What Honda Pilot owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Honda Pilot safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 202 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 35 |
| 2024 | 114 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 43 |
| 2023 | 144 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 90 |
| 2022 | 160 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 93 |
| 2021 | 438 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 99 |
| 2020 | 489 | 10 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 149 |
| 2019 | 907 | 13 | 5 | 15 | 0 | 223 |
| 2018 | 440 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 140 |
| 2017 | 929 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 181 |
| 2016 | 1,709 | 23 | 10 | 20 | 0 | 365 |
| 2015 | 109 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 85 |
| 2014 | 116 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 84 |
| 2013 | 271 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 89 |
| 2012 | 171 | 17 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 62 |
| 2011 | 293 | 29 | 5 | 31 | 0 | 77 |
| 2010 | 111 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 83 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Honda Pilot complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
Idle auto stop / start - this has repeatedly failed at traffic lights. Vehicle stops dead and will not restart. Taken to 3 dealers over the course of 18 months and finally the 3rd Honda dealership acknowledged this. The problem has been identified and repeated by dealership mechanics. No warning lights at all.
After Automatic Braking engaged, within a couple days car will make a zipper noise and gas pedal will not work. Have to press it 5-6 times and then it will start working again. Very dangerous when you have cars traveling behind you and you basically start slowing down immediately. But today, not sure if related, backed out of driveway on a slope, car went immediately to park with a large sound like the bottom falling out of the car and shook the car. Several warnings kept flashing (emissions, transmission, and P for park was flashing). I powered car off and back on was able put in N to let it coast backward to get out of the road. Completely shut everything off waited a couple minutes …
Vehicle: 2021 Honda Pilot NHTSA Recall: 26V-365 Honda Recall: AOU Recall Status: Incomplete/Unrepaire I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious motor vehicle accident involving my 2021 Honda Pilot. At the time of the accident, my vehicle had an open and unrepaired safety recall, NHTSA Recall 26V-365, Honda Recall AOU. I was driving my Honda Pilot downhill when the vehicle began gaining speed in a manner that felt abnormal and uncontrollable. I attempted to slow and stop the vehicle by applying the brakes, but I was unable to stop the vehicle. Despite my efforts to brake, the vehicle continued moving forward and I ultimately collided with another vehicle, resulting in a multi-vehic…
My 2016 honda pilot has 97,500 miles. The engine stop working and I have it replaced a used 3.5 engine. The transmission has transmission overheating problem and I took a picture on the dash board. I show it to the service advisor and they won't acknowledge about the overheating problem. Honda care customer service won't do anything regarding the engine and transmission problem.
The car has auto idle. It is the default and operates anytime the car is started unless you specifically push a button (each time) to turn if off. Starting about a year ago, the car battery seemed sluggish and then when I was driving if I stopped at a stoplight, the car would completely die and I had to restart it. Thinking it was a battery issue, I had a new battery put in on 10/15/25. But the issues have continued. Just recently, the car has twice died when I am at busy stoplights which could have easily led to me being rear ended. I have to put the car in park and attempt to restart it. It sometimes reads that the battery is dead, but then will start after a couple tries. I am taking it t…
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under Technical Service Bulletin: 23-008 (Product Update: PGM-FI Idle Stop Software Update); however, the failure occurred after the product update. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to start after pressing the Engine Start button. The engine failed restart after coming to a complete stop and releasing the brake pedal and the Auto Idle Stop feature engaged. The battery warning light was illuminated, and the messages "Battery Failure" and "Press Brakes - Put the Car in Park and Restart" were displayed. The contact deactivated the Auto Idle Stop feature. The vehicle was taken to the dea…
Catastrophic internal engine mechanical failure. My 2016 Honda Pilot (3.5L V6 engine) has developed a severe connecting rod bearing knock that is highly audible during cold starts and heavily intensifies upon pressing the gas pedal to accelerate. This issue is an exact match to the mechanical defect and symptoms detailed in NHTSA Recall Campaign Number 23V751000 (Improperly ground crankshaft pins causing premature connecting rod bearing wear and engine seizure). However, when running my vehicle's 17-digit VIN, the system states that my vehicle is excluded from the recall list. This is a severe, life-threatening safety hazard. The engine is at immediate risk of throwing a rod, throwing metal …
My front sensor camera has malfunctioned which is causing numerous failing safety systems such as lkas, adaptive cruise control and automated braking.
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
Service Bulletin - The driver-information interface may display a warning message when a malfunction in the Auto Idle Stop System is detected due to possible insufficient wire length at the Battery Management System (BMS) connector causing the wires to break.
Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator.
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2025 Pilots with customer complaint of Check Engine Light (CEL) on with DTC P0420 [Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1)] and/or P0430 [Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 2]] stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle.
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2025 Pilots with customer complaint of Check Engine Light (CEL) on with DTC P0420 [Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1)] and/or P0430 [Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 2]] stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle.
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2025 Pilots with customer complaint of Check Engine Light (CEL) on with DTC P0420 [Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1)] and/or P0430 [Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 2]] stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle.
Over The Air - This update contains various performance enhancements and UI improvements.
Service Bulletin - The piston ring function deteriorates due to ring low wear toughness and sticking from sludge. Oil adheres to the spark plug leading to carbon fouling and misfire. This can set DTCs P0301 No. 1 cylinder misfire detected, P0302 No. 2 cylinder misfire detected, P0303 No. 3 cylinder misfire detected, P0304 No. 4 cylinder misfire detected, and cause the MIL to come on.
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2025 Pilots with customer complaint of Check Engine Light (CEL) on with DTC P0420 [Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1)] and/or P0430 [Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 2]] stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle.
Service Bulletin - The seat belt reminder incorrectly indicates that the second-row right passenger seat belt is unfastened even after the passenger has fastened it.
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2025 Pilots with customer complaint of Check Engine Light (CEL) on with DTC P0420 [Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1)] and/or P0430 [Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 2]] stored. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle.
Service Bulletin - The wireless charger starts charging the phone and then stops charging, even when the phone remains in the correct position on the charger due to software specifications that can cause some phones to have issues charging.
Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2023-2025 Pilots with a customer complaint of a no auto re-start condition after going into an auto idle stop. The push button ignition may or may not restart the engine. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opens these when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Many end in a recall.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 6 complaints, and multiple Early Warning Reporting (EWR) field reports alleging inaccurate rear seat belt warning status. These allegations concern both false positive and false negative statuses in model year (MY) 2023-2024 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured by American Honda Motor Co. (Honda). The complaints state that the rear passenger seat belt warning system is displaying inaccurate information to the driver for both second and third ro
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 414 reports of connecting rod bearing failures in the 3.5L V6 engine used in the following vehicles: Model Years (MY) 2018-2020 Acura TLX, MY2016-2020 Acura MDX, MY2016-2020 Honda Pilot, MY2018-2020 Honda Odyssey, and MY2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline. The subject engine failures were analyzed as part of a Recall Query (RQ24013). It was determined that these engine failures are outside the scope of Honda Recall 23V-751. Further, evidence gathe
On June 3, 2022, the Oï¬ce of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several ï¬eld reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traï¬c light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6,
On November 8, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ24013 to assess the scope of Honda recall 23V-751 after receiving complaints that alleged connecting rod bearing failures in vehicles that were not within the scope of recall 23V-751. In November 2023, Honda recalled 248,999 various Model Year (MY)2016â2020 Honda and Acura vehicles equipped with the 3.5L V6 engine. Honda recalled these vehicles due to a crankshaft manufacturing defect that caused premature con
On June 3, 2022, the Oï¬ce of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several ï¬eld reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traï¬c light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6,
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2010–2026, owners most often name: engine, electrical system, unknown or other. 6,625 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.
