NHTSA Opens Probe into 1.4M Honda Vehicles for Possible Engine Issues

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced yesterday that it is opening a probe into 1.4 million Honda and Acura vehicles in response to a rising number of reports indicating serious engine issues, according to Automotive News.

In November of last year, Honda recalled 249,000 vehicles in the United States equipped with the brand’s 3.5-liter, naturally aspirated V-6 engine after it was discovered that a manufacturing defect in the engine’s crankshaft could cause premature connecting rod wear, potentially seizing the engine and causing it to fail.

That recall covered certain 2016 and 2018–19 Honda Pilots, 2017 and 2019 Honda Ridgelines, and 2018–19 Odyssey vehicles, as well as the 2015–20 Acura TLX and the 2016–20 MDX.

NHTSA says that 173 reports of similar issues in various Honda and Acura vehicles “display failures that have the characteristics consistent with those addressed” in the 2023 recall but were not covered under that initial announcement. The probe will determine how far the issue extends beyond the vehicles initially included in the recall.

Honda is aware of the probe and says it “has already been in communication with the agency on this topic and will continue to cooperate with the NHTSA through the query process.” The automaker also said that it had 1450 warranty claims tied to the recall last year.

If you’ve got a Honda or Acura vehicle with a 3.5-liter V-6 under the hood from the 2016 model year forward, stay close to this one. We’ll do the same.