The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while the vehicle was at a red light, the vehicle stalled; the contact restarted the vehicle for the vehicle to return to normal operation. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to get a diagnosis however, the failure cause was unidentifiable. The contact did research and was made aware of an unknown the federal safety agency Campaign Number however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
2017 Honda Pilot engine complaints
Page 3 of 18: complaints 41 to 70 of 491, newest first, as owners wrote them.
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.
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.
Engine gave out rods knocking noise. Wife was driving on freeway. Exited and towed car home car runs but makes lots on noise and barely drives many lights light up on dash
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was pushed over to the side of the road. The contact exited the vehicle and inspected the oil, transmission fluid, and antifreeze, but found no failure. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 210,000.
Echoing exacly what other pilot owners are commenting. Engine completely gave out on the highway.
Subject: Engine Knocking Noise – 2017 Honda Pilot Hello, I’m reaching out because my 2017 Honda Pilot has recently developed a noticeable knocking noise coming from the engine area, especially during acceleration and low‑speed driving. I’m aware that some 2016 Honda Pilot models have experienced sudden engine seizure, stalling, or failure with little warning. I also learned that the 2016–2020 Acura MDX, which uses the same engine, was issued an engine‑related recall. This makes me particularly concerned that the noise may be an early sign of a serious issue. I’d appreciate having the vehicle evaluated as soon as possible. Please let me know your earliest available appointment and whether it’s safe to continue driving in the meantime. Thank you, Honda Pilot owner
Over the past couple of months the the vehicle has been "throwing" misfiring cylinder errors, particularly cylinder 4 (P0304) and every once in a while cylinder 1 (P0301), and a catalytic converter bank 2 error (P0430). Last week, I filled up with premium fuel and added a catalytic cleaner. This eliminated the P0430 error and reduced the frequency of the P0304 error. Yesterday ([XXX]) we were driving from Casper, WY to Gillette, WY for a volleyball tournament. About 35 miles into the trip, we were travelling at a speed of 72 mph when the tires squealed, accompanied by metal clanging and extreme vibration in the engine; the car nearly came to a complete stop. I was able to maintain control of the vehicle and pull off to the side of the road. I looked down at the console display and noticed that the check engine light was blinking. I connected an OBDII scanner and observed a P0304 error. I then tried to pull forward slowly and the car barely moved and the engine clanging and vibration persisted. At that point I turned off the engine and called a tow truck; I also called my son to pick up my daughter and take her to her volleyball tournament. While waiting for the two truck, I attempted to start the car so I could run the OBDII scanner again. The car would not start. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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.
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle decelerated to 25 MPH unintendedly. While driving at a reduced speed, the vehicle was immediately driven to the local dealer who diagnosed that the camshaft had failed and needed to be replaced. The camshaft, camshaft thrust cover, and camshaft sensor were replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that VIN was not eligible for the extended warranty coverage for the failure. The failure mileage was 94,000.
Engine lost power. I put the gas pedal to the floor and it would barely go. Finally, after barely moving out of the intersection, the car lurched forward and I managed to drive it home. I was stuck in a very busy intersection with a car that would not go. All I wanted to do was get out of the intersection because it is a very busy street and I was afraid I was going to get hit. I noticed that there was a knocking sound when the RPM got above about 2000-2500. I took it to the dealer and they said that I had a bad piston rod and that I needed a new engine. There was a check engine light that came on, but it later went away.
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle unexpectedly lunged forward with the check engine warning light illuminated, and the “Emission System” error message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with fuel pump failure. The contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 149,000.
I was stopped at a traffic light, and my vehicle would not re-start when the traffic light turned green. It stalled because the Auto Idle Stop/Start (AIS) function did not work as intended. The dashboard cluster lights were all on (or many of them, at least). I had to collect myself, put the car in park, and wait a couple of minutes to try to restart the vehicle, all while I had a line of vehicles behind me honking. This isn't the first instance. It has happened several times before, and I am familiar with what the Honda service reps say when I have taken the vehicle in for repair, so I'll cut through the nonsense they have told me. I recently replaced my battery with a quality name brand battery, so it's not an issue with the battery. I have had the PGM-FI Idle Stop Software Update recall service performed twice, one in response to a March 2023 recall notice, and again from a May 2024 recall notice. There is something seriously and obviously wrong with this AIS feature. I have looked on many forums and this is a frequently recurring problem. This shouldn't happen simply because I (or my family member) forget to hit the AIS-disengage button. There should be a permanent fix for this feature if it frequently fails.
So our family of four, two adults and two kids driving down buford dr in GA on March 29 2026 apparently at 11am found ourselves in a dangerous situation. The oil light on our honda pilot came on and the vehicle shut off in the middle of a 3 lane extremely busy road. This is not safe and I am a experience automotive technician for more then 20 years of experience and have not yet found a rod bearing to go bad at 167k with full oil and no oil leaks this is unacceptable for honda to only recall only some year models knowing the used the same j32 in most of there vehicles
I was taking my kids to school and then suddenly a knocking sound started and then a boom. I found out that at 134,000 miles my engine threw a rod and punched a hole in my block. My [XXX] old was freaking out because there was smoke coming from the engine and her sisters said the car was going to catch fire. The [XXX] old was stuck in her seatbelt and couldn't get out. Then as I was calling a tow truck my [XXX] old almost walked out into traffic because she wanted to see what I was looking at. After getting another family member to get my kids to school I was able to get to a repair shop where I was informed that Honda had a safety recall for rod issues and was advised to see if my car was covered. I check and it looked like only the all wheel drive cars were covered but mine was front wheel drive so it didn't fall under the recall. I want to issue a formal complaint to expand the recall on Honda Pilots for rod issues because mine obviously had an issue with the rod and should have been recalled. American honda refuses to give any good will because I didn't get my oil changes with them, even though it is an hour drive to get to the closest dealership. Engines shouldn't throw rods at 134,000 miles. A car is a big investment and it died after 9 years. I had all my maintenance done as scheduled, this never should have happened. Currently my car is at Carson Honda in Carson City NV. Also, another issue. I would get transmission system warnings. I did take it to the honda dealer because I was told there was an injector issue and they looked at the car, reset the code and said there was nothing more they could do. I don't know if the two were connected in any way but wanted to throw that out there. They need to be investigated for crappy parts and scamming customers. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I was driving, and my engine died in the middle of Highway 40 about 5 miles outside of [XXX] . It was extremely dangerous, and Colorado State troopers and Colorado Division of Transportation workers had to stop traffic. The car could not be put into neutral, and towing to a safe location was very difficult and dangerous. The car has less than 76K, and there was absolutely no warning before the car died. No engine lights, no noise. Just died. I have read about rod bearing failures and believe my car is part of this problem. I have had frequent service, and my mechanic has said there was oil in the car, and the engine just seized. The mechanic believes it is a crankshaft rod bearing issue. I could have been hit and was traveling alone in an area that often does not have cell phone service available. This needs to be addressed, and engines should be recalled without delay. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
While driving on the interstate I was trying to pass a vehicle and the vehicle all systems but the brake system issue. Check engine, emissions, power steering, hill start assist, traction assist. The vehicle would not accelerate. When I got on the shoulder the engine was struggling to stay on and had a loud knocking sound. Had the vehicle towed to nearest exit and had someone come pick me up with a trailer to take back home 5 hours away. The engine knocking got louder if you press on the gas.
This vehicle is facing the common "rod knock" issue known with the 2016-2022 Honda Pilots Diagnosis by Honda pending but symptoms present
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal tapping sound coming from the engine, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact believed that the timing belt had failed and requested that the dealer replace the timing belt. Afterwards, the dealer diagnosed the vehicle with rod bearings failure and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The vehicle was towed to the residence and had not been driven since. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V751000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,280.
Internal engine damage was determined by a Folsom Honda Dealer in California. The damage is originating from the primary rod bearings; Replacement of the short block is necessary. Folsom Honda also stated the vehicle will need Cams and Heads of the engine replace. Needless to say, this a major engine failure. The vehicle only has 140K miles mainly freeway. Dealer estimated it will cost from 11K to 15K to repair the problem. We aware of Savannah Messenger V. American Honda Motor Co. Inc Lawsuit. We need help from you guys on this….. please advice Francisco Talavera [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
knocking noise from engine, oil light, blinking CEL, no acceleration, vehicle stalled. Brought to mechanic, from noise he said it sounds like a rod knocking and advised to contact Honda because on known issues.
The rods on my engine seized while I was driving on [XXX] in South Dakota. The car came to rest on [XXX] . The vehicle died on the most-traveled road in Brookings. right off the exit ramp. We had to wait 20 minutes for a patrol officer to park behind us, and we then waited another 20 minutes for the tow truck to take us to a nearby parking lot. The problem was confirmed by an independent service center. There were no warning lamps or symptoms prior to the engine seizing. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The car had a piston rod failure and is available for inspection at the Springfield Honda dealership. The car was traveling at 63 mph when the check engine light started flashing along with 6 system errors including the power steering. I had to make an emergency stop on the side of the road. The dealership has confirmed and recommended an engine replacement. They have a video recorded of the sound and error codes. The only person to have inspected the car is the dealership. We were told that it wouldnt be covered because our VIN didnt fall with in the affected vehicles for the piston rod recall. The car was driving normal and had no service lights on prior to the check engine light coming on during the incident.
My Pilot only had 46,942 miles when it failed due to a camshaft thrust cover surface roughness being out of spec causing excessive camshaft movement. This was confirmed by the mechanic at Honda that worked on my Pilot. The pilot was checked for the engine light concern and the technician reported the following: CONFIRMED DTC P0369 CMP SENSOR INTERMITTENT INTERRUPTION. FOUND CMP SENSOR TO HAVE WEAR FROM TIMING GEAR DUE TO CAMSHAFT MOVING SIDE TO SIDE. RECOMMEND REPLACING CAMSHAFT, SENSOR, THRUST PLATE, THRUST CAP, TIMING GEAR AND RELATED HARDWARE TO START. $3895.00 Also recommend replacement of timing belt with tensioner $516.00 There were not warning lamp before the failure. My engine just died and had to be towed to a dealership in Canada close to where I was residing. I felt my safety was at risk because my vehicle died in the middle of the highway and that could have lead to a crash. This is a know issue with 2016-2017 Pilots and Ridgeline. I know this from the service bulletin that was issued in January of 2018. However only certain vehicle were recalled for this exact issue. I contacted America Honda motor company and a Case #XXX was open. I asked to be reimbursed for repairs of $5200.00 Canadian to which they said no. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I am the original owner of a 2017 Honda Pilot and bought the car new. It has 142,549 miles and been well maintained and adult driven. The engine started making a knocking noise. I took the car to the Honda dealer and they told me the engine needs to be replaced. Needless to say, they told me it would cost around 10 thousand dollars and was not covered under warranty. I opened a case with Honda (Case # 15988404) and was denied by their review process. I bought a Honda because it has a reputation for being reliable and should run for well over 250,000 miles. I am also aware that Honda has had many issues with their 3.5L V6 engine and there have been recalls for bad bearings causing premature engine failure. They also have issued recalls for this engine up to the 2016 model year. In my research for this issues, I have seen a lot of other owners reporting engine failures for the same engine for model years prior to 2016 model years. I would like for this filing to be another example on record of their engine failing prematurely. I am also aware that there has been a lawsuit filed against Honda and their 3.5L V6 engine for additional years. I hope this lends additional support to all the other owners who are experiencing the same issue.
While driving my vehicle it begin making a rattling/clacking sound. The sound became more louder as we drove it home. The emissions system problems message appeared. We had a mechanic come to check it. He discovered the a rod bearing was damaged and we needed to replace a piston and other parts as well. We have been unable to drive it since due to safety issues.
Component/System Failed: Engine – Excessive oil consumption (piston rings / internal engine components). The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Description of the Problem: The engine is experiencing excessive oil consumption. During a monitored oil consumption test, approximately 0.9 quarts of oil were consumed over about 1,006 miles, which equals a consumption rate of approximately 1 quart per 1,118 miles. This rate is abnormally high and indicates an internal engine defect, likely related to piston rings and/or sealant failure. Safety Risk: Excessive oil consumption creates a significant safety risk. If the oil level drops too low between oil changes, it can lead to engine failure, sudden loss of power while driving, engine seizure, or stalling. This could place the driver and others at risk, especially at highway speeds or in traffic. There was no visible oil leak. The oil is being burned internally. Inspection / Confirmation: The issue has been monitored through an oil consumption test. Dealer diagnosis indicates internal engine repair is required (piston and seal-related repair). Estimated repair cost is approximately $6,000. Warning Lamps or Prior Symptoms: No external oil leak was present. Oil level dropped significantly between checks. (If applicable, add: “Oil warning light did/did not illuminate.” If unsure, write: UNKNOWN.) Manufacturer / Other Inspections: Vehicle has been inspected by dealership service department. (If Honda corporate has been contacted, add that here.) Additional Information: The repair cost is excessive for a defect involving internal engine components and appears to be a known oil consumption issue.
Engine was making a loud grinding noise and when my fiance got home from work it completely died out and will not turn over
In June 2025, Honda sent a warranty extension reimbursement for the 2017 Honda Pilot for the torque converter-DTC P0741. Since the torque converter was defective, I replaced it on 5/7/21. I completed the reimbursement form Honda requested and included the invoice and proof of payment. On 9/30/25 Honda sent me an email stating that my reimbursement is being processed in 6-9 weeks. I have called several times and sent emails and they continue to tell me they will expedite my reimbursement. It has been over four months. My case # is: XXX. . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 65 MPH on the freeway, the vehicle stalled due to battery failure. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where the battery was replaced. After restarting the vehicle, the contact heard an abnormal knocking sound consistent with a rod knock. Additionally, the trunk handle paint had chipped and was rusted. The local dealer was contacted and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there were no recalls associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.
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