The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a recall of 248,999 crossovers, minivans, pickups and sedans from the Japanese concern. The naturally aspirated J35 series is at risk of failure: the unit may jam due to the incorrect shape of the connecting rods. Expensive repairs are required for 2.5 thousand cars, and a quarter of a million will have to be checked: we are talking about in-depth diagnostics with partial disassembly of the engine.
The naturally aspirated V6 engine of the J series has been tested by time: different variations of these “sixes” have been produced since 1996. However, on the J35Y5/J35Y6 series engines, a crankshaft was mistakenly installed with the wrong connecting rods: the parts lack lubrication, which can lead to engine seizure or permanent damage.
Honda recognized the defect only now, although the first complaints about engine failure were received back in 2020. In three years, the Japanese automaker received 1,450 warranty claims. The inspection of Honda Pilot, Ridgelines and Odyssey, as well as Acura TLX and MDX will begin in January 2024: technicians will have to identify cars with defective crankshafts and replace the connecting rod and piston group or engine assembly for free.
A Honda spokesman said the recall campaign will take time because testing the engines will involve partial disassembly. Owners of problem cars will be notified starting January 2, but the VIN codes of cars at risk are already on the NHTSA website.
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