2021 Honda Pilot: engine knocking or ticking

Filed Oct 30, 2026 · Engine · PA

I am filing this complaint as a proactive safety measure regarding my 2021 Honda Pilot EX-L, equipped with the 3.5-liter V6 engine. I am deeply concerned about the severe manufacturing defect involving connecting rod bearing failures that cause sudden, catastrophic engine stalling and total loss of motive power while driving. This exact defect was the subject of the federal safety agency Recall Campaign 23V‑751. However, Honda arbitrarily restricted that recall to select 2016, 2018, and 2019 model years. As a current owner of a 2021 model year vehicle utilizing the exact same J-Series V6 engine architecture, my vehicle is suffering from the exact same underlying vulnerability but is entirely excluded from safety protections and repair remedies. A sudden engine failure at highway speeds poses an extreme and immediate safety risk to myself, my passengers, and other drivers on the road. I am submitting this to formally urge the federal safety agency to expand its current investigation into Honda’s V6 engine failures and force American Honda Motor Co. to expand Recall 23V‑751 to include the 2021 Honda Pilot fleet before a catastrophic failure occurs.

Filed Sep 13, 2026 · Engine · SC

Our pilot is experiencing similar issues found online with catastrophic engine failure due to a misfire caused by a knocking rod. Honda so far has not responded to our claim despite it being a known issue around the same time ours was manufactured.

Filed Aug 24, 2026 · Engine · CA

Was driving vehicle and all of a sudden engine light pops up with no driver codes and the left side of engine starts knocking. I pull into the closest shop. They test a vehicle misfire in cylinder 5 and propose vehicle gets towed to dealership to look at codes. I tow vehicle to dealership for them to tell me rod bearings, crankshaft are bad and need a new engine. Engine was 99k and well maintained with every service record included. I asked about Honda goodwill which they denied me due to vehicle not getting serviced at Honda for oil changes. The rod bearings were recalled on previous Honda models and there is currently an open investigation on 2021 models but no official recall.

Filed Aug 13, 2026 · Engine · CT

#1 connecting rod bearing failure at 89,000 miles, all oil changes were done timely and properly. Car is very well maintained. While engine is running it has a very loud rod knock coming from bottom of engine. I did some research and it’s the same symptoms and issues as (the federal safety agency Campaign 23V751) 2016-2020 Honda pilot recall.

Filed Jun 7, 2026 · Engine · IN

We had the engine serviced for recall on stop start issue on 12/4/25. On May 15, 2026 the engine failed. The dashboard came on with every warning light and a mechanic said the engine was knocking and had to be replaced. Honda denied any issue and said the timing belt had to be broken. The mechanic confirmed no issue with timing belt and said you can’t start the engine if the timing belt was broken. The mechanic said the engine was knocking and had to be replaced because the car could no longer be driven safely.

Filed May 22, 2026 · Engine · NC

My wife was driving our 2021 Honda Pilot with 102,000 on the interstate when the check engine light came on and the engine began to lose power. She was fearful of being hit by other traffic due to engine dying in middle of mutiple lanes of traffic. The engine began to have a knocking sound. We shut off engine and had it towed to Southpoint Honda in Durham NC. We were told it has a rod knock, the engine failed. It is about to seize and we need to replace the engine.

Filed Apr 8, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · CA

Engine started knocking and within a couple days my wife was left stranded. The vehicle went into limp mode with check engine light flashing, and would not accelerate. The vehicle stopped completely in the middle of the road and lost all power, which could’ve caused a major accident. Scheduled maintenance and oil changes has been kept up by me. I had the vehicle towed to a trusted shop and was informing that there were metal shavings in the oil filter. They inspected the top end of the engine and everything was normal. The only indication is that the problem is internal to the engine. There is a recall for Honda Pilots up to model year 2020 but I believe this issue is affecting vehicles up to 2022.

Filed Oct 23, 2025 · Engine · TX

Per the mechanic the rod bearing broke into the engine and caused sudden engine failure. I was on a highway when this occured, thankfully I was already in the right lane and right before an exit to which I took and secured the vehicle in a safe location. It was extremely dangerous location for this to occur and thankfully no one was right behind me. There were no warnings or messages prior to the incident. It was just routinely serviced within the past month. I heard a loud clank, the engine light started flashing, and the car started to slow down, there was knocking sounds in the engine. We had it towed to D and M service center then moved to Gillman Honda service center. It was confirmed by two different shops, D and M service center at 1029 Pat Booker Rd, Universal City, TX 78148 and Gillman Honda dealership at 16044 I-35 N Selma, TX 78154 that the rod bearing cracked into the engine and metal shavings were identified in the engine oil.

Filed Aug 28, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · 15,000 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while at a complete stop with the START/STOP feature activated, the engine shut off while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. After waiting for several minutes, the contact had to perform several procedures to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was initially taken to a dealer where a software update was performed; however, the failure returned weekly. Recently, the contact stated that upon restarting the vehicle after the failure, the vehicle began to jerk while accelerating, with an abnormal tapping sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was diagnosed with a defective engine rod bearing. The contact was informed by the mechanic that the repair could not be warranted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

Filed Jun 13, 2025 · Engine · 143,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the main engine bearings and connecting rods had failed. The contact was advised that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 143,000.

Filed Apr 15, 2025 · Engine · NC

My wife was driving the family down the highway I was a passenger. While we were traveling approximately 70mph down a 4 lane highway there was a loud clunk with a consistent knock and an immediate loss of power. I was able to help navigate her to safety on an off ramp so that my family would be safely off the road. The vehicle was towed to the Honda dealer where it is currently under warranty. The mechanics at the dealership have confirmed a spun bearing on piston number 3 and the motor will need to be replaced. There were zero warning lights and and no notification from any sensors with an OBD tool. Honda America is only willing to replace the motor with a salvaged motor. Unfortunately the VIN from the car with the salvaged motor will not match my current VIN, so if there is an active recall on the engine like on the previous year pilots that are VIN specific, I will not be covered and Honda will have replaced my engine with a known faulty one. I nor should and other family have to take the risk of receiving faulty salvaged Honda parts while still under factory warranty. The attached file is the last service records that are available for the salvaged engine and as you can see there is a noted vibration at the front in as well. Honda refuses to send the information from the salvage yard detailing the engine information including current mileage and the date the motor was pulled from the salvaged vehicle.

Filed Mar 23, 2024 · Transmission · WA

Connecting rod bearing failure resulting in the short block having to be replaced. Currently at Honda Dealership having short block replaced. 56000 km currently on vehicle and all oil changes made at correct intervals.