Honda’s vehicles generally have a great reputation for reliability, but no automaker is perfect. The company is currently dealing with an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) into the early failure of the J35 V6 engine due to issues with the connecting rod bearings. These powerplants are widely found in Honda and Acura vehicles, and some are under recall for said issues.
Base Trim Engine
3.5L V6 Gas
Base Trim Transmission
10-Speed Automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
280 hp
Base Trim Torque
262 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm
Fuel Economy
19/28 MPG
Infotainment & Features
8 /10
There’s something interesting about the Honda V6 engine in this recent I Do Cars teardown video, though. It came from a 2020 Honda Odyssey with around 85,000 miles on it, and should be part of the recall. Damaged components (or in this case, engines) usually go back to the manufacturer when recall work is done, but this engine obviously didn’t. As such, it’s not entirely clear whether its problem was recall-related, but it gives I Do Cars pro-engine disassembler Eric a chance to rip apart this Honda engine, showing us how it works and why there’s a recall for some of them. Let’s see what the problems are in this busted V6.
Digging Into Honda’s J35 V6 Engine
As a refresher, the Honda J35 is an all-aluminum 3.5-liter V6 with a pair of single-overhead camshafts using the brand’s fabled VTEC system. In the 2020 Odyssey, the unit makes 280 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 262 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 rpm. A 10-speed automatic transmission drives the front wheels.
During the teardown, this particular engine seems to be in generally good shape, save for the gigantic hole in the oil pan. However, it’s believed the damage wasn’t caused by the failure, but being tossed around once the engine was removed. Additionally, it appears to have been stored outside for some time, which allowed water to get into parts of the engine, rusting up some of the cylinder walls.
The problem is revealed when what’s left of the oil pan comes off. Inside, there are massive metal flakes, which are bits of the internal bearings. There’s even more debris inside the windage tray. Once the crankshaft and pistons are out, it’s easy to inspect the rod bearings. As the other damage suggests, one of them is extremely worn, and another has a crack. The crankshaft’s main bearings show significant damage, too, and there’s matching harm to the crankshaft journals.
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Honda Struggling To Sort Out Its V6 Engine Problems
NHTSA has escalated its investigation into the issues.
In the automotive autopsy at the end, Eric suggests the possibility of two separate problems occurring with this engine. First, there’s damage to the rod bearings, which aligns with a known flaw in this unit and the reason for the recall. Second, the Odyssey may have been in an incident that caused the hole in the oil pan, and running briefly with little to no lubrication could have caused the issues with the crankshaft main bearings. It’s an automotive mystery that resulted in a junk engine block.
Honda’s V6 Engine Woes
2005 Acura RL 3.5L J35 V6 EngineAcura
According to Honda’s explanation, a manufacturing defect in the J35 V6 engine’s crankshaft can cause premature wear to the connecting rods. The problem can lead to connecting rod bearing failures and eventually even result in a seized engine. NHTSA initially put 1.4 million potentially affected vehicles under investigation in 2024, including the Pilot, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura TLX, and Acura MDX from 2016 through 2020, depending on the model.
In 2025, NHTSA extended its investigation into the problem. At that point, the organization had received 3,012 complaints about issues with these engines, and there were 7 claims that the fault resulted in a crash.
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What’s odd about this recall is that Honda launched the J35 in 1999, and the basic J-series engine architecture goes back to the mid-1990s. Generally, we don’t see an engine develop serious internal mechanical issues after 20 years of production.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
The Honda Odyssey has 280 hp under the hood.Honda
The new I Do Cars video illustrates a potential issue used-car buyers need to be aware of when purchasing a used Honda with the J35 V6 engine. If you’re shopping for a potentially affected vehicle, NHTSA lets you search the license plate, VIN, or year/make/model to check for pending recalls, safety investigations, owner complaints, and manufacturer safety notices. Be a smart shopper and learn as much as possible about a particular vehicle before purchasing it.
Source: I Do Cars / YouTube
