Honda And Acura Under The Microscope: NHTSA Investigates Engine Defects

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into an issue with the 3.5-liter V6 engine found in several Honda and Acura vehicles. This comes after 173 reports of failing connecting rod bearings, some of which led to crashes and fires.

The affected models include the 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2018-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Honda Pilot, 2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Honda Odyssey.

This isn’t the first time Honda has dealt with this issue. Honda issued a recall for nearly 250,000 vehicles in 2023, citing a manufacturing defect in the engine crankshaft. The defect caused premature bearing wear, which could lead to the bearings seizing. Despite covering a large number of vehicles, the recall appears to have missed some, as recent reports suggest the same issue may still affect cars not included in the recall.

Honda first became aware of the issue in 2020, but didn't launch the recall until 2023, following the receipt of 1,450 warranty claims. The NHTSA is now intervening to assess the need to include additional vehicles in the recall. If the investigation shows the problem is more widespread, additional recalls could be on the horizon.