1. Honda & Acura: 1.4 Million Vehicles Under Investigation for Engine Failures
Over 1.4 million Honda and Acura vehicles equipped with the 3.5-liter V6 engine (for models such as the 2016–2020 Honda Pilot, 2018–2020 Odyssey, 2018–2020 Acura TLX, 2016–2020 Acura MDX, and others) are currently being probed by the NHTSA due to a surge in reports of connecting rod bearing failures leading to complete engine breakdowns. This is an extension of the earlier 2023 recall involving crankshaft manufacturing defects.
2. Hyundai & Kia: Theta II Engine Recalls—Costing Over $1.3 Billion
Hyundai and Kia’s Theta II GDI engines were linked to severe issues—including metallic debris contamination that led to engine seizure and fires. A class-action settlement in 2021 addressed over 1.6 million affected vehicles, totaling around $1.3 billion in costs.
3. Toyota: Recall Fallout That Shook the “Bulletproof” Reputation
Toyota faced massive recall campaigns between 2009–2011 involving issues like stuck accelerator pedals and floor mat interference. The fallout included estimated costs of up to $2 billion, damaging its reputation for rock-solid engineering.
4. Ford’s Record Year: 7 Million Vehicles Recalled & Rising Warranty Costs
Ford has issued a record 7 million recalls in 2025 alone, including issues like potential instrument panel failures. Warranty claims have skyrocketed, costing the company around $2 billion in Q2 2024, or roughly 4% of sales.
5. GM’s Ignition Switch Crisis: 30 Million Cars Recalled & 124 Lives Lost
General Motors was forced to recall nearly 30 million vehicles due to a faulty ignition switch design. These failures prevented airbags from deploying during accidents and were tragically linked to 124 deaths. GM ultimately forfeited $900 million in legal settlements.
Summary Table
| Manufacturer | Issue | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Honda/Acura | Connecting rod bearing failures in 3.5L V6 | 1.4M vehicles under investigation |
| Hyundai/Kia | Theta II engine seizures and fires | $1.3B+ settlement |
| Toyota | Accelerator/floor mat recalls | $2B in costs |
| Ford | Multiple hardware/software issues | 7M recalls; $2B warranty charges |
| GM | Ignition switch defect | 30M recalls; 124 deaths; $900M settlement |
Bottom Line
Yes, these are serious, wallet-wrecking automotive issues—but not the stuff of urban legend. They are substantiated by official investigations and class-action settlements involving millions of vehicles.
If you want, I can help dive deeper into any particular case—or draft a comparison chart showing which vehicles to avoid based on year and engine type.