Federal Authorities Investigating 2.2 Million Hondas and Acuras Due to Frustrating Start-Stop Malfunctions

      Honda

      Start-stop systems have seen significant advancements over the years. Unlike the jarring shudder that accompanied older models when the engine turned off and back on, contemporary vehicles provide much smoother transitions. However, what happens if the engine fails to restart? American Honda Motor Company is currently under scrutiny due to reports of such failures that may impact over two million vehicles across its Acura and Honda brands.

      The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched a new investigation after receiving more than 1,348 complaints related to the automaker’s automatic start-stop system. These reports include incidents leading to crashes, fires, and injuries.

      Complainants claim that when the Auto Idle Stop system is activated, the engine fails to restart after a complete stop. In some cases, a jump start was required to get the vehicle moving again.

      The NHTSA indicates that a preliminary evaluation started in June 2022, focusing on the 2016-2019 model year Honda Pilot vehicles. The restart issue appears to be limited to Pilots equipped with the 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission.

      However, a series of service bulletins issued starting in January 2023 expanded the scope to include additional Honda models—specifically the 2019-2022 Passport and 2020-2023 Ridgeline—as well as the 2015-2020 TLX and 2016-2020 MDX from Acura's lineup. Overall, this affects an estimated 2,209,466 vehicles.

      The Honda service bulletins detailed a two-step repair process. The first step involved a software update, while the second step, varying by model and year, included replacing the starter assembly, starter relays, and making a valve adjustment. Vehicles requiring component replacements received an extended warranty of 10 years.

      Unfortunately, these fixes have not resolved the issue, and vehicles continue to experience restarting problems. This situation poses more than just an inconvenience; it places drivers and passengers at risk of accidents or injuries.

      The start-stop features operate as their name suggests. Designed to conserve fuel, the system turns off the engine when a vehicle comes to a complete stop. By reducing idling time, fuel consumption and emissions are lowered. Nonetheless, the engagement may not be as prompt as desired, the fuel savings may not be substantial, and the sensation of the car shutting down can take some getting used to.

      Additionally, because the system activates whenever a vehicle stops, the likelihood of an accident increases when this leads to a stalled vehicle. In slow-moving traffic, a non-operational vehicle can cause considerable inconvenience and frustration. On a highway, the risks escalate due to the higher speed of other vehicles.

      Being stranded at an intersection is equally troubling. While you might wish for greater visibility, not every intersection is a clear, straight four-way stop. Being stuck in a roundabout where some drivers do not slow down can be quite unsettling. The risks outlined above only intensify at night.

      The timeline for when a new solution will be available is uncertain. Although another remedy is being considered to address the ongoing start-stop issue, the positive aspect is that the system can be manually disabled.