Honda Pilot Complaints

9,418 consumer complaints on file.

#11746492June 25, 2026
SEAT BELTS
When dropping off rear-seat passengers, the seat belt alarm continues to sound loudly for an extended period after passengers unbuckle and exit the vehicle. This behavior persists even after the door has been opened and closed. In contrast, the front passenger seat does not behave this way, and in my previous vehicle—a 2023 Honda Pilot Touring—the rear seat alert would disengage promptly once the door was opened and closed. At the dealership we tested a 2026 Honda Pilot Touring and this issue does not exist in that model either. Seems specific to only 2026 Honda Pilot Trailsport trim level or possibly just some 2026 Honda Pilot Trailsport vehicles. This issue occurs regardless if the vehicle is put into park or not. The only way to eliminate the issue is for the vehicle to be turned off after rear passenger exits during a drop off. As a parent of three active children, I make multiple drop-offs each day at school and sporting events. The repeated and prolonged alarms have become a distraction while driving and have contributed to what I would describe as “alarm fatigue.” My concern is that when a legitimate seat belt safety issue arises, the effectiveness of these alerts may be diminished because of their frequency in routine, non-risk situations.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746473June 25, 2026
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was driving home at 4am on I-95 with my children in the car. My car has had a history of "juttering" and making a vibrational noise, but on the way home there was an issue with acceleration when using the gas pedal, and slow to gain speed. There were times when the gas pedal didn't respond to my foot depression at all, and did not accelerate. When I was almost home, many lights came on my dash including: Blind Spot warning, emissions systems problem, transmission problem apply parking brake when parked, stop driving when safe transmission problem see manual. The car is not driveable at this time and sitting in my driveway. I have no idea where to tow it to or what to do or how much it will cost
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746124June 24, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Component Involved: Engine Lubrication / Cylinder Head / Variable Valve Timing (VVT) Spool Valve (Solenoid Assembly) and Electrical Charging System (Alternator). Vehicle Affected Example: Honda vehicles equipped with the 3.5L V6 (J35 Engine Series) with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), including the Honda Pilot. Description of the Safety Defect & Failure Mechanism: The rear (bank 1) variable valve timing spool valve assembly is mounted directly above the vehicle's alternator. Due to thermal cycling and material degradation, the molded rubber gasket on the upper portion of this spool valve assembly experiences premature compression set and fails, resulting in a pressurized engine oil leak. Because of the physical packaging and architecture of the J35 engine, the oil dripping from this failed gasket falls directly into the open housing of the alternator located immediately below it. The engine oil contaminates the alternator's internal brushes, slip rings, and diodes, leading to a catastrophic electrical short circuit and total failure of the charging system. Description of the Safety Risk: When the alternator fails due to oil contamination, the vehicle experiences an immediate drop in system voltage, resulting in a sudden and un-warned loss of electrical power while the vehicle is in motion. This triggers a cascade of safety hazards: Loss of Power Steering Assist: The sudden loss of electrical generation drops the vehicle into battery-reserve power, frequently causing the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) to shut down immediately, drastically increasing steering effort and the risk of a crash. Engine Stalling: Total depletion of the battery occurs rapidly without alternator output, leading to sudden engine stalling in active traffic without the ability to restart. Loss of Safety Systems: Reduced system voltage disables critical safety components, including Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), supplemental restraint systems (airbags).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746131June 24, 2026
ENGINE
Engine Auto off/ on when stopped for signal light. Routinely, when stopped at a light, the engine will fail to turn back on and the car will go off but will not turn itself completely off. This leads to a delay for the engine clicks into neutral and in order to restart, I must turn the vehicle completely off and then restart. This issue occurs when I release the brake to begin my acceleration after the light turns green. And the vehicle stalls so that the traffic behind me which was prepared to move forward is stuck. The amount of time it takes to get the vehicle turned completely off and back on generally takes much of the light change time.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746184June 24, 2026
ENGINE
My car has a knocking noise coming from the engine. It happened suddenly when I was driving. I took it to Honda dealer shop to check it out and they told me I need to replace the motor.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746194June 24, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
Since purchasing this vehicle new, the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) system on my 2017 Honda Pilot has intermittently failed during the engine restart sequence after the vehicle comes to a complete stop. When the AIS system shuts the engine off and I release the brake to resume driving, the vehicle intermittently fails to restart properly or does not restart at all, preventing the vehicle from moving as expected. In some instances, warning messages, including a collision mitigation message, has appeared on the dashboard before the car restarts. This condition has occurred repeatedly over several years and has happened at intersections, while stopped in traffic, and while stopped on highways. The inability of the vehicle to restart and move creates a safety risk because the vehicle may remain disabled in active traffic when acceleration is needed. The issue was reported to the selling and servicing Honda dealership (Cambridge, Honda in Cambridge MA) multiple times over several years. In August 2025, the vehicle received Honda's prescribed repair under Service Bulletins 23-008 and 23-009, including replacement of the starter assembly, starter relay, and battery. Despite these repairs, the same condition returned less than one year later and has occurred at least seven additional times. The vehicle stalls and sometimes displays the collision mitigation/crash warning message before restarting. In June 2026, the vehicle was inspected again by the dealership. Technicians were unable to reproduce the condition during testing and declined to perform additional repairs. The defect remains unresolved. The vehicle has already received Honda's recommended AIS repair, yet the same stalling and crash mitigation message continues to occur. The intermittent nature of the defect makes it difficult to reproduce during short dealership evaluations, but it continues to occur during normal operation and presents an ongoing safety concern.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745867June 23, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My air conditioning system has gone out for the third time in 6 years. First one was at 38k miles and was the compressor, which contaminated the system, requiring a system replacement. Second time was at 98k miles and was the condenser, which required a whole system replacement. Third time happend at 148k miles and is the compressor, which will result in another full system replacement. The compressor is locked up which will cause the serpentine belt to fail, unless I keep the AC off. I have not yet had this fixed, however I'm very frustrated that this has happened 3 times. A serpentine belt failure can potentially cause a safety issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745912June 23, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle was abnormally jolting and sputtering. The contact stated that the engine warning light was activating and deactivating. The contact stated that failure was a recurring failure. The dealer was contacted, and a transmission flush was performed; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746015June 23, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
My 2019 Honda Pilot had warnings( see pics). I took into Honda for inspection. We were told it was a radar (sensor). After doing some research online, this is a common issue with Honda vehicles. The cost is $2000 to fix. Why is this not a recall issue???
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746063June 23, 2026
ENGINE
All of a sudden, the car began to make a ticking noise (it sounded like a playing card was in the spoke of a bicycle). I brought the car home and took it to the Honda dealership in Poway, CA. They diagnosed the car with pitting in the rod bearings in cylinder 4. They told us that this can cause engine failure (do not drive the car) and that the engine needed to be replaced. There were no error messages or warning lights. This could have been extremely dangerous for those around us had the engine failed while my daughter and I were driving, or if the car had stopped suddenly. The three options given were to replace the engine with one with 20,000+ more miles than the original engine, replace the short block and associated gaskets with a new one, or $2500 (as-is) for the car. We replaced the short block and associated gaskets at a cost of approximately $ 8,500. As my husband was doing his research, he found that there had been a recall for the 2016 and 2018-2020 Honda Pilots for the same issue. Please be aware that this has happened to our car too, and it is very dangerous and expensive to repair. Honda should be held responsible for ensuring that all Pilot engines are safe and that the defective rods are replaced free of charge to owners under a recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745929June 23, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated without the driver depressing the accelerator pedal. The security alarm randomly activated while the vehicle was parked and turned off. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The message "Emissions System Failure" and a key fob error message was displayed, and the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745729June 22, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35-40 MPH, there was a loud bang coming from the engine compartment, followed by a clunking sound. The contact stated that the engine started running rough and the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated prior to the failure. The Check Engine warning light illuminated after the failure, with unknown messages displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was coasted into a nearby parking lot and manually pushed into a parking space. The vehicle was towed from the parking lot to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with complete engine failure. The vehicle was then towed to a Honda dealer for further inspection. The dealer disassembled the engine and informed the contact that the engine had thrown a connecting rod. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The contact was informed that the manufacturer would do a follow-up with the dealer; however, no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 105,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745662June 22, 2026
STEERING, SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Intermittent severe shaking in steering wheel while driving at various speeds. No warning. Vehicle has less than 500 miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745465June 21, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
The factory clear coat and paint on the roof of this 2013 Honda Pilot are delaminating and peeling away from the metal. The failure began about 1.5 years ago and continues to spread; in places it has now progressed through the paint to bare metal that is corroding and rusting. The vertical body panels remain glossy and intact while the entire horizontal roof has failed - a top-down failure pattern consistent with a defective factory finish rather than wear or environmental exposure. This matches a well-documented paint-adhesion defect in Honda vehicles of this generation: Honda issued warranty-extension service bulletin 19-057 for 2013-16 Pilots in White Diamond Pearl after identical roof peeling, a companion bulletin covers other white finishes, and an active class-action lawsuit alleges the same peeling and delaminating paint defect across 2013-and-later Honda and Acura vehicles. As the paint separates, detached clear-coat material can lift off the moving vehicle, and the exposed roof metal is now corroding. The affected roof/body panel is available for inspection upon request. No warning lamps applied; the defect is visible. The vehicle was not in a crash, and there was no fire and no injury. I am reporting this so it is documented as a manufacturing defect affecting colors beyond those the manufacturer has chosen to cover.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745482June 21, 2026
STEERING
Vehicle: 2026 Honda Pilot Elite AWD Current Mileage: ~3,850 VIN: [XXX] ——— Defect Summary: Persistent component defect and failure within the steering column assembly, specifically involving the steering clock spring (cable reel assembly). The vehicle experiences an audible clicking, rattling, and binding sensation during normal steering wheel rotation. Authorized Honda dealership warranty repairs have failed to remedy the issue due to replacement parts failing immediately upon installation. Chronology of Failures: 1. [XXX] (2,078 miles): Vehicle brought to Hennessy Honda for stiff steering and a loud clicking noise. Technicians noted the steering cable gear was making noise and binding. The column was adjusted. 2. 05/20/2026 (2,509 miles): Clicking worsened significantly across full left-to-center rotations. The dealership diagnosed a defective clock spring and replaced the Cable Reel Assembly (Part: 77900-T20-E61). 3. [XXX] (3,847 miles): The brand-new replacement part failed immediately. Vehicle returned with identical clicking and a new "whoosh" plastic scraping noise. Dealership replaced misadjusted steering column trim pieces to stop the scraping but confirmed the steering wheel click remains active. Safety Risk: The dealership service department explicitly stated that the current production batch of factory replacement clock springs contains an inherent manufacturer defect, meaning new replacements fail out of the box. The clock spring maintains the continuous electrical connection to the driver’s steering wheel airbag, horn, and driver-assist controls. A mechanically binding ribbon cable reel presents an imminent risk of snapping or shorting out. If the cable fails on the road, it will instantly deactivate the driver's front airbag, rendering a critical safety restraint system useless in a crash. Requested Action: Compel Honda to investigate 2026 Pilot manufacturing lines, fast-track an updated/redesigned cable INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745377June 20, 2026
LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
These safety features have failed on my 2016 Honda Pilot, Touring, AWD. The failures include Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assistance and Adaptive Cruise Control. When I reported this to my local Honda Dealership they did a plug in indicator test for $195.00. All they could tell me was that I needed a new camera. The cost would be $2000.00 plus. One of the reasons we purchased this vehicle was because of these safety features. We are both drivers [XXX], and thought these were excellent safety features considering [XXX]. However, the cost to fix seemed excessive. We are still able to drive the car but without the safety features that originally led us to buy this vehicle. We delayed reporting this failure thinking there would be a recall that would cover the failures. No recall has been reported to this point. 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
#11745381June 20, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
At every vehicle startup, multiple warning messages appear on the dashboard indicating failure of the driver assistance safety system. The warnings include Collision Mitigation System Problem, Lane Keeping Assist System Problem, and Auto High Beam System Problem. The issue occurs immediately upon ignition while the vehicle is stationary and resets each time the vehicle is turned off and restarted. The problem is persistent and has not resolved over time. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized dealership and diagnosed with a diagnostic trouble code indicating an internal failure of the forward-facing camera unit used for the driver assistance system. The repair recommendation was replacement of the camera module and calibration. This malfunction affects the vehicle’s advanced driver assistance safety systems, which are designed to support collision avoidance and lane keeping. The failure may result in reduced or non-functioning safety features while driving, increasing the risk of unsafe operation without full driver assistance functionality. No windshield replacement or external impact has occurred that would explain camera damage. The issue began without any known external cause and continues consistently at every startup.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745400June 20, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Drove from Branson, MO to Nixa, MO. At first stoplight intersection in town, stopped for red light, when light turned green, car died when I released brake pedal to accelerate. Lost all electrical systems like battery was dead. Took several attempts of pushing hazard light button before I was able to turn on my hazard lights. I had to jump start it to get it running again.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745193June 19, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
I have been frequently getting the message on my dash "Keyless Start System Problem" This message appears when starting or stopping the vehicle and while driving. The message does not stay on the dash it eventually disappears.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745265June 19, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Bad AC compressor blow out valve leak diagnosed by the dealer. Issue appeared at time of purchase but we weren’t sure because the ac was still blowing cool air, just not very cold. Just recently I mentioned it to the dealer and they diagnosed the issue at 41,000 miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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