Honda introduced Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) in the mid-2000s on J-series V6 engines. VCM deactivates 2–3 cylinders under light load to improve fuel economy. However, it has been linked to oil consumption, fouled spark plugs, misfires, and vibration complaints across Honda and Acura models.
| Years | Make | Model | Engine | Engine Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 | Honda | Accord | 3.0L / 3.5L V6 VCM | J30A5, J35Z2 | Oil consumption, vibration, fouled plugs |
| 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 | Honda | Odyssey | 3.5L V6 VCM | J35A7, J35Z8 | Oil consumption, misfires, vibration complaints |
| 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 | Honda | Pilot | 3.5L V6 VCM | J35Z4 | Oil consumption, rough transitions between cylinder modes |
| 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 | Acura | MDX | 3.7L V6 VCM | J37A1 | Oil consumption, vibration, misfires |
| 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 | Acura | RL | 3.5L V6 VCM | J35A9 | Oil consumption, spark plug fouling |
| 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 | Acura | RLX | 3.5L V6 VCM | J35Y4 | Improved design, but oil consumption still reported |
Honda’s VCM engines — especially the 3.5L J35 series — are notorious for oil consumption, fouled plugs, misfires, and vibration. These issues affect Accord, Odyssey, Pilot, and Acura MDX/RL/RLX models from 2005 onward. Many owners disable VCM with aftermarket kits to avoid reliability problems.