that the engine repair costs be covered accordingly. Please let me know if additional documentation, such as repair estimates or VIN information, is needed to support this claim. Thank you for your attention to this serious safety matter. Sincerely, brittany holland.

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving approximately 10-30 mph, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was unable to pull over to the side of the road. The contact pushed the vehicle to the side of the road with assistance. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the car doctor, where it was diagnosed that the engine connecting rod bearing had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA action number: pe25008 (engine). The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

When stopped at a stop light the engine idle kills the engine and want start back up causing traffic backups. . . Have to go through process to setting back to park and trying to start which does not happen quickly leaving people behind you frustrated and honking. This needs to have an option to disable it if you don't want that function as it's very frustrating and dangerous. Please get Honda to fix issue. Thanks for your help.

I own a 2016 Honda Pilot awd with approximately 160,000 miles. Within a week of purchase, the engine suffered a crankshaft/rod bearing failure. While driving, the engine suddenly began knocking, lost power, and stalled in traffic. I had to quickly turn onto a side street to get out of traffic, and smoke started coming from the engine bay. The vehicle is now not driveable. I already went to a Honda dealer, and when they checked my VIN, their system only showed warranty extensions for the fuel injectors and the start/stop switch. No recall or campaign appeared for the known rod bearing defect. However, my vehicle experienced the exact failure described in recall 23v-751 and the current NHTSA investigation into Honda v6 engines. I also contacted Honda corporate recall center directly, and they opened a case under my VIN. I have the case number available if needed this poses a serious safety risk since the engine can stall without warning while driving. I request that NHTSA investigate and expand the recall to cover additional vehicles including mine, that have experienced this same dangerous defect.

While driving, the vehicle just stopped. Tried to navigate to get to side of the road, but ended up stuck in the middle of the lane, in the middle of the road. My Pilot also has some sort of lock, so I could not put it in neutral to be pushed out of oncoming traffic. Tried to jump start but the battery was fine. Road side assistance took 3 hours to come and tow us. Once at a dealership, diagnostics was run, starter was checked. But turns out the engine had ceased. The vehicle had randomly not started back up when the eco shut the car off when the brakes were pushed down, but this was extreme! very dangerous! I regularly change my oil, only use synthetic oil and have my car serviced, fluids topped off. I have been on the wait list for the fuel recall, but Honda on gilbert, in gilbert, az does not answer calls, call back, or offer rentals for recalls. But this situation was scary and unacceptable. There is other recalls for the 2018 Honda Pilot for engines ceasing up. This is poor workmanship for Honda. Yes, this has been confirmed. My vehicle is currently had Honda superstition springs in mesa, az, because I did not trust to go back to Honda gilbert to timely correct the issues or communicate. Yes, you can inspect the vehicle. Engine ceasing while driving put my self and others at risk. No warnings.

The engine seized as I was driving. This posed a safety risk because it was in the middle of traffic. After having the vehicle towed to a service shop it was confirmed that the engine had seized. The check engine light had appeared 2 days prior but then went off and reappeared right before the engine shut off.

- 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.

After I had the softwear update! when idle at stoplight, auto idle feature kicked on. When light turn green and I pushed gas, car shut off entirely. This happened on multiple occasions. While waiting for an appointment to get this issue looked at, my car failed to start after being parked. It would not start after a jump from another vehicle. The tow truck driver was able to bet it jumped using a battery pack case. At the dealership, battery failed load test. Waiting to see if starter needs to be replaced and valves adjusted under extended warranty.

When my engine starts cold, there is a bad clanking noise. The noise goes away once the engine warms up.

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The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal banging sound coming from underneath the hood, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the road, and the vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic and was diagnosed it with a blown engine bearing. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a connecting rod bearing failure. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 23v751000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was deemed unrepairable due to the mileage. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

In August 2022, with approx. 92,000 miles, my 2017 Honda Pilot received fuel injector replacement and a pcm update under Honda TSB 20-100, performed by schaumburg Honda. This technical service bulletin is known to have downstream impacts on emissions systems if the root cause is not fully corrected. On August 13, 2025, at 134,045 miles, the vehicle triggered a p0430 code (“bank 2 catalyst efficiency below threshold”). Schaumburg Honda again replaced the injectors. Less than a month later, on September 8, 2025, at 135,101 miles, the vehicle triggered a second emissions code, p0420 (“bank 1 catalyst efficiency below threshold”). Schaumburg Honda informed me that both catalytic converters had now failed and quoted over $5,800 in replacement costs. This sequence of events strongly suggests a long-term emissions defect potentially caused by unresolved impacts from TSB 20-100. American Honda denied goodwill assistance based on mileage, despite the clear connection to prior manufacturer-directed service. I have purchased several vehicles from this dealer over the years and have maintained all service through authorized Honda service centers. This raises safety and environmental concerns due to the catalytic converter failure, and may indicate a systemic issue tied to the TSB.

The contact owns a 2019 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the emissions system warning light was illuminated for forty-five minutes prior to the vehicle stalling. The vehicle was driven a short distance before the vehicle stalled again. The contact noticed an abnormal sound. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road and turned off. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was unofficially diagnosed with internal engine failure. The contact was advised to tow the vehicle to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was unofficially diagnosed with internal engine failure. The contact was advised that the engine needed to be dismantled for a complete diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the case would not be escalated until the complete diagnostic test was performed. The failure mileage was approximately 114,300.

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while his son was driving 35-40 mph, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The driver was able to pull into a parking lot. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized and 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 dealer was contacted and informed the contact that no assistance could be provided because the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.

Recall 23v-751 (2023) recall query rq24013 on [xxx] my 2016 Honda Pilot (VIN: [xxx] ) experienced sudden engine failure while driving. Prior to this, the vehicle had been maintained regularly and showed no signs of major engine issues. The failure occurred without warning, following intermittent misfire symptoms that quickly escalated to the engine shutting down and becoming inoperable. After towing the vehicle to a repair facility, I was informed that the engine suffered internal damage requiring complete replacement. The shop indicated that the failure was related to internal engine components, consistent with known issues involving crankshaft machining and connecting rod bearing wear. I am aware of NHTSA recall 23v-751, which addresses improper crankshaft machining leading to connecting rod bearing failure and engine seizure in 2016 Honda Pilots and related models. Additionally, I am aware of NHTSA recall query rq24-013, which was opened in 2024 to investigate whether the scope of 23v-751 should be expanded to include additional vins due to similar failures. My VIN is currently outside the official recall range, but the symptoms and required repair align with the defect described in the recall and investigation. Given the similarity of my engine failure to the defect under federal investigation, I am requesting reimbursement for the cost of the engine replacement by adding my VIN to the recall. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).