2017 Honda Pilot: engine failure

Filed Oct 28, 2026 · Engine · WA

My 2017 honda pilot suddenly experienced engine failure. While drive the check engine light came on and could hear engine noise. Towed vehicle to a repair shop where they found bearing material in the oil filter. This vehicle has been well maintained, with regular oil changes.

Filed Sep 25, 2026 · Engine · AR

Random complete engine failure while driving due to connecting rod bearings. Mechanic diagnosed and shows damage. Car will not start or run at all.

Filed Sep 4, 2026 · Engine · HI

The engine started throwing emissions codes and running rough about 6 mo ago but it was very sporadic and always cleared on their own. However on 8/23 my husband was driving it, all the lights started coming on and it froze up and died while he was driving it. We had taken it to the shop where they confirmed that the whole engine was dead that its a known problem with these years pilots and would require a new engine.

Filed Sep 2, 2026 · Engine · GA

While driving car it lost power and was going only 35 mph then shut off completely while driving. Would not crank had car towed to Honda dealer and they said the engine was seized up. The car is at the Honda dealer now. No warning lights that I'm aware of. Honda dealer stated I would need a new motor.

Filed Sep 1, 2026 · Engine · HI

It first started having an engine light on that came back to emmission errors. It was intermittent though and didnt cause mucj issues. The shop said if it kept up to take it somewhere for that . Then on XXX all the engine lights, brakes everything just came on and seized up and it stopped working completley. Trying to restart just dies once you try to drive it. This should have been recalled with the other engine years. The shop is saying it needs a brand new engine.. Please advise. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 23, 2026 · Engine · CA

All of a sudden, the car began to make a ticking noise (it sounded like a playing card was in the spoke of a bicycle). I brought the car home and took it to the Honda dealership in Poway, CA. They diagnosed the car with pitting in the rod bearings in cylinder 4. They told us that this can cause engine failure (do not drive the car) and that the engine needed to be replaced. There were no error messages or warning lights. This could have been extremely dangerous for those around us had the engine failed while my daughter and I were driving, or if the car had stopped suddenly. The three options given were to replace the engine with one with 20,000+ more miles than the original engine, replace the short block and associated gaskets with a new one, or $2500 (as-is) for the car. We replaced the short block and associated gaskets at a cost of approximately $ 8,500. As my husband was doing his research, he found that there had been a recall for the 2016 and 2018-2020 Honda Pilots for the same issue. Please be aware that this has happened to our car too, and it is very dangerous and expensive to repair. Honda should be held responsible for ensuring that all Pilot engines are safe and that the defective rods are replaced free of charge to owners under a recall.

Filed Jun 7, 2026 · Transmission · WI

We have a 2017 Honda Pilot EXL. It had approximately 163,000 when the engine seized.

Filed May 19, 2026 · Engine · OH

The engine failed. The car stopped completely with no warning. The same issue that other models are being recalled for turned out to be the problem with this engine. We had to have the engine replaced

Filed May 14, 2026 · Engine · FL

Driving to work on the highway and the Honda pilot suddenly slowed and stopped accelerating, started riding rough and making a loud whistling blowing noise. Check engine light was suddenly flashing. I was able to pull over into a lane split zone before being hit by all the traffic going around and bumping horns at me. I was terrified but thankful to be alive. I want in a good spot though, cars and big trucks were still speeding by pretty close to me. I started inside and called AAA. I tried turning on the car but it just made a fast tapping noise. AAA worked to safely get me out and tow the car to the mechanic my wife and I chose. The mechanic ran a diagnostic report that says p0306 misfire in cylinder 6, and tear in inlet air boot. They said there is an engine problem that they don't service. We towed it to the Honda dealership. Late the next day the mechanic at Honda says we have an engine problem that is not due to the codes on the diagnostic report and is not covered under warranty and costs $7000 for labor and with a rebuilt engine, about 11k to $15k total. He says the engine was seized. He said it initially had no power, then they jumped and put a battery and the engine just made a thud sound. He said he could not generate another diagnostic report because he couldn't get the engine to turn on. We told him we saw that the engine problem was a known issue and that Honda was extending warrantees to 150k and 10yr and could he see if we were haven't that same problem. He said that problem was minor and only covered a few new parts, not the whole engine. I asked why was pep boys able to get a diagnostic and he could not. He said he doesn't know why the engine seized between pep boys and being checked at Honda. He said maybe the previous mechanic did something wrong. Now we have no car and have already purchased a 3rd Honda not even knowing we were driving around a death trap. The Honda dealership that sold us the accord didn't even warn us. We could have died.

Filed May 11, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · NC

On Thursday May 7th, while driving the 2017 Honda Pilot Elite it lost power and all the dash lights started to come on. Once we limped it to our home, and the code information was obtained, it revealed number 3-cylinder misfire. After replacing all the spark plugs, I started the car to make sure all the codes were cleared and heard a "knocking noise". After further investigation noted the following, I found the following information via a Google search, is there a recall for 2017 Honda Pilot knocking noise. Found that the federal safety agency is doing a major investigation on the 2017 Honda Pilot for a connecting rod and knocking noise. Honda did a recall in 2023 for the year model 2016, 2018-2019. This is the same engine that was in the recall for doing the same thing. the federal safety agency is currently investigating a potential recall of 1.4 million Honda and Acura vehicles, including 2017 Honda Pilots, over engine failures linked to connecting rod bearing defects that can cause knocking, stalling, or complete engine failure. credit Autoblog+2. Scope of the Investigation Models affected: 2016–2020 Honda Pilot, 2017–2019 Honda Ridgeline, 2018–2020 Honda Odyssey, 2018–2020 Acura TLX and MDX Honda-Tech+1. Engine type: Honda’s 3.5‑liter J35Y V6, which has been under scrutiny for rod bearing wear leading to catastrophic engine damage Honda-Tech+1. Failure symptoms: Knocking noises, sudden stalling, loss of power, and in some cases, fires or crashes Autoblog+2. Reports: Over 400 incidents of engine failure, with at least four involving crashes or fires; Honda has logged more than 2,500 warranty claims for the iss The oil had been changed at the correct intervals, no oil is leaking from the car, the timing chain and water pump were replaced at 100,000 miles with no issues. No metallic shavings are noted on the oil dip stick, and it has 50% oil life remaining as of 05-09-2026. I have it scheduled for a diagnostic service with Flow Honda in Winston Salem, NC tomorrow, May 12th at 0800.

Filed May 8, 2026 · Engine · CO

Premature and unexpected internal engine failure. Single owner with 82k miles - Rod bearing came apart and spread metal shavings everywhere in the engine causing irreversible damage. Honda dealer confirmed engine failure. Our safety was at risk with the potential of unexpected engine failure while driving with a loud knock from the engine potentially leaving all passengers in dangerous situations without power to respond. Dealer has provided documentation of internal engine failure and suggested we stop driving it immediately. No warning lamps at all, only knocking sound while engine running.

Filed Apr 11, 2026 · Engine · PA

Engine failure at 77,000 miles. Regular oil changes and maintenance were performed on this vehicle. While driving driver started hearing a banging noise from engine and a subsequent stall while driving. Vehicle towed to local Honda dealer. Complete engine replacement required due to low oil (3.5 quarts) and metal shreddings in oil when emptied. Repair cost was quoted at over $14,000. Cost to have engine taken apart was quoted at $1000. Honda corporate was contacted and offered to cover some of the repair but did not admit any fault or that there was a prior recall on other 2017 Pilots. Owner could not afford repairs and had to finance a new Honda Passport. Person who sold the new vehicle approved financing for owner with no current employment and put $10,000 towards new purchase as a trade in. The 2017 Pilot was owned outright by driver. The cost of this engine failure was extremely detrimental to my financial situation. The new Passport was repossessed by Honda last November as I was unable to afford the $1100 a month finance charges and insurance premiums. I went from having no car payment and a $150 insurance premium to $1100 a month due to Honda’s negligence. My credit is destroyed. My financial situation is in shambles. I had no debt when my engine failed in December 2023. I’m now drowning in it.