Honda Recall - 3.5L main bearing problems

[drwebb]

So Honda is having trouble with their V6 main bearings: https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/11/business/honda-engine-recall/index.html

Not a good look such a basic component has a defect coming from an OEM that leans into their engine durability prowess (or at least used to).

 

[XR250]

Well, Toyota is replacing 100,000 Tundra engines due to main bearing issues from manufcturing debris.

 

[TugboatEng]

No discussion of the cause?

 

[3DDave]

Per the infamously accurate New York Post, the current recall is an extension of this previous recall:

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCAK-23V751-1498.pdf

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot,2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine

 

[drwebb]

. . . defective (convex/concave) grinding of the crank pins due to mis-setting of manufacturing CNC leading to main bearing failures. (or, QA not controlling for GIGO in the automation)

 

[Doug Hunter]

Engine bearings today are designed right on the edge of robustness to maximize performance. When you couple that with shortened development lead times, I'm not too surprised...

 

[TugboatEng]

The post above yours described a manufacturing defect, not a design fault.

 

[Doug Hunter]

Yes... and the closer a design is to the edge of robustness, the more likely that a manufacturing variation/fault can create a problem.

 

[TugboatEng]

Sure, let's go back to poured babbitt bearings.

 

[Doug Hunter]

Sure, let's go back to poured babbitt bearings.

I wouldn't recommend that.