Honda Recalls a Quarter Million Vehicles Due to Connecting Rod Failure Risks

American Honda Motor Co. has issued a massive recall impacting more than a quarter of a million Honda and Acura vehicles, because the connecting rod bearing may wear and seize, increasing the risk of an auto accident.

The U.S. National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Honda and Acura recall on November 8, indicating Honda Odyssey, Honda Pilot, Honda Ridgeline, Acura MDX, and Acura TLX vehicles equipped with certain connecting rod bearings that can potentially cause damage to the engine, which could lead to a crash, engine fire or injuries.

The recall stems from an investigation started in 2020, following consumer complaints involving issues with the connecting rod bearing in specific Honda and Acura vehicles, which led to engine failure. Despite no reported accidents or injuries associated with the recall, Honda has received at least 1,450 warranty claims related to the problem.

Honda and Acura Connecting Rod Failure Recall

In February 2020, Honda first identified the issue when its manufacturing facility discovered improper grinding of the crank pin. This led to crank pins exhibiting a crown or convex shape outside the specified parameters.

The Honda and Acura recall impacts an estimated 248,999 vehicles, including the 2015-2020 model year Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline, 2018-2019 Honda Odyssey, and  2018-2019 Honda Pilot.

Honda expects recall notification letters to be mailed to registered owners beginning January 2, with instructions on how to schedule an appointment with an authorized Honda or Acura dealer to receive free vehicle inspection and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge.

For more information on the recall, owners may contact Honda customer service by phone at 1-888-234-2138 and reference recall XG1 and GG0. They may also contact the NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline by phone at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or visit their website at www.nhtsa.gov.