P061B on Honda: How to Diagnose & Fix
Internal Control Module Torque Calculation Performance
1 Honda model · 1 documented issue · 1 critical
On Honda vehicles, P061B (internal control module torque calculation performance) is most often reported on the 2023-2025 Honda Pilot as Engine Stall and Power Loss from Mis-Programmed Fuel Injection ECU. Do not begin by replacing hardware. Check the VIN against NHTSA campaign 25V-031 first; if the truck is in scope, an authorized Honda dealer reprograms the FI-ECU with the corrected control program free of charge under the recall, regardless of mileage or warranty status. Rated critical: Pilot Engine Stall and Power Loss from Mis-Programmed Fuel Injection ECU. Each section below gives the symptoms, how to confirm the cause, the fix, parts and sources for that model.
Common causes of P061B (all vehicles)
- Failing mass air flow (MAF) sensor or intake air leak feeding the module bad airflow data
- Accelerator pedal position (APP) or throttle position sensor fault, including dirty throttle body
- Wiring, connector, or ground faults on the sensor circuits the torque model relies on
- Restricted exhaust, failing turbocharger, or mechanical engine problem making real torque differ from expected
- Transmission or hybrid/traction control module reporting a conflicting torque request
- Low battery/charging system voltage causing module calculation faults
- Internal PCM/ECM failure or corrupted software calibration (needs reflash or replacement)
P061B on Honda by model: symptoms, diagnosis and fix
Fourth-generation Pilots built on the 2023 redesign store P061B when the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) mis-handles a fast throttle transient. Supplier Denso reported to Honda that the settings for the correction control logic of the air flow rate and fuel injection volume were improper, which can cause a torque control failure to be detected. When the driver makes a sudden, large change in throttle opening — a hard tip-in from a roll, a quick lift-and-reapply while merging, or a sharp stab of throttle from low rpm — the torque the FI-ECU calculates diverges far enough from the torque it commanded that the module's internal plausibility monitor trips. Because that monitor is a torque-safety supervisor rather than an ordinary sensor check, it does not just log a code; it commands a torque limit. Drivers report the malfunction indicator lamp coming on together with an abrupt loss of drive power, a deep hesitation in the throttle, and in the worst cases an outright stall, which on a busy road is a genuine crash risk. American Honda filed NHTSA safety recall 25V-031 in January 2025, covering 294,612 vehicles: 2023-2025 Pilot (built 13 Sep 2022 - 9 Jan 2025), 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type S and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type S. Nothing is mechanically wrong with the engine on an affected Pilot — no sensor is out of range and no part has worn out — which is why parts-swapping diagnosis on these trucks wastes money.
Common Symptoms
- Check engine light with sudden loss of drive power
- Engine hesitates or stumbles on a fast throttle change
- Engine stalls while driving or when merging
- Reduced-power / limp behavior after a hard tip-in
- MIL on with no other apparent driveability fault
How to Fix
Do not begin by replacing hardware. Check the VIN against NHTSA campaign 25V-031 first; if the truck is in scope, an authorized Honda dealer reprograms the FI-ECU with the corrected control program free of charge under the recall, regardless of mileage or warranty status. The reflash is a short shop visit — owners of the sibling Acura vehicles report 30 minutes to an hour — and requires a fully charged 12-volt battery and Honda's ECU reprogramming tooling; independent shops without that tooling cannot perform it. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning 17 March 2025. After the flash, clear the stored P061B and any secondary codes and drive the vehicle through the conditions that provoked it — several hard tip-ins and merge-throttle transients — to confirm the fault does not return. If P061B reappears on software that is already at the recall level, the diagnosis changes completely: now treat it as a genuine torque-model disagreement and check for an intake leak downstream of the mass airflow sensor, a contaminated or failing MAF, a dirty or drifting throttle body and accelerator pedal position sensor correlation, and any aftermarket tune or intake that would make measured airflow disagree with commanded torque.
Looking for P061B on a different make?
View P061B across all makes →Frequently asked questions
What does P061B mean on a Honda?
P061B stands for "Internal Control Module Torque Calculation Performance." A generic OBD-II powertrain code. The powertrain control module continuously cross-checks its own calculated engine torque against the torque it commanded, and sets P061B when the two disagree by more than the allowed margin (on many applications roughly 50 Nm for longer than a second, typically at higher engine speeds) or when its internal self-test math does not return the expected result. Engine torque is used by the transmission, traction, and stability control systems, so most vehicles respond by cutting power and entering a reduced-power or limp mode. Expect a lit check engine light, poor acceleration, and possibly a throttle warning message. On Honda it is documented across 1 model: Pilot.
How do I diagnose P061B on a Honda Pilot?
Do not begin by replacing hardware. Check the VIN against NHTSA campaign 25V-031 first; if the truck is in scope, an authorized Honda dealer reprograms the FI-ECU with the corrected control program free of charge under the recall, regardless of mileage or warranty status. The reflash is a short shop visit — owners of the sibling Acura vehicles report 30 minutes to an hour — and requires a fully charged 12-volt battery and Honda's ECU reprogramming tooling; independent shops without that tooling cannot perform it. Published repair guidance and available estimates are in the Pilot section on this page.
What causes P061B on Honda vehicles?
Documented causes on Honda: Engine Stall and Power Loss from Mis-Programmed Fuel Injection ECU. Generic causes of P061B: Failing mass air flow (MAF) sensor or intake air leak feeding the module bad airflow data, Accelerator pedal position (APP) or throttle position sensor fault, including dirty throttle body, Wiring, connector, or ground faults on the sensor circuits the torque model relies on, Restricted exhaust, failing turbocharger, or mechanical engine problem making real torque differ from expected.
How much does it cost to fix P061B on a Honda?
Repair costs vary widely with the root cause and Honda model; each issue on this page carries its own estimate where one is published.
Content compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, and owner reports. May contain errors. Always verify with your vehicle's service manual.