Honda Pilot under NHTSA probe: costly engine failures
Honda Pilot under NHTSA investigation over engine bearing failures and costly out-of-warranty repairs
Honda Pilot under NHTSA probe: costly engine failures
After a 2017 Honda Pilot engine failure and a $25k bill, NHTSA probes 1.4M Honda/Acura for connecting-rod bearing defects. Owners await recalls and refunds.
2025-11-17T04:13:58+03:00
2025-11-17T04:13:58+03:00
2025-11-17T04:13:58+03:00
A controversy is brewing in the United States around the Honda Pilot. As reported by SPEEDME.RU, after an engine failure in a 2017 model-year SUV, the owner was presented with a bill of nearly $25,000 for a replacement. The odometer showed just 90,000 km, yet Honda declined to cover the repair because the warranty had expired. Those very engines are now part of a sweeping NHTSA investigation encompassing 1.4 million Honda and Acura vehicles. Regulators are looking at hundreds of complaints about connecting-rod bearing failures and more than 2,500 internal reports submitted by the company itself. A price tag like that is a harsh reminder of how unforgiving out-of-warranty breakdowns can be.A similar defect has surfaced before: in 2023 there was a recall affecting 250,000 vehicles from the 2016, 2018, and 2019 model years, but the 2017 version—like the one involved here—was not included. NHTSA is now examining another part of the same assembly—the connecting-rod bearing—whose failure could lead to a sudden engine shutdown, a fire, or a crash. Leaving the 2017 model outside that earlier campaign created a gap that, as complaints pile up, looks increasingly hard to justify to affected owners.Amid growing frustration, experts are urging Honda to initiate a voluntary recall to stave off a class action. For now, without an official decision, the automaker is not rushing to reimburse repairs. Owners who have already paid for costly work are hoping federal pressure will push the company to acknowledge the defect and cover their expenses. The longer the uncertainty drags on, the more it erodes goodwill—something any brand relies on, especially when loyal buyers expect durability and straight answers.
After a 2017 Honda Pilot engine failure and a $25k bill, NHTSA probes 1.4M Honda/Acura for connecting-rod bearing defects. Owners await recalls and refunds.
Michael Powers, Editor
A controversy is brewing in the United States around the Honda Pilot. As reported by SPEEDME.RU, after an engine failure in a 2017 model-year SUV, the owner was presented with a bill of nearly $25,000 for a replacement. The odometer showed just 90,000 km, yet Honda declined to cover the repair because the warranty had expired. Those very engines are now part of a sweeping NHTSA investigation encompassing 1.4 million Honda and Acura vehicles. Regulators are looking at hundreds of complaints about connecting-rod bearing failures and more than 2,500 internal reports submitted by the company itself. A price tag like that is a harsh reminder of how unforgiving out-of-warranty breakdowns can be.
A similar defect has surfaced before: in 2023 there was a recall affecting 250,000 vehicles from the 2016, 2018, and 2019 model years, but the 2017 version—like the one involved here—was not included. NHTSA is now examining another part of the same assembly—the connecting-rod bearing—whose failure could lead to a sudden engine shutdown, a fire, or a crash. Leaving the 2017 model outside that earlier campaign created a gap that, as complaints pile up, looks increasingly hard to justify to affected owners.
Amid growing frustration, experts are urging Honda to initiate a voluntary recall to stave off a class action. For now, without an official decision, the automaker is not rushing to reimburse repairs. Owners who have already paid for costly work are hoping federal pressure will push the company to acknowledge the defect and cover their expenses. The longer the uncertainty drags on, the more it erodes goodwill—something any brand relies on, especially when loyal buyers expect durability and straight answers.
