Government Investigates Honda and Acura Engine Malfunctions Following a Sharp Increase in Complaints

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation has launched an investigation into engine failures in certain Honda and Acura vehicles. The investigation, which is focusing on potential safety risks associated with the engine failures, involves the 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2018-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Honda Pilot, 2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline, and 2018-2020 Honda Odyssey, all equipped with 3.5-liter V6 engines.

As of November 3, 2023, Honda had received 1,450 warranty claims related to the issue. American Honda is aware of an additional 2,598 incidents of engine failures in the affected vehicles, bringing the total to 3,012 cases. These cases include seven crashes or fires.

The investigation was initiated due to 414 reports of connecting rod bearing failures received by the NHTSA. The failure of connecting rod bearings can lead to complete engine failure. However, the problem doesn't seem to be caused by the same crankshaft manufacturing defect as found in a previous recall in 2023, where 248,999 vehicles were recalled due to a manufacturing defect of the engine crankshaft.

No recalls have been announced yet, but the investigation is ongoing. If a recall is issued, dealers would inspect and repair/replace the engine as necessary to fix the problem. The NHTSA considers the number of reports as "significant" and is opening a preliminary evaluation to examine the issue. The evaluation aims to determine the scope and severity of the potential problem and assess potential safety-related issues.

Approximately 1,410,806 vehicles with the 3.5-liter V6 engines are potentially affected by the issue. The NHTSA urges vehicle owners to report any issues related to their vehicles to the NHTSA's Safe Car website or to Honda.

It's important to note that only 1% of the recalled vehicles were believed to have the defect. The automobile brand currently under investigation by authorities due to thousands of incidents of knocking cylinder crankshafts in vehicles with 3.5-liter V6 engines is not explicitly identified in the provided search results.

The latest engine failures are "outside the scope" of the original recall. The NHTSA reminds consumers that safety is their highest priority and they will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Government Investigates Honda and Acura Engine Malfunctions Following a Sharp Increase in Complaints