Honda Pilot Complaints

9,418 consumer complaints on file.

#11753712July 30, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Collision Mitigation Braking System has activated numerous times while traveling on a straight road with no other vehicles around. The brakes activated hard where items shifted in the vehicle and the seatbelts locked. Occupants were thrust forward at the time of braking. Contact was make with the dealership and there are is not any fixes advised.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753692July 30, 2026
SEAT BELTS
The second row passenger side seat belt continues to give an alert that there is a rider but the belt is not buckled, even though the belt is buckled. The wire running alongside the belt latch can be jiggled to get the alert to stop. Then the alert restarts. Sometimes the alert continues to trigger several times over. Sometimes there will be no alert for several minutes. A local auto shop looked at the seatbelt and said there is a mechanism that is supposed to slide and catch when the belt is buckled. That mechanism is no longer catching. The problem started March 2026. There has not been a safety incident to date.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753531July 29, 2026
ENGINE
On July 3, 2026 the check engine light, check VSA warning and check emissions warning indicators all illuminated simultaneously and the vehicle began to misfire and sputter which triggered an immediate slow down of traffic behind me. My local Honda dealership acknowledged a known defect with 2013 - 2015 Pilots in which the piston rings deteriorate leading to cylinder misfires. After system diagnostics they confirmed the spark plugs were damaged due to the piston rings defect causing engine misfires, rough idling, and slow minimal acceleration. This situation absolutely placed me, my family and others on the roadway at immediate risk due to the sudden nature of the engine malfunction. While there were no police report or insurance claims the Honda dealer did inspect and perform diagnostics on the vehicle. However American Honda declined any responsibility and refused to repair the vehicle even though this is a known issue with Honda. Prior to this date there were no warning or indication that the vehicle had any issues.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753582July 29, 2026
ENGINE
I was with my mother in law coming home from shopping. Car jerked and went into limp mode. We pulled over and restart the car and we were still in limp mode. We could past 2k RPM. We pulled in to the autozone that was near by, had them check the code and we have p0369 which indicates a camshaft sensor. I notified the deal where I always get my service done and they couldn’t take in the Pilot. I called multiple places but lead time was fair. I took it to a master mechanic and he states that he had ran into multiple problems about the camshaft has a play and hit the sensor. Sure enough he was right! Older vehicle has a recall on this. I called Honda customer service about the problem I have and they don’t a recall for this year make and model. They couldn’t help nor steer in the right direction. So we are now out of pocket for the issue that is known.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753641July 29, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
A little after hitting 114000 miles, all the lights came on the dashboard: brake system, ACC, LKAS, automatic high beams, collision mitigation system. We had the battery checked and it is not the battery. All the camera sensors are clean… many other Honda pilot owners have expressed this same problem online
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753611July 29, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Not long after we purchased the vehicle, there was a crackling noise that comes up at different speeds. I reported this to the dealership (I can't recall exactly when). A mechanic (I believe) took the car for a test drive. He acknowledged hearing the sound 0n/off but could not determine its origine. Each time I go there for oil change, I re-state the problem. I had also reported this to Honda Corporate office. There was a recall at that time, and it was serviced. I thought this would take away the noise, but it is still there. I am not sure what to do next. I will continue to raise the isse each time I go to the dealership.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753490July 29, 2026
SEAT BELTS
My Seat Belt Reminder System Not Operating Properly. In fact, the second-row seat belt behind the passenger seat is malfunctioning. I learned that Honda put out a service bulletin (26-027) (https://dot.report/bulletins/MC-11028510-0001.pdf) in regards to the safety issue. I contact Honda and was told the issue was covered under a warranty claim. However, my vehicle has 39,000 miles and is no longer under warranty. I asked if the issue was a safety concern and was told not to drive the vehicle as it was 100% a safety issue. However, the repair would not be covered until Honda recalls the vehicle. I'm concerned that I can no longer safely drive my vehicle until Honda initiates a recall. The service bulletin was dated January 21, 2026. As such, Honda has had seven months to issue a safety recall. The Honda representative stated I would likely be eligible for "Goodwill Assistance" if I couldn't afford to fix the vehicle myself until I am eligible for reimbursements via a safety recall. Why is the NHTSA allowing Honda to funnel safety costs through warranty claims and delaying a recall?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753380July 28, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
I am having these problems with my 2021 Honda Pilot Touring causing intermittent sudden braking. The dealership is quoting me a lot of money to fix them. Collision Mitigation System problem Road Departure Mitigation System Problem Auto High Beam Problem Lane Keep Assist Problem Adaptive Cruise Control Problem These problems should not be occurring to a an expensive vehicle worth over $45,000 for no reason. The dealership mentioned that they are caused by a failed battery fan.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753320July 28, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
On June 25, 2026 my 2025 Honda Pilot Elite (47,503 miles) upon ignition had every warning light in the system illuminate sequentially without any prior incident. I had never experienced any indication of malfunction, including warning lights or messages. The Emissions System Problem light remained illuminated on the dashboard and, after review of the Owner's Manual instructions to avoid heavy acceleration and high speed, I had the vehicle towed by AAA on a flatbed truck 75 miles to my home. The incident occurred during the evening and the next morning I drove the vehicle to Herb Chambers Honda of Seekonk, the dealer who has performed every service on the vehicle, including recalls. Of note is that the service team at the Honda dealer, specifically Malainne Costa, has been exceptional in addressing this issue. American Honda was consulted to determine the best plan for resolution. I understand that American Honda is trying to work through necessary adjustments with the new 2025 model year. One month after the incident, my vehicle remains at the dealer. I learned that the two cylinder heads in the engine block on my vehicle need to be replaced and those parts are still on backorder. Another engine component system may require replacement due to calcium buildup on the intake valves. I was assured that my driving habits were not a factor in this incident. My concern is that this incident occurred at a time when I was in a safe location and was able to await the arrival of AAA without worry about my personal safety. I bought the brand new vehicle in November, 2024 and it is obvious that I drive a significant amount of miles per year. I worry about the safety risk of other drivers having a similar experience in a less than optimal location especially since there was no indication of a problem prior to this critical incident. I share this incident in the spirit of exploring whether this is a systemwide problem that may result in a safety recall by Honda.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753195July 28, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle had an engine fire yesterday. Inner cv boot is burned. Luckily fire was put out quickly with a fire extinguisher.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752989July 27, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
Front camera failed so none of the cars safety features are working and every warning light is on on the dash. Part is unavailable in USA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753017July 27, 2026
POWER TRAIN
2018 Honda Pilot Transmission Failed at Only 34,726 Miles I want to share my experience so other Honda owners are aware of a very premature transmission failure. I am the original owner of a 2018 Honda Pilot with only 34,726 miles. My family has trusted Honda for many years, and my wife also drives a Honda HR-V. We believed Honda vehicles were reliable. While driving, my Pilot suddenly showed a “Transmission System Problem” warning. The vehicle became very slow and later was unable to engage into gear. I had to tow it to Capital Honda in San Jose. Capital Honda diagnosed a complete transmission failure requiring a full replacement. The repair cost was about $11,800. I appreciate that American Honda provided goodwill assistance and covered a large portion of the repair. With that assistance, my out-of-pocket cost was reduced to $3,500. However, I am frustrated and disappointed that a Honda transmission could fail completely at only 34,726 miles. This is unacceptable for such a low-mileage vehicle, especially from a company known for engineering quality and reliability. All maintenance was completed on time at Honda dealerships. About six months before the failure, the transmission fluid service was also performed at a Honda dealer. I did not neglect this vehicle. Because of the low mileage, I asked American Honda to review my case for additional goodwill assistance. Unfortunately, that request was declined. Again, I appreciate the assistance already provided, but as a loyal Honda customer, I am deeply disappointed that I still have to pay $3,500 for a major transmission failure that happened far too early. I am sharing this so other Honda Pilot owners can watch for warning signs such as warning messages, delayed engagement, slipping, jerking, or abnormal shifting. Please keep your service records and report serious issues if they occur. Honda built its reputation on reliability, but this experience has made me question that reputation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753106July 27, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Since 2023, this car’s auto start/stop feature has malfunctioned. Honda keeps replacing the battery and saying nothing else is wrong. It has had 4 battery replacements since 2023. Now they are saying I need to replace the starter. I no longer use the start/stop feature, but if I forget and it engages, my car will not restart leaving me in an intersection trying to get the car to restart, which in a large city is scary. They did adjust the controls one time under an extended warranty, but it did not help. The service manager says nothing else can be done, but I’m reading this is an open investigation on this issue and Honda should be replacing the starter as well. My car has had all scheduled maintenance done at the dealership and only has around 56,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753104July 27, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE
The vehicle displayed a check engine light with a message stating an emissions issue. The car would accelerate on its own up to 10-15mph without any input to the throttle. Braking was extremely difficult and the car could not accelerate over 40 mph. My wife was driving and my 6 week old daughter was in the car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752970July 27, 2026
ENGINE
When at a stop, the automatic idle stop shuts off the engine and doesn’t come back out of that to start back up. Have to put the car in park to restart. This is a major safety issue especially when vehicles are behind me beeping the horn. Happened on several occasions.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752912July 26, 2026
ENGINE
2018 Honda Pilot – Engine Failed to Restart During Auto Idle Stop I own a 2018 Honda Pilot that has experienced an intermittent Auto Idle Stop restart failure. Approximately 18 months ago, my Honda dealer performed the Honda service bulletin repair related to the Auto Idle Stop restart issue, including replacement of the starter. More recently, I began experiencing intermittent hard starts after driving the vehicle and allowing it to sit for approximately 10–15 minutes. The battery is new and has tested good multiple times, and no diagnostic trouble codes or check engine light were present. Based on the starting symptoms, the EVAP purge solenoid was replaced. Immediately after that repair, the Auto Idle Stop system began functioning normally again. However, two days later, while stopped at a traffic light, the Auto Idle Stop system shut the engine off as designed. When the vehicle attempted to automatically restart, the engine failed to restart and the vehicle remained disabled in the traffic lane. I had to shift the vehicle into Park and manually restart the engine using the Start button. The engine then started immediately and operated normally. Since that event, the vehicle has continued to exhibit intermittent hot-start hesitation after short drives, although it runs normally once started. This is a significant safety concern because a failure of the Auto Idle Stop system to restart the engine can leave the vehicle disabled in an active traffic lane or intersection, increasing the risk of a rear-end collision or other crash. I am submitting this complaint because the vehicle experienced an Auto Idle Stop restart failure despite having previously received Honda’s repair for this issue, and I believe the condition warrants further investigation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752932July 26, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Auto Idle Stop (AIS) system failed to restart engine after automatic shutdown at high elevation (~10,000 ft), following a long sustained incline. Vehicle had been driven through extreme heat (100°F+) in foothills prior to the climb, then ascended into cooler mountain air (~70°F). Coolant temperature gauge read normal (under half) at time of incident. At a stop, AIS shut off the engine as designed. Engine did not start when I released the brake pedal. I have tried to turn off the car completely and start it again. Engine would not restart via the ENGINE START/STOP button afterward. Cranking was strong and fast, but engine did not catch/start. Vehicle was inoperable for approximately 5 minutes, after which it started normally with no further intervention (no jump start, no mechanical repair). After restart, Auto Start/Stop was manually disabled for the remainder of the trip. Vehicle then completed a 1-hour drive home with no further starting or performance issues, suggesting the AIS restart logic, not an unrelated mechanical or electrical fault, was the cause.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752740July 24, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Speedometer quit working. Then comes on intermittently and then quits again.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752657July 24, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My current 2021 Honda Pilot (purchased used May 2024) is stalling out in live traffic - the most recent on XXX creating a massive safety hazard. (In addition, the engine is making the same exact clicking noise that the 2015 Honda VIN:[XXX] made right before the engine catastrophically seized on my way to work. That 2015 Honda Pilot seized due to a defective Variable Cynlinder Management (VCM) system. This defect was covered by a court-ordered federal class-action settlement warranty extension (Alex [XXX] v. American Honda, Case No. XXX), extending coverage to 10 years/150,000 miles. While that vehicle was fully within this window - Honda of [XXX] wrongfully denied this legal warranty.) The CURRENT 2021 Honda Pilot (Purchased Used) VIN: [XXX] suffers from intermittent engine stalling in live traffic. The dealership has failed to resolve this issue across three separate visits, while exploiting the emergencies. The timeline of failed repairs includes: 2/14/25: The vehicle stalled in live traffic. The dealership charged me $420.48 for diagnostics and a failed repair. 8/13/25: The dashboard lit up and the vehicle suffered engine failure leaving my family stranded for 9 hours waiting for Honda Assist. It was brought to the Honda of New Rochelle service center where they exploited this emergency to charge me an exorbitant $1,300.00 out of pocket for unrelated work financed via Sunbit loan. 9/24/2025: The vehicle stalled in live traffic for a third time. The dealership charged me an additional $572.00 for another failed repair. They reguse to give me the RO's and the car has 29 active codes including U3006-16 (ECU Power Source Failure), proving a severe electrical or fuel delivery hazard remains completely unresolved. 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
#11752649July 24, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL:SOFTWARE
The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving with the adaptive cruise control activated, the cruise control became inoperative after being used for a while. The message "Clean Radar Sensor" was displayed on the instrument panel. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The contact stated that after the vehicle was turned off and restarted, the adaptive cruise control returned to normal operation. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front radar needed to be realigned and the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front radar unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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