I purchased my 2017 Pilot new from Honda. Around 10,000 miles a code appeared and said Emissions problem and a picture of my engine. I immediately called Honda and took in to service dept. They said my fuel injectors need to be replaced and gave me an extended 150,000 warranty on injectors. Everything ok for awhile…until I hit around 60,000 to 80,000. The emissions engine light came on…
2017 Honda Pilot engine problems
moderate 275 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
275
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
What stands out
Engine accounts for 31% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 275 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2017 Honda Pilot has widespread, documented engine defects affecting reliability and safety—most critically, connecting rod bearing failures causing sudden engine seizure and auto start/stop failures that can leave the vehicle stranded in traffic. Engine repairs routinely cost $8,000–$25,000 and fall outside warranty; Honda has resisted recalls and goodwill assistance despite NHTSA investigations.
The 2017 Honda Pilot engine shows a persistent pattern of serious failures that owners document across 50 separate complaints, many referencing an ongoing NHTSA investigation (PE25008). The most critical issue is connecting rod bearing failure occurring between 56,000 and 176,000 miles, typically without warning. Owners report loud knocking sounds followed by rapid loss of power, rough running, and complete engine seizure. Engine teardowns confirm metal shavings in the oil and destroyed bearings. Replacement costs $8,656 to over $25,000; Honda has largely declined goodwill assistance despite these same failures triggering recalls in the 2016, 2018, and 2019 model years—a gap owners and mechanics find suspicious.
The auto start/stop system also fails dangerously, stalling the engine when drivers release the brake at traffic lights, stop signs, and intersections. The vehicle becomes immobilized in traffic, sometimes for minutes, creating rear-end collision risk. Owners report no permanent fix exists; manually disabling the feature before each drive has become standard practice. Honda service departments frequently claim inability to replicate the issue or suggest battery replacement, which provides only temporary relief.
Additional engine problems include camshaft thrust cover bolts not torqued to specification (causing misfire codes and sensor wear), recurring cylinder misfire after dealer repairs, excessive oil consumption, and head bolt seizure. Owners report completing all manufacturer-recommended maintenance yet experiencing failures well before typical vehicle lifespan expectations.
Same Honda Pilot engine reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Rod/Connecting Rod Bearing Failure
Premature wear or seizure of connecting rod bearings leading to internal engine damage, crankshaft damage, and catastrophic engine failure. Owners report loud knocking/tapping sounds followed by loss of power, rough running, stalling, and sometimes complete engine seizure. Failure can occur suddenly without warning, creating serious safety risk if it happens while driving, especially at highway speeds.
When: 56,765 to 176,000 miles; most commonly reported between 60,000–140,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud knocking or tapping sound from engine; Reduced engine power; Rough running; Difficulty driving/sluggish response; Engine stalling; Sudden loss of power while driving; Metal shavings found in oil; Engine seizure
Codes mentioned: Rod bearing failure confirmed via engine teardown/inspection, Metal debris in oil
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required; costs range from $8,656 to over $25,000 depending on whether refurbished or new engine used. Some owners report Honda offered partial goodwill assistance; others received none despite meticulously maintained service records.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda TSB 23-097; NHTSA Recall 23V-751000 (2016, 2018–2019 Pilots); 2017 model year largely excluded from recall despite NHTSA investigation PE25008 to expand coverage. Honda America has declined goodwill assistance in multiple cases, citing lack of dealer-only service records even when independent/self-service maintenance documented.
Auto Start/Stop System Failure to Restart
The automatic idle-stop/start feature (fuel-saving system) fails to restart the engine when the driver releases the brake at traffic lights, stop signs, roundabouts, or during traffic. Engine stalls and vehicle becomes immobile in traffic, sometimes for extended periods. Feature cannot be permanently disabled, only manually turned off each time vehicle is started. Owners report having to shift to park and retry the start button multiple times to get the engine to restart.
When: Typically 40,000+ miles; some reports as early as 10,000 miles; became worse over vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Engine fails to restart when brake is released after auto-shutdown; Vehicle stalls unexpectedly at stop lights, stop signs, roundabouts; Long pause or delay before engine restarts (several seconds to minutes); Requires shift to park and multiple restart attempts; Hazard lights may flicker or go off during restart attempts; Vehicle immobilized in traffic; unresponsive to drive engagement; May take 5–10 minutes or longer for engine to restart in some cases
Codes mentioned: No diagnostic codes in most cases, Some dealers document battery load-test failure
Repairs/costs cited: No effective repair; most dealers claim inability to replicate issue. Battery replacements (cost ~$150–300) have provided temporary relief in some cases but do not permanently solve problem. Most owners resort to manually disabling the feature before each drive to avoid the hazard.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda released software update (unclear if all vehicles addressed); NHTSA Investigation PE22-005 opened into auto start/stop failures. Multiple owners report dealers claiming no knowledge of the issue or suggesting battery replacement despite battery being normal.
Camshaft/Camshaft Thrust Cover Failure
Camshaft thrust cover surface roughness out of specification or camshaft thrust cover bolts not torqued to specification, causing excessive camshaft movement, side-to-side wear on camshaft, and premature wear on camshaft sensors and timing gear. Leads to intermittent cylinder misfire codes (particularly P0305 for cylinder 5) and engine performance degradation.
When: 46,942 to 137,800 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine light (check engine) illumination; P0305 or P0369 diagnostic trouble codes (camshaft position sensor/cylinder misfire); Misfire on specific cylinders (most commonly cylinder 5); Engine performance issues after repair; Slow cold starts; Intermittent misfire, especially noticeable on cold start; Sluggish engine response
Codes mentioned: P0305 (Cylinder 5 Misfire), P0369 (CMP Sensor Intermittent Interruption), P0301 (Cylinder 1 Misfire)
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of camshaft, thrust plate, thrust cap, timing gear, CMP sensor, and related hardware; cost approximately $3,895–$5,200 CAD (~$5,200 USD). Timing belt and tensioner replacement also recommended (~$516).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda service bulletin issued January 2018 (TSB); limited recall NHTSA 23V-751000 covers only certain 2016–2017 Pilots and Ridgelines. Some owners outside recall scope denied reimbursement by Honda corporate despite documented defect.
Engine Misfire and Emissions System Issues
Repeated cylinder misfire codes (particularly P0304 for cylinder 4 or P0301 for cylinder 1) combined with catalytic converter bank 2 error (P0430). Misfire occurs intermittently and may be triggered by weather changes or fuel quality. Engine can produce metal clanging and severe vibration during misfire events. In one case, misfire occurred after a dealership camshaft/thrust cover repair, with dealer documentation showing poor torque to specification.
When: 60,000–120,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination (blinking in severe cases); Cylinder misfire (particularly cylinders 1, 4, 5); Metal clanging and extreme engine vibration; Vehicle loss of power or near-complete stop during misfire; Catalytic converter efficiency warning; Emissions system warning lights; Tire squealing accompanied by metal clanging sound
Codes mentioned: P0304 (Cylinder 4 Misfire), P0301 (Cylinder 1 Misfire), P0305 (Cylinder 5 Misfire), P0430 (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold, Bank 2)
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel injector replacement (extended warranty to 150,000 miles in one case); catalytic converter replacement (cost not specified in narratives); diagnosis costs ~$100–200. One owner reported fuel injector replacement did not resolve misfire issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: In one case, Honda dealership discovered camshaft thrust cover not torqued to specification after repair and documented engine misfire immediately post-repair. Dealers have had difficulty isolating root cause in several cases despite recorded diagnostic codes.
Head Gasket Leak and Engine Head Bolt Failure
Oil leak originating from rear head gasket followed by discovery of seized head bolts that spin uncontrolled and cannot be removed, rendering engine useless. Significant internal damage found only upon complete engine removal. Occurs early in engine life with no prior symptoms.
When: Well before expected vehicle life; outside warranty period (precise mileage not stated in narrative)
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leak from rear head gasket area; Complete shock failure with no prior warning signs
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine teardown and inspection required; entire engine rendered unusable. No repair costs quoted but implied to be total engine replacement cost.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda has issued related recalls (XG1, GG0) under NHTSA 23V-751000 but this case fell outside recall scope. Honda declined reimbursement claim.
Excessive Oil Consumption
Engine consuming oil at abnormally high rate (~1 quart per 1,118 miles or 0.9 quarts per 1,006 miles), indicating internal engine defect likely in piston rings and/or internal seals. No visible external oil leak present; oil being burned internally. Creates risk of low oil level between changes, potentially leading to engine failure or seizure.
When: Identified during monitored consumption test at dealership; owner mileage unknown
Symptoms owners cite: Oil level dropping significantly between checks; High oil consumption rate (abnormally high); No visible external oil leak; Internal oil burning
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosis indicates internal engine repair (piston and seal-related) required; estimated repair cost approximately $6,000.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership has inspected and diagnosed issue; no recall or manufacturer response documented in narrative.
Throttle/Accelerator Pedal Malfunction
Gas pedal becomes unresponsive or loses pressure, goes limp to the floor, or lags significantly when depressed. Vehicle cannot accelerate during pedal malfunction, creating serious safety hazard especially at highway speeds. Condition appears to be electronic/transmission-related rather than mechanical linkage issue.
When: Mileage not specified; reported at various times during ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Gas pedal goes limp and unresponsive; Pedal goes to floor with no resistance; RPM drops to zero during pedal malfunction; Vehicle coasts without acceleration; Gas pedal unresponsiveness lags 3–5 seconds when pressed; Condition occurs at random times; Pedal recovers after 15–20 seconds of pressing; Jerky gear changes (unrelated but noted together)
Codes mentioned: Multiple unidentified error codes recorded by dealer, Some codes noted as 'not current' making troubleshooting difficult
Repairs/costs cited: Unresolved at time of complaint; dealer requested Honda 'expert' intervention; Honda tech-line consulted without resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer documented error codes but unable to determine cause despite extended diagnostic efforts and Honda tech-line support.
Fuel Pump Defect and Secondary Catalytic Converter Damage
Fuel pump defect (subject of Honda recall) caused extended delay in repair due to parts backlog. Owner reported significant delays in obtaining recall parts over one-year period. After fuel pump recall was finally completed, secondary emissions system failure occurred requiring catalytic converter replacement, allegedly caused by the prolonged operation with a faulty fuel pump.
When: Fuel pump issue identified at vehicle registration renewal; delay of over 1 year before parts available; catalytic converter issue at 87,200 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Emissions system light turning on randomly; Light appearing more frequently with weather changes; Emissions light staying on persistently after 117,000 miles; Related to fuel pump defect
Repairs/costs cited: Catalytic converter replacement required at 87,200 miles; cost not specified. Extended delay in fuel pump recall repair contributed to secondary damage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda recall for fuel pump issued; parts backlog caused one-year delay. No mention of covering secondary damage from delayed repair.
Synthesized from 275 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
with approx 65,000 miles the engine died. While driving on the freeway the engine all of a sudden was making a sound sound then the vehicle stalled. It was towed off the freeway. Honda determined that the engine was destroyed because somehow oil was prevented from getting to the engine. There was oil in the vehicle. The oil level was good but the engine had no oil. Although the 2016, 2018…
Auto Start does not work. Car frequently stalls when in traffic or at red light and fails to auto start when removing foot from brake.
I am writing to formally document a mechanical failure that occurred while I was driving on a major freeway. While traveling at highway speed, I suddenly heard loud, abnormal knocking and banging noises originating from the engine. Almost immediately, the vehicle lost power and became difficult to control while maintaining speed with surrounding traffic. Within moments, dashboard warning…
The issue with our 2016 Honda Pilot pertains to the Auto Start/Stop feature. The pilot began stalling out after being at stop signs/traffic signals and the vehicle would attempt to re-start and then stall. When stalled it was very difficult to get the car restarted. On several occasions, the vehicle has stalled in the middle of intersections which has been highly dangerous as the vehicle was…
Had engine trouble with your 2017 Honda Pilot?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2017 Honda Pilot?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 275 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 47 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 40,000 and 101,436 miles, with the median around 65,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,000; a quarter make it past 101,436. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Honda/Pilot.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.