The 2017 Pilot's 3.5L V6 and 9-speed automatic are generally solid, but this generation suffers from a critical engine defect—piston ring defragmentation causing oil dilution and catastrophic failure—plus occasional transmission shudder and fuel pump recalls that leave owners stranded.
Piston Ring Defragmentation / Excessive Oil Consumption Leading to Engine Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Rapid oil consumption (quart every 500-1,000 miles), Fuel smell in oil or oil level rising on dipstick (fuel dilution), Check engine light with P0300-series misfire codes, Engine knock or rod bearing noise in advanced cases, Blue smoke from exhaust under load
Fix: Honda TSB 19-016 addresses defective piston rings that fragment and score cylinder walls. Requires complete engine teardown: remove engine, disassemble, hone cylinders, replace all pistons/rings, bearings, gaskets. 35-45 labor hours. Some engines are so damaged they need short-block replacement (crank/bearings compromised). Honda extended warranty to 8yr/unlimited miles on certain VINs but coverage is inconsistent—many owners report denials. Expect 4-6 week turnaround at dealer.
Estimated cost: $6,500-12,000
9-Speed Automatic Transmission Shudder and Judder
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 20,000-60,000 mi
Symptoms: Vibration or shudder during light acceleration 20-50 mph, Gear hunting or hesitation when merging, Harsh 2-3 or 3-4 upshifts, Occasional clunk when coasting to a stop
Fix: Honda TSB 17-036 and 18-054 cover software updates and transmission fluid replacement with Honda DW-1 ATF. Fluid flush (3 drain/fills to get clean) takes 2-3 hours and resolves 60-70% of cases. Persistent shudder may need torque converter replacement (12-14 hours labor). Some transmissions need full internal clutch pack replacement if judder ignored too long (16-20 hours). Always start with flush and software update first.
Estimated cost: $300-4,500
Fuel Pump Failure (NHTSA Recall 19V-666)
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: Engine stalls without warning at any speed, No-start condition—cranks but won't fire, Engine stumbles or hesitates under load, Fuel pump whine from rear of vehicle before failure
Fix: Denso-supplied low-pressure fuel pumps crack internally and stop feeding the high-pressure pump. Recall 19V-666 covers replacement but many owners report dealers can't get parts for months. If not recalled, pump replacement takes 2-3 hours (drop tank or access through rear seat). Critical safety issue—can stall in traffic.
Estimated cost: $0 (recall) or $800-1,200
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Red ATF puddles under vehicle center-front, Transmission temperature warning light, Low fluid level on dipstick, Delayed engagement or slipping after leak develops
Fix: Hard lines that run from transmission to radiator-mounted cooler develop pinhole leaks or corroded fittings. Replace both cooler lines and inspect radiator cooler for cross-contamination (ATF in coolant). 3-4 hours labor. If coolant contaminated ATF, transmission flush required (+1.5 hours). Catch it early before low fluid causes internal damage.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Engine Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk or thud when shifting from Park to Drive/Reverse, Vibration at idle that disappears when shifted to Neutral, Visible engine movement when revving in Park, Excessive driveline movement over bumps
Fix: Hydraulic engine mounts (especially front and rear) develop internal leaks and collapse. Front mount is most common failure (2 hours labor). Rear transmission mount slightly more involved (2.5 hours). OEM Honda mounts recommended—aftermarket versions fail prematurely. Replace in pairs if vehicle has over 100k miles.
Symptoms: Hood pops up slightly while driving, Secondary latch won't engage after opening hood, Hood vibrates or rattles at highway speeds
Fix: Secondary hood latch mechanism can fail, allowing hood to open unexpectedly. Recall 17V-735 covers inspection and latch replacement (0.5 hours). Dealer-only fix. Not life-threatening but obscures vision if hood flies up.
Estimated cost: $0 (recall)
Owner tips
Check oil level every 500 miles religiously—oil consumption issues often snowball into engine failure
If transmission shudders, address immediately with fluid change using ONLY Honda DW-1 ATF—aftermarket fluids make it worse
Verify your VIN is NOT on the fuel pump recall list before buying used—stalling in traffic is dangerous
Request oil consumption test documentation if buying used with under 100k miles—Honda's extended warranty may still apply
Avoid short trips under 10 miles in cold weather—contributes to fuel dilution and piston ring issues
Pass on high-mileage examples or those without documented oil consumption testing—engine failure risk is catastrophic and expensive, but low-mileage units with clean service records and recall completion are otherwise solid family haulers.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.
Consequence: Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER · 26V332000
2026-05-21
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Consequence: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD · 21V932000
2021-11-29
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Passport, 2016-2019 Pilot, and 2017-2020 Ridgeline vehicles. The hood latch striker may become damaged and separate from the hood, which can result in the hood opening while driving.
Consequence: A hood that opens while driving can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will either repair the hood latch striker, or replace the hood if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is PBV.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.