2016 Honda Pilot · symptom sheet
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing
- 350owner reports
- 103,000median miles
- $7,500median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
812 of the 1,707 complaints on this car are about the engine. 350 of those describe engine failure. Only stalling is reported more often on this car.
Narrower sheets: Rod bearing failure (181 reports) · Engine knocking or ticking (138 reports) · Engine seized (51 reports)
Tick what matches of 350 reports
Engine failure on other Pilot years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
These are the reports nobody wants to file. The engine started knocking or ticking, the oil light came on, and then it seized or had to be replaced. Some owners had the replacement covered under warranty or an extension, and plenty were told they'd pay. Several narrower sheets split this group into knocking, seized engines and rod bearing failure.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the engine (331 reports), the timing chain (17 reports) and the short block or long block (13 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the engine covers the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.
All 8 recalls on the 2016 Honda Pilot, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Pilot
Engine failure. Open.
No restart after auto start/stop engages. Open.
Engine failure. Closed aug 20, 2025.
No restart after auto start/stop engages. Closed mar 26, 2025.
What owners paid
68 of the 350 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $3,400 to $10,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 80,000 and 133,000 miles, from the 129 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Pilot broke down and when diagnosed, the rod bearing broke causing the engine to seize”
Filed Aug 3, 2026
“Connecting rod to piston broken of damaged. Loud rattle on engine startup and acceleration. Not shifting well. Engine cutting off at stops and not restarting without shifting to park and restarting”
Filed Jan 26, 2025 · 89,109 miles
“2016 Honda Pilot engine failed due to connector rod failure, consistent with limited VIN recall for same model and year. Vehicle was inspected by Capital Honda in Okemos, MI and engine failure diagnosis via connector rod failure Incident was sudden without prior indication of issue”
Filed Jan 21, 2025 · 146,492 miles
“Connecting rod bearings failed in cylinders 1 and 4 with 133000 miles on the vehicle.”
Filed Nov 28, 2024 · 133,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 350 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 413 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 165 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 159 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 147 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 97 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 74 reports
- Auto start-stop will not restart the engine 54 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 51 reports
- A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 38 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 37 reports
- Fuel pump failure 34 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 31 reports