2016 Honda Pilot: misfire or rough idle

Filed Nov 5, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · AZ

The manufacturer’s defective fuel delivery system (faulty fuel injectors covered under Honda TSB #19-056) causes severe engine cylinder misfires, dropping the vehicle into an immediate, unpredictable, and sluggish 'limp mode' while driving at highway speeds. This sudden loss of power and acceleration creates a severe traffic hazard, preventing the vehicle from keeping pace with traffic or safely merging. The primary fueling malfunction has also led to cascading damage, sequentially melting and destroying both catalytic converters and prematurely destroying brand-new spark plugs in under 5,300 miles due to raw fuel dumping into the exhaust stream.

Filed Oct 28, 2026 · Engine · FL

Connecting rod spun a bearing/ rod knock Verified le customer's concern regarding an abnormal engine knockır oise. Conducted a diagnostic inspection and confirmed pronounced metallic knocking noise originating from the ower engine assembly. Used a mechanic's stethoscope tr isolate the noise to the crankshaft/connecting rod area technician verified a catastrophic lower-end engine failure. Specifically, the diagnostic notes state: "Connecting rod spun a bearing / rod knock Verified" "Pronounced metallic knocking noise originating from the lower engine assembly" "Testing indicated that the knocking noise was most prominent at cylinder #2, consistent with excessive connecting rod bearing clearance and a spun connecting rod bearing." Furthermore, the computer scan sheet shows zero codes for low oil pressure, engine overheating, or vehicle neglect. The temporary misfire codes listed occurred solely because the technician intentionally disconnected individual ignition coils to isolate the mechanical knocking sound. This precise diagnosis—a spun connecting rod bearing at cylinder #2 due to improper clearance—is the textbook definition of the inherent manufacturing defect that triggered the major the federal safety agency Action regarding Honda 3.5L V6 engines. Because my vehicle was manufactured at the Lincoln, Alabama plant and has been maintained perfectly by Honda its entire life, this failure is undeniably due to a factory structural defect rather than normal wear and tear or owner oversight.

Filed Oct 16, 2026 · Engine · TX

Driving home late Tuesday night October 13, 2026 the car made a severe noise, pulled to side of the road turned car off. The car would not start, the car was towed the next day to the Honda Dealership it was bought from. The car had just been in the Honda shop for routine maintenance. There was no warning lights. The safety concerns being on the side of a busy road. My wife and 2 children had to wake up and come and get me. This Pilot is our primary car the other one is not safe enough and is used for in town driving. According to the dealership it was towed to it was a P0304: cylinder 4 misfire misfire with a brand-new plug and a healthy timing belt, together with a loud engine noise, points to mechanical damage inside the engine. That fits a rod bearing failure.

Filed Sep 2, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · NY

A critical failure in the direct fuel injection system caused severe engine misfiring, sudden loss of drive power, and a cascade failure that disabled safety systems during vehicle operation. Diagnostic scan confirmed DTCs P0172 (fuel system rich) and P0301 (cylinder 1 misfire). In response to the misfire, the vehicle's computer automatically disabled the Electronic Power Steering (EPS), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), and SH-AWD systems (diagnostic codes U0401-68, U0416-68). This is a known manufacturing defect involving internal injector wear and high-pressure fuel pump debris (detailed in Honda TSB 20-100). The sudden loss of engine responsiveness paired with the simultaneous disengagement of traction and steering assists while driving creates an immediate crash hazard. Because Honda currently limits this repair to a 10-year warranty extension rather than a mandatory safety recall, vehicles with low mileage are experiencing sudden safety-assist shutdowns on the road without manufacturer remedy.

Filed Jul 22, 2026 · Fuel system · NY

I am filing a safety and defect complaint regarding my 2016 Honda Pilot (3.5L V6 Engine). In Dec 2025, the "EMISSION SYSTEM PROBLEM" warning light ocationally illuminated on the dashboard. On 5/26/26.while driving, the vehicle suddenly began to shake violently and experienced a severe loss of acceleration—when I stepped on the gas pedal, the vehicle hesitated and would not speed up (loss of motive power). In June I let a certified Honda dealership scanned the vehicle and pulled diagnostic trouble codes P0430, P219A, and P219B, confirming that the fuel injectors have failed. This is a well-documented manufacturing defect explicitly detailed in Honda’s Technical Service Bulletin TSB 20-100. The defect causes uneven fuel delivery and cylinder misfires, which poses a severe driving hazard, including sudden engine stalling, loss of motive power while driving, and acceleration hesitation in traffic. Although American Honda previously extended the warranty for this specific injector defect to 10 years or 150,000 miles, my vehicle was DENIED coverage by American Honda corporate customer relations solely because it has just passed the 10-year mark (the vehicle was purchased on November 30, 2015), despite having only 140,000 miles (well under the mileage limit).This is a critical safety and environmental hazard inherent to Honda's manufacturing design. An expiration of time does not make a known manufacturing flaw any less dangerous on public roads. I request the federal safety agency to investigate this persistent issue and upgrade the current warranty extension to a mandatory safety recall so that affected consumers are not left driving hazardous vehicles or forced to pay thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for an acknowledged factory defect.

Filed Mar 9, 2026 · Engine · TX

Pulled up to intersection and check engine light started flashing. Vehicle was approximately 2miles from home. Drove home and parked in driveway. Turned vehicle off. Restarted to see if problem happened again. Check engine light went off but rattle/knocking could be heard upon startup and pressing gas pedal. Code was pulled P0303. Cylinder 3 misfire. Did some research and this has been an issue with 2016 Honda Pilots. We have owned the vehicle for 10yrs4months. Purchased new. 160k miles. Self inspected with experienced mechanic present and diagnosed with a rod bearing issue.

Filed Mar 4, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · OR

My vehicle suffered a catastrophic failure of the exhaust and engine systems directly caused by the defective fuel injection system identified in Service Bulletin 20-100. Despite providing evidence that the failure was initiated by these defective injectors, Honda has only provided a partial, unexplained reimbursement and refuses to acknowledge the extensive "downstream" damages. Diagnostic Evidence: At the time of service, the vehicle stored the exact diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) specified in the bulletin: Fuel/Misfire Codes: P0302, P0303, P0305, P219A Catalytic Efficiency Codes: P0420, P0430 Repairs & Financial Impact: The fueling imbalance and extreme heat caused by the faulty injectors led to: Replacement of both Catalytic Converters (directly cited as a potential result of injector failure in SB 20-100). Cylinder Head Gasket Replacement & Head Resurfacing (caused by excessive thermal stress and localized overheating from the lean/rich conditions). Fuel Injector Replacement. Dispute Details: Inadequate Reimbursement: After months of persistent hounding, American Honda issued a payment of $736. No explanation was provided, but this amount likely only covers the injectors, ignoring the thousands of dollars in consequential damage. Admission of Defect: By issuing this partial payment, Honda has formally acknowledged that my VIN was affected by the manufacturing defect described in the bulletin. Lack of Transparency: Honda has failed to provide any technical justification for how the catalytic converter and head gasket failures—which occurred simultaneously with the specific codes in the bulletin—could be considered unrelated to the admitted injector defect. Request for Action: I am requesting an investigation into Honda's failure to cover the full scope of damages caused by this known manufacturing defect. The partial payment is an admission of fault regarding the injectors, and the resulting engine and exhaust damage is a direct, documented consequence of that

Filed Feb 11, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · WI

The fuel injector failed which cause safety issues such as reduced speed, failing safety issues, and the car is misfiring and not running safely. When driving the car started to misfire and was not running correctly. It then reduced speed and the safety features were disabled. Yes this issue was confirmed by Ken Vance Honda in Eau Claire WI. There was a flashing check engine light, hill start assist problem, emissions system problem, power steering system problem, trailer stability assist problem, and vehicle stability assistance problem lights that came on. This is a known safety issue with 2016 Honda Pilot as Honda America did an extended warranty to cover the expense to replace the injectors. Unfortunately, our car missed the deadline by a few months to get this covered. Since this was a known defective part from the factory this should have been taken care of by Honda as a full recall. There are many cars like this that are going to have safety issues and not realize what is happening.

Filed Feb 7, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · HI

To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting this complaint to report ongoing engine and emissions system problems with my 2016 Honda Pilot that raise serious safety concerns and may be related to a broader defect currently under investigation. I purchased this vehicle from a dealership in April of 2024 and the issues began shortly afterward at approximately 67,000 miles. The vehicle currently has approximately 74,600 miles and has received regular oil changes and routine maintenance. The vehicle has repeatedly displayed emissions system warning messages and engine fault codes. It has experienced persistent engine misfiring even after a mechanic performed repairs on cylinder 1. In addition, the vehicle exhibits rough engine shaking during driving and idling, engine stalling, and rough or delayed gear changes continuously since 2024. Despite attempted repairs, the problems continue to occur to present. The stalling, misfiring, and unstable engine operation create a potential safety risk, particularly while driving at speed or in traffic. The rough shifting and loss of smooth power delivery further impact safe vehicle operation. Given the relatively low mileage, proper maintenance, and the recurrence of these symptoms, this does not appear to be normal wear and tear. I am aware that similar engine-related complaints have been reported by other owners of 2016 Honda Pilot vehicles and that this model year is included in an ongoing federal investigation into potential engine defects. I am requesting that this complaint be reviewed as part of that investigation and considered for further action, including possible recall or service remedy, to address the safety risks posed by these engine and emissions system failures. Vehicle Information: Make/Model: 2016 Honda Pilot Mileage: Approximately 74,600 miles VIN: [XXX] Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jan 16, 2026 · Engine · MN

According to my mechanic there is the low end bearing noise and bearing chirp that indicates it lost oil pressure due to internal components and a damaged engine. recommends replacing the engine. He said because of the recall there are no remanufactured engines available. Computer diagnostics showed code P0303 #3 cylinder misfire. He believes this has to do with recall 23V-751or RQ24-013. No repairs have been done.

Filed Jan 5, 2026 · Driver assistance, Engine · 160,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that there was an abnormal engine knocking sound coming from the vehicle. There were recurring oil leaks and a misfire coming from the engine. The engine warning light was flashing. Additionally, the ESC, hill start assist, VSA, EPS, and steering low warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who confirmed the codes. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The local dealer was not contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

Filed Dec 26, 2025 · Engine · CA

The vehicle experienced a sudden engine malfunction while being driven at highway speeds in the carpool lane under normal conditions. The engine began knocking and misfiring, followed by a significant loss of power. There were no warning lights, oil pressure alerts, or messages prior to the failure. The loss of power and engine knocking made it difficult to safely cross multiple highway lanes from the carpool lane to reach an exit, creating a serious safety hazard in active traffic. The driver exited the freeway as soon as safely possible, parked the vehicle, turned the engine off, and had it towed to prevent further damage or risk. The vehicle was towed home and then towed the following day to an authorized Honda dealership for inspection. The dealership confirmed the failure was caused by internal engine damage due to a connecting rod bearing failure, resulting in a misfire on cylinder 4. This diagnosis was confirmed by the dealership, and the vehicle remains available for inspection. The vehicle has been regularly maintained, including routine oil and filter changes. There was no indication of oil starvation, overheating, or neglect prior to the failure. The engine failure occurred suddenly and without warning. There is an existing recall and an active federal investigation related to connecting rod bearing failures in certain 2016 Honda Pilot vehicles. While this vehicle’s VIN has not been officially included, the failure mode, symptoms, and dealer-confirmed diagnosis in this incident appear consistent with the issues described in those actions. Sudden internal engine failure at highway speeds presents a serious safety risk due to unexpected loss of power in traffic. This complaint is submitted to document a similar internal engine failure with no warning and its associated safety implications.