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Honda Pilot, Passport and Ridgeline body and frame recalls explained
Honda's structural recalls cluster around the Pilot, Passport and Ridgeline family. Two involve subframes: rear subframe bolts that were improperly manufactured and may loosen on 2019-2020 CR-V, and rear subframe corrosion on 2016-2022 Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport and 2014-2020 Acura MDX sold in salt-belt states from Connecticut through Minnesota. The rest are one-offs: front frame upper members not fully welded to the unibody on 2019-2020 Pilot and 2019 Passport, a hood latch striker that can separate and let the hood open on 2016-2019 Pilot, 2017-2020 Ridgeline and 2019 Passport, oversized trim clip holes that can block the right curtain airbag on 2019 Pilot and Ridgeline, and an accessory centerstand circlip for 2016-2018 Africa Twin.
Warning signs to watch for
- Rust, flaking or perforation around the rear subframe, especially on salt-belt vehicles
- A hood that rattles, sits unevenly or does not latch firmly
- New clunking, looseness or degraded handling from the rear of a 2019-2020 CR-V
- An accessory centerstand that feels loose or wobbles on an Africa Twin
- The missing frame welds and the curtain airbag trim clip give no warning you can see or feel
Is it safe to keep driving?
No recall in this group tells owners to stop driving or park outside. The one clear restriction is the Africa Twin accessory centerstand: Honda says do not use the affected stand until a dealer replaces the circlip. For the rest, normal driving until the appointment is expected, but the hood latch striker and the loosening CR-V subframe bolts can fail suddenly, so book those quickly. The salt-belt corrosion recall is still at the interim stage, and vehicles found with missing welds are offered a repurchase or a replacement.
What the free repair involves
It varies by defect. Dealers inspect and retorque or replace the CR-V rear subframe bolts, repair the hood latch striker or fit a new hood, install a bracket that holds the center pillar trim clip, and replace the Africa Twin centerstand circlip. The corrosion recall adds a rear subframe reinforcement kit plus repairs or replacement of subframe components. Missing welds trigger a repurchase or replacement offer. All free.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 5 |
| medium | 1 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-04 | Honda, Acura SUVs: rear frame can rust through | high |
| 2021-11-29 | Honda Pilot, Passport, Ridgeline hood can fly open | high |
| 2019-12-05 | Honda CR-V rear subframe bolts may loosen | high |
| 2019-10-31 | Honda Pilot and Passport may have missing frame welds | high |
| 2018-11-28 | Honda Pilot and Ridgeline trim may block curtain airbag | medium |
| 2018-08-03 | Honda Africa Twin accessory centerstand may fall off | high |
Common questions
I live in a salt-belt state — what does the subframe recall involve?
It covers Pilot, Ridgeline, Passport and Acura MDX vehicles sold in road-salt states. Dealers inspect the rear subframe, install a reinforcement kit, and repair or replace subframe components as necessary, free. Interim letters describing the risk went out first.
What happens if my Pilot actually has missing frame welds?
Dealers inspect for incomplete welds between the front frame upper members and the unibody. Most vehicles checked will be fine. If welds are missing, Honda offers to repurchase the vehicle or provide a similar replacement, because it fails a federal safety standard.
Is the hood latch recall really that dangerous?
Yes. The striker can be damaged and separate from the hood, letting the hood open while driving and block your view with no warning. Honda did not tell owners to park the vehicle, but this inspection is worth scheduling quickly.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.