6,249 complaints filed with NHTSA describe an engine that seized, blew up or developed a knock from a failed bearing. Half of them, 3,203, have been filed since 2022. 2025 was the worst year on record with 876.
Across the whole record, Hyundai and Kia account for 47% of these complaints, and the 2011 to 2015 Sonata and Optima are the best-known cases. Since 2022, though, the model at the top has been a Honda.
| Model | Engine failure complaints since 2022 |
|---|---|
| Honda Pilot | 323 |
| Hyundai Sonata | 251 |
| Kia Sorento | 215 |
| Hyundai Santa Fe | 207 |
| Kia Optima | 204 |
| Hyundai Tucson | 169 |
| Kia Soul | 167 |
| Acura MDX | 131 |
The Pilot's complaints cluster in 2016 and 2017, the first two years of its third generation. Acura's MDX shares the same 3.5-liter V6, and so do the Odyssey and Ridgeline, which add another 157 between them since 2022.
| Model year | Complaints, all years filed |
|---|---|
| 2016 Honda Pilot | 195 |
| 2011 Hyundai Sonata | 115 |
| 2015 Kia Optima | 99 |
| 2013 Hyundai Sonata | 94 |
| 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe | 89 |
| 2017 Honda Pilot | 73 |
| 2016 Acura MDX | 63 |
Two engines under investigation
Honda's V6 is the subject of an open NHTSA investigation into connecting rod bearing failures in 2016 to 2020 Pilots, MDXs, Odysseys, Ridgelines and TLXs, citing 414 reports. The agency says these failures fall outside an earlier Honda recall for a crankshaft defect. GM's 6.2-liter V8 is under investigation too, and the Yukon and Yukon XL have 138 complaints between them since 2022. Both are among the investigations open right now.
What a failure looks like
Where owners gave a mileage, the median is 76,000 miles and the typical car was six years old. One complaint in three ends with a tow truck and one in four happened on a highway. 11% mention a replacement engine. The median quoted repair is $4,500, and a quarter of quotes are $8,000 or more.
The warning signs come before the failure. Owners describe a knock or tick that rises with engine speed, an oil pressure light, or oil disappearing between changes, a pattern covered in our look at oil-burning complaints, where the same Hyundai and Kia models lead.
Buying one used
Listen to the engine from a cold start with the hood open. A knock that gets faster as the revs rise is the sound to walk away from. Ask for documents if the engine has been replaced. On these models, a replacement engine fitted under a recall or extended warranty is usually good news, not bad.
Read the full Pilot complaint record or the one for the model you're considering, and run the VIN to see whether recall software or engine inspections are still outstanding.
Frequently asked questions
Which cars have the most engine failure complaints?
Across all years, Hyundai and Kia account for 47% of the 6,249 NHTSA complaints describing a seized or blown engine, led by the Sonata, Sorento and Optima. Since 2022 the Honda Pilot leads with 323, mostly 2016 and 2017 models.
Is the Honda Pilot engine being investigated?
Yes. NHTSA opened an investigation in August 2025 into connecting rod bearing failures in the 3.5L V6 of 2016–2020 Pilot, MDX, Odyssey, Ridgeline and TLX models, citing 414 reports outside the scope of Honda's earlier crankshaft recall.
What are the warning signs before an engine fails?
Owners most often describe a knocking or ticking that rises with engine speed, an oil pressure warning light, or oil disappearing between changes. The median failure in complaints came at 76,000 miles, and a third ended with the car being towed.
Denis Kataev is a serial solopreneur and the founder of ForCar. With 15+ years in software engineering and 10 years in SEO, he builds data-driven products end to end — backed by a sharp eye for design. At ForCar he mines proprietary vehicle datasets, turning raw numbers into buying advice you can actually trust.
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