We’re back with more news—a topic we’ve seen before. Honda recently announced a major recall involving nearly 250,000 vehicles in the U.S. due to an issue that could lead to stalling while driving. Not exactly what you want to hear.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that a manufacturing error in these vehicles can cause the connecting rod bearings, located in the engine, to wear out prematurely and seize up. This damages the engine and causes it to not run properly or stall out entirely. A stalled engine leads to a loss of power steering and brake assist, increasing the risk of a crash or collision.
So far, Honda has received around 1,450 warranty claims related to this issue, but luckily no injuries have been reported yet. It's still a serious problem that compromises engine function and driving safety. Owners of impacted Honda and Acura vehicles should receive recall notices by mail starting January 2nd, 2024.
Here are some of the Honda and Acura models affected by the bearing failure recall:
- 2015-2020 Acura TLX
- 2016-2020 Acura MDX
- 2016 and 2018-2019 Honda Pilot
- 2017 and 2019 Honda Ridgeline
- 2018-2019 Honda Odyssey
Other Acura vehicles that could potentially be impacted based on model years listed in the NHTSA filing include:
- 2007-2016 Acura RDX
- 2010-2013 Acura ZDX
The full list covers 248,999 Honda and Acura vehicles that need inspection and possibly repair to address the connecting rod bearing defect and prevent engine failure while driving. Owners of the models listed above should be on the lookout for recall notices coming by mail in early January.
The Problem with the Bearings
According to Honda's filings with NHTSA, the issue was traced back to a manufacturing defect with the connecting rod bearings inside the engine. These bearings connect the piston rods to the engine's crankshaft, enabling smooth rotation and function. However, because of an unspecified production error, these bearings can wear down faster than expected as the engine operates.
Eventually, the bearings may deteriorate so much inside the engine that they can no longer rotate properly. At this stage, the bearings will seize up entirely, unable to provide the vital connecting joint between the piston and crankshaft. This immediately halts smooth engine operation, causing rough running, loss of power, and eventual stalling.
When an engine stalls, features like power steering and brake assist that rely on the engine running will fail, losing power. Without power steering, the vehicle becomes much harder to control, especially at higher speeds. Brake assist uses vacuum pressure from the running engine to boost braking force, so when an engine stalls out, the brakes become less effective in slowing down the vehicle. These factors increase the risk of accidents or collisions.
Although Honda hasn't clarified the specifics, accelerated wear on these vital engine bearings has occurred. The result poses a serious safety issue if an engine stalls randomly while driving, due to the connecting rod bearings seizing up.
More Information and Next Steps
Now that Honda has identified the root cause behind nearly 250,000 vehicles stalling, it's vital for owners of impacted models to follow through on the recall. According to Honda, owners of affected vehicles will receive recall notices in the mail that will have instructions on contacting and scheduling service appointments with local Honda dealerships.
Dealers will then inspect the vehicle's engine and replace the connecting rod bearings if damage or abnormal wear is found. In some cases where the bearings have already failed and caused engine damage, the dealer may need to repair or fully replace affected engines. All of these recall repairs will be conducted free of charge once vehicles are brought to the dealer.
Honda has set up a dedicated recall website where owners can check their vehicle's serial number to see if it is involved in this or any other recall campaign. Owners can also contact Honda's customer service line at 1-888-234-2138 and reference recall numbers XG1 and GG0 to learn more and get questions answered.
By bringing in vehicles listed in this recall, owners can address the bearing issue before it causes engine failure while driving and poses a critical safety risk.
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