Driving the news: Federal safety regulators are investigating more than 1.4 million Honda and Acura vehicles over connecting rod bearing problems in 3.5-liter V6 engines that could cause engine failures and leave drivers stranded.
For context: The probe covers 2018-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016-2020 Honda Pilot, 2018-2020 Honda Odyssey, and 2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline models.
Honda recalled 249,000 vehicles in November 2023 for similar crankshaft defects that cause connecting rod bearings to wear out and seize up, leading to complete engine failure.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) then reopened the case after getting reports of failures in vehicles not covered by the original recall.
Why it matters: This investigation threatens Honda's reputation for reliability—the very foundation the brand built its success on for decades.
Bottom line: If NHTSA finds widespread engine defects across multiple model years and vehicle lines, it could force Honda into one of the largest and most expensive recalls in its history.
OUTSMART THE CAR MARKET IN 5 MINUTES A WEEK
No-BS insights, built for car dealers. Free, fast, and trusted by 55,000+ car dealers.
A quick word from our partner
Winning in today’s market means more than just adjusting prices or boosting ad spend.
It’s about seeing what’s holding each vehicle back — and taking smarter action from day one.
Long before AI became a buzzword, Lotlinx built the industry's first VIN performance platform — powered by AI and the most robust dataset of VIN and shopper behavior — to help dealers optimize every vehicle and maximize profit.
With Lotlinx, dealers can:
Spot inventory risk before it hits
Move cars with precision
Turn each VIN Into a star
