Honda Pilot Complaints

1,017 consumer complaints on file.

#11760170August 27, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
The vehicle came to a complete stop while attempting to enter the Highway. As I accelerated to gain speed, and the vehicle halted down to stop, all sensor warning systems started to light up on the dashboard: Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency braking, Lane Departure Warning, Parking Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assistance -- all sensors flashing simultaneously. As our vehicle stopped, the vehicles around us in the Highway had to abruptly stopped as well, causing a serious hazard, not only to myself and my family, but also the potential for a serious injury to other as well. This incident happened to us twice, and my passenger was able to record a video of the dashboard, as all the sensors were flashing and the vehicle switch to neutral on its own coming to a stop. We explained to the Honda dealership service department and after the second time, they kept the vehicle for service and it has been over (30) days since we had any update. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership, and it is still there as parts are in back order, but there are not sure of what the real problem is. There were no previous warnings of this problem, the vehicle is a 2024 Honda Pilot Elite with 30,174 miles, and still under dealer warranty. This is the 3rd Honda Pilot I ever owned and never experienced anything like this before. My biggest concern is that if they do not fix this vehicle properly or if it is defective, my life and my family's will be in danger every time we drive it, as we do not know when it will decide to stop while driving.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11760139August 27, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My 2021 Honda Pilot has repeatedly failed to restart after the Auto Idle Stop system shuts the engine off while the vehicle is stopped. When the system activates, the engine can fail to restart when I need to move, leaving the vehicle stalled in active traffic. This has happened multiple times and creates a serious safety risk, particularly at busy intersections. Honda previously performed the software update intended to address the Auto Idle Stop failure-to-restart condition, but the problem continued after the update. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Honda dealership because the problem persisted. The dealership has now diagnosed the starter as the cause of the failure-to-restart problem and recommended starter replacement. The vehicle and affected components are available for inspection. Honda has acknowledged Auto Idle Stop failure-to-restart problems on Honda Pilots and has extended warranty coverage for starter replacement on certain affected vehicles. However, American Honda has informed me that my specific vehicle is not included in the starter warranty extension, despite experiencing the same failure-to-restart condition, despite Honda's software update failing to correct it, and despite the Honda dealer diagnosing the starter as the cause. American Honda is considering partial goodwill assistance toward the starter repair but has told me that the repair will not be covered at 100%. I am reporting this because the Auto Idle Stop system can intentionally shut off the engine and the vehicle can then fail to restart, leaving the driver unable to move out of the way of traffic. I am concerned that Honda's existing remedy and the VIN population included in the starter warranty extension may not adequately address all vehicles experiencing this safety-related failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759960August 27, 2026
STEERING, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am filing this complaint regarding my new Honda Pilot with only approximately 300 miles. The vehicle has multiple serious problems that I believe should be investigated as potential safety defects. Steering/Rack Clicking: The steering system produces a loud clicking/rattling noise that sounds like loose marbles, especially at low speeds and during slow turns. This appears to come from the steering rack/steering assembly. There are multiple reports from Honda Pilot owners on online forums describing the same or very similar steering noise dating back to the 2023 redesign. It is extremely concerning that the issue continues in newer vehicles. A potential defect involving the steering system could affect steering control and represents a serious safety concern. Transmission Jerking: The transmission jerks, lurches, and rocks the vehicle at low speeds, particularly when shifting into Drive, Reverse, and between 1st and 2nd gear. There is sometimes hesitation followed by an abrupt engagement. Unexpected movement during parking, reversing, or stop-and-go traffic could create a safety risk. A/C Not Cooling: The A/C is not properly cooling the cabin and has a condenser/refrigerant leak. In extreme temperatures, inadequate cabin cooling can also become a safety concern, particularly for children and other vulnerable passengers. It is unacceptable for a vehicle with only 300 miles to have these significant issues. Given the multiple owner reports and the apparent persistence of the steering problem across model years, I strongly believe NHTSA should investigate these complaints and determine whether Honda should be required to conduct a safety recall. Honda should not wait for accidents or injuries before taking action. If these are widespread defects, Honda should issue a recall and provide a permanent repair to affected owners. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate these issues and take appropriate action to protect Honda Pilot owners and the public.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759921August 27, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On at least 5 occasions this vehicle has gone completely dead as slowing down to stop or being completely stopped. Nothing electrical is available. No tail lights, headlights, or emergency flashers. After a long waiting period it has suddenly re-energized so far. This was purchased as Certified Honda used car and never serviced anywhere but a Honda delaership. They allegedly replaced the start/stop system under "extended warranty". The occurence is random. The dealership pushes back on taking any action because they can't repeat the problem on the spot. The car has staranded us at very major interesections twice and had to be towed. The risk driving this car is unacceptably high. We have video evidence of the failure. There may be a police report as we called them to control traffic.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759895August 27, 2026
STEERING
The steering box has failed twice in under 60000 miles 53601-TG7-A02
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759716August 26, 2026
AIR BAGS
The contact owned a 2025 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked on a neighborhood street, a vehicle crashed into the front driver’s side of the vehicle. The vehicle was driving approximately 60 MPH at the time of the crash and came to a stop upon impact. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed a local law enforcement parking lot. No warning lights were illuminated. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact and mother were injured. The contact was seated in the driver’s seat and suffered injuries to the left arm, back, and ribs, and the contact’s mother was seated in the rear driver’s side seat and suffered injuries to the left arm and both knees. No injuries were reported outside of the vehicle. Medical Treatment was required for the injuries sustained. The air bag warning light was not illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 16,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11759604August 26, 2026
SUSPENSION
I purchased a brand new 2026 Honda Pilot Elite AWD in March of 2026. Since then, I've taken my vehicle in service 3 times, with the first time being 1 week of purchase after noticing loud noises, rumbling, shaking and clunking as I drove over speed bumps, potholes, etc. The first service, the Honda technicians weren't able to identify the issue. The second and third times I've taken the vehicle in for service, it was determined that the stabilizer link components were prematurely worn on both the driver and passenger sides of the vehicle. As a result, both parts were replaced through the Honda warranty but unfortunately, I am still experiencing significant issues with the overall handling and reduced stability, and the vehicle's quality and driver experience has decreased and has been significantly impacted and has caused major safety concerns.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759563August 25, 2026
SEAT BELTS
The 2nd row passenger side seat belt buckle sensor begins to report "un-buckled" status that cannot be remediated by re-buckling the belt. Honda replaced the same belt buckle twice already for the same issue. First defect manifested and was corrected by Honda 18 months from purchase, the second one - manifested and corrected 17 months after first one. NHTSA bulletin 26-027 describes this exact issue in detail.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759404August 25, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Known design defect under Special Coverage for some vehicles, but does not include my VIN for a 2020 Chevy Traverse. Full details are provided in the attachment, including photos of the broken exhaust weld bracket and costs incurred so far. Additional expenses are expected to be incurred in the coming days when parts are available to prevent exhaust emissions from entering the vehicle during operation while doors and windows are closed, which is an issue caused by failure of the exhaust weld bracket.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759233August 24, 2026
ENGINE
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Per the quote from the dealership where the issue was diagnosed: Looks like you are going to need a new engine due (to a) bad cylinder 5 misfire and the main bearing spun causing internal failure. It is available for Inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The engine could have failed during driving causing an accident. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? The Check Engine Light was blinking when I parked it within 3 minutes of seeing it (XXX at approximately 8:30 AM) and drove no further. I had it towed to the nearest dealer, which is Thelen Honda of Bay City, MI.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759105August 24, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
commonly experiences battery drain, the radio is making Popping or crackling sounds from speakers
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759044August 24, 2026
ENGINE
Was driving vehicle and all of a sudden engine light pops up with no driver codes and the left side of engine starts knocking. I pull into the closest shop. They test a vehicle misfire in cylinder 5 and propose vehicle gets towed to dealership to look at codes. I tow vehicle to dealership for them to tell me rod bearings, crankshaft are bad and need a new engine. Engine was 99k and well maintained with every service record included. I asked about Honda goodwill which they denied me due to vehicle not getting serviced at Honda for oil changes. The rod bearings were recalled on previous Honda models and there is currently an open investigation on 2021 models but no official recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759025August 24, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
The infotainment system and rearview backup camera malfunction continually. While driving or attempting to reverse, the infotainment system frequently shuts off entirely and loses its fiber optic network connection. When it attempts to reboot and turn back on, loud popping and crackling noises emit from the vehicle speakers. Additionally, the backup camera regularly glitches and displays a message stating that the system is "Too Hot," causing the rearview monitor to go entirely blank. These issues are especially severe on hot days.This creates an immediate safety hazard, as it unexpectedly eliminates rear visibility while backing up, increasing the risk of a collision. It also causes distracted driving conditions due to the sudden, loud audio popping and screen blackouts. This failure mimics the exact symptoms outlined in Honda's active MOST Bus Coaxial Cable recall, yet my vehicle is experiencing the same severe safety defects. Rear view camera does warn it no longer works due to heat. No inspection done as of yet but plan on taking it to dealership.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758816August 22, 2026
AIR BAGS
1.The vehicle’s airbag unexpectedly deployed while the vehicle was in Park and the driver was attempting to reverse out of a parking space. Multiple airbags deployed, including the driver-side airbags, the front airbag near the windshield area, and the long side/curtain airbag extending toward the passenger side. There was no collision or impact that would reasonably explain the deployment. The vehicle and deployed airbag/SRS components are available for inspection upon request. 2.The unexpected deployment of multiple airbags created a serious safety risk. The driver was struck in the head by the deploying airbag, resulting in dizziness, and was also struck in the chest, causing chest pain. A toddler was also present in the vehicle at the time of the unexpected deployment, creating an additional risk of injury to the child. The sudden deployment also created a risk of distraction, impaired visibility, and loss of control while the driver was attempting to maneuver the vehicle. There was no collision or impact preceding the airbag deployment. 3. No. The unexpected airbag deployment has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle is available for inspection, including the airbag/SRS components and vehicle systems associated with the deployment. 4.Yes. The vehicle was towed to a dealer following the incident and was inspected by the dealer. The dealer provided an estimate of at least $10,000 to repair the damage associated with the airbag deployment. The vehicle has not, to my knowledge, been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or an independent service center. 5. No. There were no known warning lamps, warning messages, or other symptoms indicating an airbag/SRS problem before the incident. The airbags deployed suddenly and unexpectedly while the vehicle was in Park and the driver was attempting to reverse out of a parking space. There was no collision or impact immediately before the airbags deployed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11758801August 22, 2026
STEERING
With about 59,800 miles, a rattling noise under the driver's side of the car began near the end of June, 2026 and gradually became louder, specially on bumpier streets. By the last week of July 2026, the steering started getting erratically stiffer becoming harder to control the direction of the vehicle. A neighborhood mechanic replaced the inner & outer tire rods but this didn't resolve the problem. I brought the vehicle to the dealership, "Honda of Harvey" and was informed that the steering mechanism was failing including the steering RACK and would cost $5,000 to repair. Internet searches revealed that many 2023 Honda Pilots and some 2022 Pilots had been recalled for this same problems. My vehicle wasn't but apparently should have.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758657August 21, 2026
STEERING
The vehicle has suffered a life-threatening, complete loss of power steering while driving under identical, hazardous conditions on two separate occasions. There were no warning lights or inductors prior to either event. 1. The vehicle suffered a complete steering failure while driving over railroad tracks with a child inside the vehicle. A full replacement of the steering gearbox and power steering rack was performed under warranty (Defect Code: 03001 [Binding/Sticking], Symptom Code: 03217 [Not Operating]). This failure occurred only 20 days after receiving routine manufacturer maintenance from a Honda service department. 2. The exact same dangerous defect recurred, causing another complete loss of power steering while driving over railroad tracks with a child in the vehicle. The service department confirmed they successfully duplicated this power steering failure twice during active diagnostics.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758473August 21, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
The vehicle won't start, electrical system failure. Sometimes the electrical system fails when the car is driving/it will stall on the road. It was predicated by the alarm going off intermittently and without provocation (in the middle of the night/etc).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758364August 20, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was driving and I heard a loud bang and then sounds on the top of my roof. I pulled over and found the sunroof had exploded. There is a large portion that is gone. The glass that is left is spider cracked around where the glass is gone. There are pieces of glass that are angled upwards
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758180August 20, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
The automatic breaking sensor put on my brakes at random times. It happens when going over a small rise in the road and also happened on a 2 Lane road when a semi truck was coming the opposite direction totally within its lane and the sensor for some reason thought maybe the vehicle was in my lane. This caused a sudden breaking and could’ve caused an accident by either me reacting to that breaking or by Vehicle following me hitting my car. This has happened multiple times and is very disconcerting. I took it to the dealer, but they could not find anything wrong with the car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758077August 19, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Driving down country road doing about 45 mph when all of a sudden the brakes slammed on throwing me into the seat belt. There was no vehicle or other obstacle insight. Called dealer to see if there was a safety bulletin on this problem. They said there were no safety bulletins on this. They said to check for bugs on the emblem. No bugs on Honda emblem or in front of the rear view mirror on the windshield. Just glad I was not on the interstate doing 70 mph when this happened. It definitely would have caused a wreck.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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