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Honda 3.5L V6 Engine Recall and Investigation: Models, Scope, and VIN Check

Honda’s 2023 V6 engine recall and NHTSA’s later investigation are separate actions; the investigation’s estimated population is not a recall count. Check your VIN for an open recall and use official Honda or NHTSA guidance.
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There is a difference between Honda’s 2023 safety recall and a later NHTSA investigation into reported connecting-rod-bearing failures. The recall involved 248,999 potentially affected vehicles; the investigation’s estimated population of 1,410,806 is not a recall count or a count of confirmed defects. Check your vehicle by VIN and follow Honda or NHTSA guidance rather than assuming coverage from the model year alone.

Recall versus investigation: what the numbers mean

Action Status and scope What owners should do
Recall 23V-751 A 2023 safety recall covering 248,999 potentially involved vehicles. It addressed a specified crankshaft connecting-rod journal dimension issue that could cause premature bearing wear and engine seizure. Check your VIN and contact an authorized dealer if the recall is open for your vehicle.
NHTSA investigation PE25008 A preliminary evaluation of complaints involving an estimated population of 1,410,806 vehicles. That estimate describes the investigation’s scope, not vehicles confirmed defective or recalled. Check for an open recall by VIN. Inclusion in an investigation does not itself establish that a vehicle is defective or subject to a recall.

Sources: NHTSA’s RQ24013 close resume, NHTSA-hosted Honda recall documents, and NHTSA’s PE25008 opening resume.

Which Honda and Acura vehicles are in the investigation?

NHTSA’s PE25008 opening resume lists selected vehicles with 3.5L V6 engines in these model-year groups:

  • 2016–2020 Acura MDX
  • 2018–2020 Acura TLX
  • 2016–2020 Honda Pilot
  • 2018–2020 Honda Odyssey
  • 2017–2019 Honda Ridgeline

These are investigation scope bounds, not a declaration that every vehicle in those groups has a defect or is eligible for the earlier recall. The 2023 recall’s production applicability is narrower than broad model-year descriptions; VIN status determines eligibility.

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What is known about the engine issue?

The reports concern connecting-rod-bearing failures in certain Honda and Acura 3.5L V6 engines, which may lead to complete engine failure. For recall 23V-751, Honda identified crankshafts with improper connecting-rod journal dimensions; NHTSA described the condition as capable of causing premature bearing wear and engine seizure.

NHTSA’s review of complaints outside the earlier recall found a similar reported failure mechanism, but its RQ24013 close resume said the available Honda data did not indicate that the same manufacturing defect existed in the out-of-scope engines it reviewed. NHTSA closed that query after concluding the original recall had been properly scoped based on the available analysis, while moving other complaints into PE25008. That finding does not mean that no out-of-scope engine can fail.

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The PE25008 opening resume listed 414 ODI reports of connecting-rod-bearing failures and 3,012 total incidents across its shown reporting categories. These are agency report counts, not an incidence rate or a count of confirmed defective vehicles. NHTSA’s latest disposition was not verified in the research used for this article, so no current outcome is stated here.

How to check whether your vehicle has an open recall

  1. Find your vehicle identification number (VIN).
  2. Enter it in NHTSA’s recall lookup or use Honda’s recall search.
  3. If an open recall appears, contact an authorized Honda or Acura dealer and ask about the official remedy and any interim instructions.
  4. If your vehicle is part of an investigation but has no open recall listed, do not treat investigation inclusion as a confirmed defect or repair authorization. Follow official updates and contact the manufacturer or dealer with questions.

NHTSA says its VIN lookup shows unrepaired recalls, and notes that some recently announced recalls may not yet have every affected VIN identified. Manufacturers must provide a remedy for recalled vehicles. For repair decisions, use the manufacturer and dealer process—not a consumer diagnostic tool or a do-it-yourself bearing inspection. Honda’s service bulletin says its procedures are intended for skilled technicians with proper tools, equipment, and training.

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FAQ

Was my Honda recalled, or is it only under investigation?

A vehicle can fall within an investigation’s scope without being subject to a recall. Check your VIN for an open recall and contact Honda or an authorized dealer for vehicle-specific guidance.

Which Honda Pilot, Odyssey, or Ridgeline years are in the investigation?

The PE25008 opening resume lists selected 2016–2020 Pilots, 2018–2020 Odysseys, and 2017–2019 Ridgelines with 3.5L V6 engines. These investigation ranges do not confirm an individual vehicle’s recall eligibility or defect status.

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Does the 1,410,806 figure mean that many Hondas were recalled?

No. NHTSA used 1,410,806 as the estimated population in scope for its preliminary evaluation. It is not a recall count or a count of confirmed defective vehicles.

How do I check my VIN for an open Honda recall?

Use NHTSA’s recall lookup or Honda’s recall search, then contact an authorized dealer if a recall appears. VIN status, not model and year alone, determines whether a recall applies.

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