NHTSA Investigates 1.4 Million Honda and Acura Vehicles for Potential Engine Failures

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a formal investigation into more than 1.4 million Honda and Acura vehicles after receiving 173 complaints about engine failures.

The investigation, which began last Friday, focuses on a potential defect involving the connecting rod bearings in 3.5-liter V6 engines. This issue could lead to sudden engine failure, potentially impacting driver safety and vehicle performance.

If you own a Honda or Acura equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, this investigation may affect you—read on to learn more about what’s being examined, the models involved, and the steps Honda and Acura owners should consider.

How NHTSA Investigations and Recalls Work

When the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) begins to see a pattern of complaints pointing to a potential defect across multiple vehicles, it can launch an official investigation or a recall query. This initial step is critical in assessing whether a reported issue poses a significant safety risk to drivers and passengers.

The process starts with the NHTSA gathering detailed information from the vehicle manufacturer. This includes data from warranty claims, internal incident reports, and any investigations the company may have already conducted on the issue. By compiling this information, the NHTSA can determine the scope and severity of the potential defect.

If the investigation confirms that the issue is indeed a safety risk or that the vehicle fails to meet essential safety standards, a recall is issued. This can happen voluntarily from the manufacturer or by an official NHTSA mandate. Recalls are then communicated to vehicle owners, who are typically provided with options for repairs, replacements, or refunds.

Honda and Acura Vehicles Under Investigation

The current investigation covers several popular Honda and Acura vehicles, each equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine. The specific models under investigation include:

• 2016-2020 Acura MDX
• 2018-2020 Acura TLX
• 2016-2020 Honda Pilot
• 2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline
• 2018-2020 Honda Odyssey

All of these models share the same engine type, and if a defect is confirmed, these vehicles could potentially face a recall, offering repair or replacement solutions to impacted drivers.

Further Investigation into Honda’s 2023 Recall Begins

In November 2023, Honda initiated a recall of approximately 250,000 vehicles to address issues related to connecting rod bearing failures, a problem that may be linked to the ongoing investigation by NHTSA.

While this recall aimed to fix the problem in certain vehicles, the NHTSA has received 173 complaints from owners of vehicles not included in the recall. These owners reported connecting rod bearing failures in their vehicles, with one owner even experiencing a crash—though fortunately, there were no injuries.

The NHTSA has now launched a recall query to assess the severity of this issue in vehicles that were not part of the 2023 recall. This may reveal whether other vehicles, not initially covered, are at risk of similar engine failures.

Honda’s Response

Honda has stated that it will fully cooperate with the NHTSA’s investigation. In the recall documents from 2023, Honda revealed that it had received 1,450 warranty claims due to the bearing issue, but notably, there were no reports of injuries linked to the problem.

As part of the recall, dealerships were instructed to inspect the affected engines and, if necessary, replace or repair them to prevent further failures.

What to Do If You’re Impacted

If you believe your vehicle may be impacted by this ongoing investigation into engine failures, it’s important to take proactive steps. First, visit the NHTSA’s safety issues page to check for any recalls, safety issues, or updates related to your vehicle. By entering your vehicle’s identification number (VIN), you can easily see if it is affected by the investigation or any existing recalls.