Honda PH recalling 2016-19 Pilot due to faulty hood latch

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) announced that it will conduct a Recall Preventive Measure Campaign for the Pilot units in the country. The recall was launched due to the midsize crossover SUV’s faulty hood latch that presents a risk of opening while driving which can lead to an unwanted accident.

Honda Pilot

In a statement by the Japanese marque, the gap setting between the hood and grill is found to be improper at the time of vehicle manufacturing. The hood latch may experience excessive load, especially when driving at higher speeds. As a result, this issue will cause the hood to vibrate, damaging the latch’s surrounding parts.

A total of 137 Pilot units are expected to come to Honda dealerships for the Recall Preventive Measure Campaign. That was the number of units sold when the model was offered in the local market since its introduction in 2016. But two years later, it was discontinued alongside the brand’s executive car, the Legend.

As a flagship model, the 8-seater Honda Pilot offered a handful of refined features including the Honda Safety Sense. It was the second Honda model to offer the brand’s Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) in the country. Some of the ADAS’ features include Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist System, and Lane Departure Warning.

A faulty hood latch might pop open on the highway

Under the hood, the American-style midsize crossover uses a 3.5-liter SOHC i-VTEC V6 engine with Earth Dreams Technology capable of generating 280 horsepower and 355 Nm of torque. It is equipped with an i-VTM4 or Intelligent Variable Torque Management, which is the brand’s all-wheel drive (AWD) system.

Fortunately, there are no reports of crashes or injuries due to the faulty hood latch in the country. But for safety measures, owners are encouraged to visit any of HCPI’s 37 authorized Honda Dealers and Service Centers nationwide. To note, the recall service will be free of charge and will take around 30 minutes. If the diagnosis warrants a replacement, Honda said that two (2) days will be necessary to complete the painting.

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