NHTSA opens probe into 2016–2020 Acura and Honda vehicles: Engine failure
On August 20, 2025, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE25008) into 2016–2020 Acura and Honda vehicles, concerning the engine. A Preliminary Evaluation is the first formal stage of an NHTSA defect investigation: ODI gathers information from the manufacturer and from owner reports to decide whether to close the case or take it further. As of NHTSA’s latest data it is still open.
- Action
- PE25008 (Preliminary Evaluation)
- Status
- Open
- Component
- Engine
- Listed
- 19 make/model/year entries in NHTSA’s file
Vehicles under investigation
| Makes | Acura, Honda |
|---|---|
| Models | MDX, Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline, TLX |
| Model years | 2016–2020 |
As listed in NHTSA’s investigation file. Not every vehicle of a listed model is necessarily affected.
What ODI says
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 414 reports of connecting rod bearing failures in the 3.5L V6 engine used in the following vehicles: Model Years (MY) 2018-2020 Acura TLX, MY2016-2020 Acura MDX, MY2016-2020 Honda Pilot, MY2018-2020 Honda Odyssey, and MY2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline. The subject engine failures were analyzed as part of a Recall Query (RQ24013). It was determined that these engine failures are outside the scope of Honda Recall 23V-751. Further, evidence gathered in conjunction with RQ24013 does not suggest this failure is caused by the same crankshaft manufacturing defect that is addressed by Honda in Recall 23V-751. Based on analysis of data from RQ24013, NHTSA has closed that investigation. The significant number of reports of engine failure in vehicles outside the scope of RQ24013 presents a potential safety risk that warrants further investigation. ODI is opening this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to further evaluate the scope and severity of the potential problem and to fully assess the potential safety-related issues. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Official summary by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation for PE25008, quoted in full (U.S. government work, public domain).
What owners have reported
Owners filed 9,137 complaints with NHTSA about the model years in this investigation, reporting 154 crashes, 66 fires, 168 injuries, 3 deaths. These are all complaints on file for those vehicles, about any problem, not only this one; complaints are unverified owner reports.
| Vehicle | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 MDX | 374 | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| 2017 MDX | 257 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| 2018 MDX | 169 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 2019 MDX | 189 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020 MDX | 222 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2018 Odyssey | 997 | 14 | 30 | 3 |
| 2019 Odyssey | 978 | 16 | 19 | 0 |
| 2020 Odyssey | 478 | 4 | 20 | 0 |
| 2016 Pilot | 1,710 | 23 | 20 | 0 |
| 2017 Pilot | 930 | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| 2018 Pilot | 440 | 9 | 11 | 0 |
| 2019 Pilot | 909 | 13 | 15 | 0 |
| 2020 Pilot | 492 | 10 | 13 | 0 |
| 2017 Ridgeline | 343 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 Ridgeline | 162 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 Ridgeline | 237 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
| 2018 TLX | 95 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2019 TLX | 92 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020 TLX | 63 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Recalls and problems for these vehicles
Timeline
- ODI opens preliminary evaluation PE25008
- OpenNo closing date yet
What this means for owners
- An investigation is not a recall. NHTSA has not made a defect finding here, and owners are not asked to do anything yet. If a safety defect is confirmed, the manufacturer recalls the vehicles and the repair is free.
- Check your vehicle for open recalls with a free VIN recall check.
- Had this problem? File a complaint with NHTSA. Owner complaints are the evidence ODI uses to open and expand investigations.
Official record: search PE25008 or your vehicle at NHTSA.gov/recalls, which lists investigations alongside recalls. Data: NHTSA ODI investigations file, updated daily. All NHTSA investigations.