2016 HONDA S660

Typical onset: 40,000-70,000 mi

Symptoms: Shuddering or vibration during acceleration from stop, Clunking noise when shifting from Park to Drive, Excessive engine movement visible from cabin, Delayed engagement when cold

Fix: Transmission mounts wear prematurely due to mid-engine torque loads and heat exposure. Typical fix involves replacing upper and lower transmission mounts (2.5 hours labor). If CVT itself has internal judder, fluid replacement with Honda CVTF may help temporarily, but fluid and filter service with pulleys inspected adds another 1.5 hours. Severe cases need CVT replacement.

Estimated cost: $400-800 for mounts only, $3,500-5,000 if CVT replacement required

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: Cold-start ticking that persists beyond 30 seconds, Metallic rattling at idle when warm, Loss of power or rough running in severe cases, Check engine light with cam position sensor codes

Fix: S07A uses roller rocker arms and hydraulic lifters prone to collapse with oil starvation or running low-quality oil. Owners who skip 5,000-mile intervals or use incorrect viscosity see this most. Diagnosis requires valve cover removal (1 hour), but fix usually means replacing all lifters (6 total) and inspecting cam lobes for scoring—cylinder head R&R if cam worn (8-10 hours total). Some mechanics replace lifters without head removal if cam looks OK, about 5 hours labor.

Estimated cost: $1,200-1,800 lifters only, $3,000-4,500 if camshaft and head work needed

Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Rattling noise from engine on cold start, Check engine light with VTC actuator or timing codes, Loss of power, rough idle, Engine won't start in extreme cases

Fix: The S07A timing chain and hydraulic tensioner can stretch or fail, especially if oil changes were neglected. Access is difficult due to mid-engine layout. Timing chain replacement requires removing engine from car in most cases (6-8 hours removal/reinstall), plus 3-4 hours for chain, guides, tensioner, and VTC actuator replacement. Total 10-12 hours labor. Always replace water pump and harmonic balancer during this job.

Estimated cost: $2,800-4,200

Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi

Symptoms: Transmission fluid spots under mid-section of car, Burnt CVT fluid smell, Low fluid level on dipstick, Slipping or hesitation under load

Fix: Rubber cooler lines and fittings degrade from engine bay heat. Located between engine and CVT near exhaust, these lines crack or weep at crimps. Replacement involves lifting car, removing underbody panels, and replacing both feed and return lines (2-3 hours). Must refill CVT with correct Honda fluid and verify no metal contamination. If neglected, CVT overheats and fails internally.

Estimated cost: $400-700

Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi

Symptoms: Vibration at specific RPM ranges (usually 2,500-3,500), Serpentine belt squealing or misalignment, Visible wobble of crankshaft pulley, Accessory drive noise

Fix: The rubber isolation ring in the harmonic balancer separates with age and heat cycles. Not life-threatening but causes annoying vibration and can damage crankshaft seal. Replacement requires crankshaft pulley removal with special holding tool (1.5-2 hours). Often discovered during timing chain service. Mid-engine access makes this slightly more tedious than front-engine Hondas.

Estimated cost: $350-600

Symptoms: Hesitation or stumbling under boost, Loss of top-end power, Check engine light with lean fuel trim codes, Hard starting when hot

Fix: Not necessarily a defect, but imported S660s or those run on questionable fuel see premature fuel filter restriction. The in-tank filter and inline filter should both be replaced every 30,000-40,000 miles in North America (Honda JDM spec is longer). In-tank filter requires dropping fuel tank (2.5 hours), inline filter is 0.5 hours. Many techs do both simultaneously.

Estimated cost: $300-500 for both filters