2017 Honda Pilot Engine Problems

Which parts fail

• Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor
  1
• Exhaust system › Emission control
  1

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1416%
• 25k–50k
  2832%
• 50k–75k
  1922%
• 75k–100k
  910%
• 100k–150k
  1517%
• 150k+
  33%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Honda Pilot owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The vehicle was driven by my [redacted] daughter and at @ 6 pm on [redacted] the engine was making a noise and that the car was starting to slow down and stall,so she called me. She pulled over and shut the car off and then all the dashboard lights started to blink really fast. The car started to smoke from the engine, she got out and called 911. 911 said they would send a tow truck. within a few minutes sparks were coming from underneath the engine and then the fire started. she called 911 and myself again to report the car was on fire. Thank God she was away from the car. The tow co. arrived first, then first responders, then myself. The highway was shut down to put out the fire. Our daughter was hysterical and the car is a total loss. We waited until the car fire was extinguished. The first responders offered medical attention, but she just wanted to go home. …

Vehicle started making loud banging noises. Took to local independent mechanic. He said the engine rod bearing is bad and vehicle is unsafe to drive and could cause an accident if completely fails while driving. The car is available at my house. Called Honda of Bartlesville when engine light initially came on with code for engine problem and when I showed up, the one I talked to on phone acted like I never called about it then hid in the back room and wouldn't come out. The car was 150 miles from end of warranty. To drive it there it was over warranty, and this was discussed on phone call. The car was inspected by local mechanic. The first sign was around 50K miles and periodically come on. The dealership wouldn't do anything about it and ignored it when I discussed it. Car now has about 100 miles and is sitting in my driveway as I try to figure out what to do with it. …

Teenage daughter was driving in rush hour traffic and the car seemed at have stalled out. She pulled over on the shoulder and manually turned off the car. When she tried re-starting it, it would not start. Electrical came on, but no power to the engine. Something then seemed to have overheated because when fire department was called, they extinguished something that had melted the plastic covering underneath the car. Fire department called due to smoke. No flames seen. We believe the smoke was from the melted plastic under car from something (a fluid) that was leaking. Insurance was called, car was towed to a Honda repair shop and then towed to a local Honda dealership. They say engine seized and is locked up and will not re-start. Other noted repair needed they say is torque converter. No other problems with this vehicle in the past. One of the best cars we have owned. …

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that when the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the failure occurred while on a four-lane highway. The contact stated that later, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the contact's minor child was an occupant of the vehicle when the failure occurred. The contact and a nearby driver pushed the vehicle to the shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact was informed by the tow truck driver that the failure was engine failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. …

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the emission system, transmission, and Collision Mitigation Braking System warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle then lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over and park the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed with an oil rocker arm error code within the VTEC system. The dealer informed the contact that a non-OEM oil filter was used, which might have caused the failure. The dealer performed an oil change; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer and diagnosed with oil rocker arm spool valve failure. The dealer informed the contact that the oil rocker arm spool valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. …

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. …

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started to lose motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the highway and stop the vehicle. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle several times and was able to regain vehicle functionality however, the vehicle was unable to accelerate above 40 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer retrieved DTC: P2638 (Throttle body). The dealer determined that the engine was damaged and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the sound was a metal-on-metal knocking sound. …

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop sign or light with the brake pedal depressed, the engine turned off; however, when the brake pedal was released the engine failed to restart as designed. The contact stated that the START/STOP button had to be depressed to start the vehicle. The contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic test however, the dealer was not able to determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that the dealer replaced an unknown gasket, checked the battery, and performed a warranty valve adjustment but the failure continued. The vehicle had been to the dealer at least twice for the failure. The contact stated that upon picking up the vehicle from the dealer, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. …

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while idling at a red light and then attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to respond, and the vehicle shut unexpectedly. The contact was assisted with pushing the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed it with connecting rod bearing failure. The mechanic informed the contact that it was a known issue and that there was a previous recall for the issue. Upon research, the contact became aware of NHTSA ID Number: PE25008 (Engine). The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who confirmed the failure and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer located a used engine, but the vehicle was not repaired because the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The manufacturer was informed of the issue and opened a case. …

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated there was a ticking sound coming from the engine compartment while starting the vehicle and while accelerating at various speeds, and while the vehicle was idling. The contact stated that the sound was intermittent at first but had become constant. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with engine failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic at Gateway Auto Tech (2205 Gateway Dr #1410, Grand Forks, ND 58203), who confirmed that the engine failure due to metal contamination in the oil, causing the ticking sound at 1500 - 2000 RPM. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer confirmed that the vehicle was not covered under warranty or recall. …

NHTSA investigations

Engine complaints in other Pilot years