Honda Pilot Complaints

9,418 consumer complaints on file.

#11754926August 5, 2026
STRUCTURE, SUSPENSION
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V365000 (Structure, Suspension); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20-25 MPH from a complete stop, the vehicle partially spun out. The contact was able to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure could have caused a crash. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the earliest appointment for the recall repair was in four weeks. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755059August 5, 2026
ENGINE
Dear NHTSA, My 2016 Honda Pilot has been diagnosed with engine failure by Hoehn Honda, despite consistent and careful maintenance. The failure occurred suddenly, without warning or prior symptoms, and well before the expected lifespan of the vehicle, yet outside the warranty window. After reviewing owner forums, various automotive publications, and the NHTSA website, I found numerous similar complaints involving the same year and model. A recall has already been issued under NHTSA Campaign Number 23V751000, which corresponds to Honda Manufacturer Recall XG1 and Honda Recall GG0. Although my vehicle is not currently included in this recall, the nature of the failure is consistent with those that are. I also found there is an ongoing NHTSA investigation to expand this to an additional 1.4 million vehicles in which my 2016 Honda Pilot is listed. I have contacted Honda North America and was given a case number 15927935. This initial contact informed since my VIN is not part of the recall than I am on my own. I have requested this matter to be escalated. Given the circumstances, I believe my vehicle should be considered under NHTSA Campaign Number 23V751000 and included in Honda Recalls XG1 and GG0. Furthermore, I respectfully request that my case be reviewed as part of NHTSA Action Number RQ24013, which is investigating why the scope of Campaign 23V751000 was limited to 249,000 vehicles despite widespread reports of identical failures in vehicles outside the recall. I can provide the dealer documents confirming this finding along with photos they provided as well as the cost for replacement. I have since had the motor replaced at the cost of $7156.09 and have the invoice. I'm hoping there will be grounds for Honda to reimburse me for this cost. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754915August 5, 2026
SEAT BELTS
Honda has a known issue where their Pilot’s seatbelt sensor stops working. I was the second vehicle this week to bring my car in because the belt dings incessantly even though the seatbelt is secured. This can prevent the airbag from deploying while a passenger is in the seat. I’m being charged for the repair and feel that it should be covered as it’s a safety issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754784August 4, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BACK OVER PREVENTION
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message that the radio was shutting off was displayed. Additionally, the speakers made a crackling sound before the radio shut off, and the main screen became inoperable. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V431000 (Back Over Prevention); as a possible cause for the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer times; however, the technicians were unable to duplicate the issue. During the final visit, the dealer diagnosed the vehicle with an amplifier failure and replaced the part; however, the issue persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754464August 3, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
If the auto engine shut off is activated the engine shuts off randomly and it does not restart the engine. The battery needs to be unplugged to reset the electrical system. This happens daily.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754476August 3, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
-the transmission too hot message came up on my dashboard. yes it is available for inspection upon request -we could not continue to drive to our destination -they could not find any issue when i brought it to Honda Service center, they did recommend ATF cooler which i had it installed -there are no other warning messages, it first appeared in 2023 going to california, it happened again in 2024. and happened again last month.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754555August 3, 2026
ENGINE
We were driving from [XXX], to [XXX], on XXX. That morning we'd taken the Honda Pilot in to Xpresso Lube and got an oil change and all fluids checked out. Eight hours into the drive we heard a little clanking and started to pull off the freeway. As we did so, a Low Oil Pressure light came on for a few seconds and then we heard a loud bang and then very loud, rhythmic, clanking noises in the engine as it was losing power. The first mechanic shop we had it towed to diagnosed engine failure, so we had it towed to a Honda Service shop 30 miles away. They said it was a rod bearing and the entire engine needed replacing. Our mileage at the time it entered the Honda shop was 72, 275K. We have done regular, consistent oil changes and maintenance on this car that we bought new in 2019 (a 2018 model). We at first wondered if the wrong oil was put in or if it was a faulty oil filter, but Honda said there was plenty of oil in the engine. We did get a sample of the oil that came out. The filter will be sent in to the manufacturer for quality assessment. Our safety was at risk to some degree, but we were able to pull off the road. The Honda dealership is holding the engine for me and could be inspected.. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754581August 3, 2026
ENGINE
Pilot broke down and when diagnosed, the rod bearing broke causing the engine to seize
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754624August 3, 2026
ENGINE
Vehicle was being driven on the interstate going 70-77 mph. First noticed faint knocking sound and loss of ability to accelerate followed by check engine light and multiple system failure notifications. Pulled over on the highway between exits and turned vehicle off to call for assistance. Turned vehicle back on after 10-15 minutes to test, all warnings remained and acceleration was limited but possible. Drove vehicle on side of i70 until reaching an exit and parking for help to arrive. Two children and myself the driver were in the car. Vehicle was inspected and codes ran, but ultimately towed to our local Honda dealership. This event took place on July 18, 2026 causing us to miss a family wedding. The vehicle has been sitting at Penske Honda since then waiting for diagnostic tests to be run, scheduled for August 6.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754604August 3, 2026
SEAT BELTS
Right passenger seatbelt doesn’t show it’s full engaged and dings when passenger moves
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754575August 3, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The vehicle since purchase has a delay of a few seconds after hitting the gas pedal to move forward. Once the vehicle does decide to move, it surges to a high rpm before switching to second gear moving forward rather aggressively. This causes the vehicle to be unpredictable and unsafe when making decisions in navigating traffic.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754429August 3, 2026
SEAT BELTS
Seatbelt warning system INCORRECTLY indicates with persistant and distracting chime and lights, that middle row right seatbelt is unbuckled, when it is in fact buckled. This has happened over 25 times over a 6 week period. It becomes a significant distraction to the driver, and forces the driver to ignore the seatbelt warnings all together, because while it is happening, it happens every 2-3 seconds continuously. Child passengers could very well be unbuckled ( Dangerous) and the driver wouldnt know it, due to the defective system. It is also extremely difficult to concentrate on safely driving while the chime is continuously going off. I urge the NHTSA to instruct HONDA to issue a safety recall and fix this dangerous issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754390August 3, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
My Honda has recently began displaying ADAS Failure where none of the features work including cruise control. I took to a mechanic and they displayed code U3000. This seems to be a common issue that Honda is not addressing. The fee to repair is over $1500 and the car is less than 5 years old. This is a safety issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754302August 2, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My car No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages I stopped at a stop sign between [XXX], and my vehicle wouldn't start again; the lights started flickering. I had to get my family out of the vehicle, and then I tried to start it using the ignition button; it finally started after several attempts. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754200August 1, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I am reporting a severe safety defect regarding the automatic transmission on my 2020 Honda Pilot AWD (VIN: [XXX]). The vehicle experiences a violent and constant transmission vibration/judder under light throttle acceleration. On XXX, at 127,073 miles, an authorized Honda dealership officially diagnosed the vehicle under Repair Order # XXX, confirming the presence of "shudder at light throttle". Despite changing the transmission fluid as required by maintenance schedules, the issue persists. This failure causes unexpected vehicle hesitation and jerky shifts while driving at highway speeds, creating a high risk of rear-end collisions and posing an immediate safety hazard to my family and other drivers on the road. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754174August 1, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My husband was driving our family of 6 to [XXX] from the [XXX] area. We were on the highway in [XXX] when we heard a loud pop and the sunroof had randomly exploded. There's a thin cloth like screen between the glass and the inside of the vehicle. Luckily that screen was not open, otherwise, we would've have been cut up by the glass shards coming down. We arrived at our destination in Florida and took pictures of the broken sunroof. I called our insurance to file a claim. I also called American Honda and made filed a case. I was told to take it to the dealership and see if our extended warrantee would cover it. MPP denied the claim. This is very dangerous to have a random sunroof explode out of nowhere. Someone needs to take responsibility for this before people get hurt. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754084July 31, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
My 2022 Honda Pilot Black Edition (VIN [XXX], 62,900 miles) has multiple intermittent safety‑critical failures involving the transmission, acceleration, adaptive cruise control, and HVAC blower. These issues occur without warning and without diagnostic trouble codes. Transmission/Acceleration Failure: Most recent incident was XXX on Highway 71 during heavy traffic. The vehicle twice experienced rapid deceleration with no ability to reach a safety stop. RPM dropped below 1000, then spiked to 6,000–8,000 while the vehicle continued to lose speed. Acceleration returned only after several seconds. This also occurs during highway merging and uphill acceleration. Additionally, when disengaging cruise control and immediately pressing the accelerator, the vehicle loses speed, RPM drops abnormally low, then spikes before power returns. Adaptive Cruise Control/Honda Sensing Failure: On XXX the vehicle rapidly decelerated when a semi‑truck was beside me, despite no vehicle ahead. The week prior, while driving several states away, setting cruise at 70 mph caused sudden deceleration and cruise resetting itself to ~54 mph. These events resemble phantom braking and radar mis‑targeting. HVAC Blower Failure: During a long multi‑state trip the week prior, the AC blower (speed 3–4) intermittently stopped blowing for several seconds, then resumed at the same speed with no change to the display. These failures affect powertrain, forward collision avoidance, vehicle speed control, electrical systems, and cabin equipment. The dealership (Roush Honda, Westerville OH) cannot replicate the issues and reports no stored codes. These defects pose significant safety risks. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753829July 30, 2026
ENGINE
My vehicle got the "knock" trouble code for a faulty crankshaft. This is a widely spread, well documented engine default in the 2016 honda pilot. There are many other pilots that have a recall but mine does not. This doesnt make sense to me. I have not been able to drive this vehicle for two years because of this problem. There is nothing else wrong with this vehicle. It honestly looks brand new.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753899July 30, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Summary of safety defect and failed recall repair: Vehicle: 2020 Honda Pilot EX (Clean California Title) Core Issue: Persistent, catastrophic failure of the MOST Bus fiber-optic communication network, resulting in complete blackout of the federally mandated rear backup camera (FMVSS No. 111 violation), total infotainment reboot loops, loud audio cracking/popping, and instrument panel system failure during active vehicle operation at 65+ mph highway speeds. RECALL REMEDY FAILURE CHRONOLOGY: 1. IN-WARRANTY ANCHOR: On April 20, 2022 (34,201 miles) at Tracy Honda, initial network cracking/popping and communication faults were logged under factory warranty. Display head unit was replaced, but underlying MOST Bus backbone issues persisted. Fakra connectors replaced to attempt to fix the issue. 2. RECALL ATTEMPT: On July 17, 2025, at Lompoc Honda, the vehicle was presented specifically under Safety Recall Campaign 23-047 / NHTSA 23V-431. Dealer technicians installed FAKRA connectors and connector jumpers per official remedy instructions. 3. REMEDY FAILURE: The recall remedy failed to correct the defect. The vehicle continues to experience "Network Communication Lost" and "Check Tuner" system collapses, completely disabling the rear backup camera display without warning - all while being in a 10-minute reboot loops. SAFETY HAZARD: The sudden, unannounced loss of rear visibility and screen blackout creates a direct backover and collision hazard in violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111. Furthermore, total network reboots at highway speeds cause severe driver distraction. REMEDY REQUESTED: American Honda Motor Co., Inc. has been notified (Corporate Case #XXX), but has failed to remedy this known federal safety defect after statutory repair opportunities. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753807July 30, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while coming to a complete stop at an intersection, the vehicle shut off unexpectedly. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, several unknown warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was blocking traffic and was pushed to safety. While in a safe location, the battery was diagnosed and was found to be in good working condition. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed with a seized engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 131,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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