NHTSA investigates Honda Pilot engine failure involving more than 190,000 vehicles

The NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation is investigating safety concerns in some Honda Pilot midsize crossovers,media reported.The office said it had received 221 complaints and several field reports alleging a defect in the automatic start-stop feature of the 2016 to 2019 Pilot model engine.

The safety investigation involves approximately 194,731 vehicles in the U.S. with 3.5-liter engines and nine-speed automatic transmissions, including the 2020 Pilot, according to NHTSA documents released on June 7.The complaint received by NHTSA claims that when the auto start-stop feature is activated, "the engine cannot restart on its own after coming to a complete stop at a traffic light or at an intersection".

Both Pilot Touring and Elite vehicles are equipped with an automatic start-stop feature to help improve fuel efficiency.

Image credit: Honda

The Defect Investigation Office said it had met with Honda on "different occasions" to discuss the issue.Honda told the agency it found a link between the customer's allegations and the automatic start-stop issue, noting that the Honda Odyssey, Acura TLX and MDX with the 3.5-liter engine and nine-speed automatic transmission also had engine failures.

American Honda Motor Co. spokesman Chris Martin said Honda is committed to safety issues and has been informed of the investigation."Honda will cooperate with NHTSA during the investigation and will continue to conduct an internal review of the information available," Martin said in a statement.

NHTSA will conduct an investigation to determine the scope and severity of this security breach.

Most NHTSA investigations begin with an initial assessment.During the initial assessment, NHTSA engineers ask the manufacturer for information such as data on complaints, injuries and warranty claims.Manufacturers can also provide their own opinions on the malfunction and may issue a recall.After the evaluation, NHTSA will either close the investigation or move on to the next phase.According to NHTSA, if there is a safety-related defect, the agency can issue a "recall request" letter to the manufacturer.