2016 Honda Pilot Engine

Heard a knocking sound, had it towed, diagnosed by local mechanic ans then diagnosed by Honda mechanic as engine rod bearing failures. Consistent with recall. However Honda says this vehicle VIN is not scoped within the recall, and therefor requires an engine replacement. Both mechanics, and Honda Sales Mgr, service Mgr, and sales rep, along with other mechanical knowledgeable persons, all were shocked by the issue, and suggested the vehicle should go for 100,000 more l without this type of problem. Furthermore, all were shocked that the recall / Honda would not cover it, due to it being the same issue listed on the recall. Additionally, the dealership claimed the "lifetime powertrain warranty " was void and this would not be covered there either.

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.

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle violently shook, vibrated, decelerated, and stalled. The vehicle was later restarted and driven to the local Auto Zone to be diagnosed. The diagnostic test revealed failures with the ECM and ECU, and the camshaft sensor failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,000.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

My wife was driving down a busy two lane main road when the vehicle stopped with no prior warning symptoms or dash lights. The vehicle would not jump or go into any gear. It was towed to Honda East in Cincinnati. They said it was showing multiple misfire codes. After a complete engine teardown at a cost of almost $1K, it was determined that it had two bent valves in cylinder #2. The timing belt components were intact and the mechanic had no explanation as to why the valves were bent. I suggested it could be the rod bearing failure that others had experienced and of which a recall had already been issued for some VIN's of the same year. But the mechanic didn't seem to think so. They said it was unrepairable and their solution was to install a used donor engine. Because I was not ready to part with the vehicle, I had no choice but to approve the donor engine install. The total job including the engine teardown and diagnosis cost me roughly $7,500. Like many others have experienced, my VIN did not fall under the recall, and I was held responsible for the full out of pocket repair cost. I am hoping that enough owners who have also been forced to replace their engines report their experience through the NHTSA, forcing Honda to step up and issue a blanket recall on all the 2016 Pilots.

We were driving south on [XXX] near Ashland, Oh. We heard a knocking that got very loud and bad quickly. There was a loud metal on metal BANG. The entire dash lit up for a few seconds, I braked quickly pulling off the interstate as safely as I could. Shut the car off and called for a tow. We had it towed to Mikes Auto in Barberton, Oh. Thats where still is. The mechanic diagnosed the issue as GRENADING. The lower end of the engine blew up. It EXPLODED!!! No warning lites whatsoever before the explosion. How does that happen? Do you realize how bad that could've been? $300 tow and a $6700 bill for a new engine. I will have put $15000.00 In this PC O [XXX] in less than one year. We have been Honda owners since 1992. Now I know how a F O R D owner feels like. My bought our first Mazda yesterday. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Unknown, I was driving on the Highway when all of a sudden my car came to a stop with the engine smoking up. I had it tow to my house and had my brother in law who is a car mechanic come check and he states that it is the connecting rod bearing. We see recalls on it for other same car model and year, but not for my VIN.

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.

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.

UPON INSPECTION FOUND KNOCKING NOISE FROM LOW END ROD KNOCK. INTERNAL FAILURE OF ROD CAUSING NOISE FROM SPUN BEARING- Honda told me that the VIN was not included in the previous recall despite being manufactured in the same month and year of the recall causing me to pay out of pocket to replace the short block of the engine at 85,000 miles

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

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.

The engine on my 2016 Honda Pilot needs to be replaced. It started to have a rattle, and my local mechanic diagnosed it as an issue with the connecting rod bearing. Honda issued a recall for this type of failure mode for Honda Pilots built in May and June of 2016, but mine was built in September of 2016. Honda says the recall does not cover my vehicle, even though the failure mode is similar. I performed all standard maintenance on this vehicle, yet it failed well short of its expected life.

Crankshaft froze. Engine totaled.

Unknown, I was driving on the Highway when all of a sudden my car came to a stop with the engine smoking up. I had it tow to my house and had my brother in law who is a car mechanic come check and he states that it is the rod bearing. We see recalls on it for other same car model and year, but not for my VIN.

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.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20590 Subject: Report of Engine Stalling and Rattling Noise in 2016 Honda Pilot (VIN: [XXX] ) Dear NHTSA, I am writing to formally report an issue with my 2016 Honda Pilot that appears to be similar to the problem described in Honda's recall 23V-751, but my vehicle is not included in the recall. Vehicle Information: - Year: 2016 - Make: Honda - Model: Pilot - VIN: [XXX] Incident Description: On the night of [XXX], at approximately [XXX], while traveling on a side road, my vehicle experienced a sudden engine stall accompanied by a loud rattling noise. With little power and momentum, I was able to pull into a gas station. Fortunately, no injuries were sustained during this incident. Service History: The vehicle was towed to Gunn Honda in San Antonio, TX. No repairs have been made to date. Owner Contact Information: - Name: [XXX] - Address: [XXX] - Phone: [XXX] Given the similarity of this issue to the one described in recall 23V-751, I am concerned that my vehicle may have the same defect. I request that the NHTSA investigate this matter and consider including my vehicle in the recall to ensure that it is repaired promptly and safely. Thank you for your attention to this important safety concern. I look forward to your response. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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.

My wife was driving our pilot on the highway. It suddenly started to get a flashing check engine light and the car immediately and abruptly slowed down, and was not able to accelerator or keep speed with traffic around her. Then the car would lurch when trying to hold it stopped at a stop light or sign when idling. We took it straight to a mechanic and they ran a scan on the Pilot and said that the flashing check engine light was due to a severe engine warning and when they investigated they found that I had rod knocking in the engine and the engine would need to be replaced due to faulty rod bearings.