2018 Honda Pilot: Rod bearing and complete engine failure
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2018 Pilot report: rod bearing and complete engine failure. CarComplaints.com lists 1 owner complaints, average mileage 72,300 miles.
NHTSA has 162 owner complaints for the 2018 Pilot in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11765967 (filed 09/21/2026): “The contact owned a 2018 honda pilot. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine was knocking very loudly, and the vehicle lost driving power. the contact attempted to contact the manufacturer. the vehicle was not repaired.…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11758136 (filed 08/20/2026): “The vehicle started to make some strange noises coming from the engine area. i brought the vehicle to our mechanic, who stated that the engine needs to be replaced. he described the problem as an issue with the piston that is appearing to be common with the sh…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: complete engine replacement (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $8,420 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
- CarComplaints.com: Rod bearing and complete engine failure (2018 Pilot)
- NHTSA complaints API, 2018 Pilot
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