Honda Pilot Complaints

9,418 consumer complaints on file.

#11728918April 2, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I am submitting additional documentation related to NHTSA complaint #11723932 for my 2017 Honda Pilot. I have obtained a transmission inspection report confirming that the failure was caused by a defective torque converter, resulting in internal transmission damage including the valve body and transmission oil pump. The report also indicates that the failure was not related to maintenance and represents a defect in the component. This required a full transmission overhaul at approximately 107,593 miles. I am providing this update to ensure the complaint accurately reflects the cause of the failure. I have contacted Honda several times and they are not willingvto look into my case. I had to get my fuel injector replaced at 87,000 miles when it was under warranty then the transmission goes 20k miles later.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728941April 2, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Transmission issues began to occur shortly after purchase in 2017. The Honda dealership finally did a software update after several complaint. This temporarily fixed the issue. The car shifts low gears harshly and with hesitation. The transmission system failure/problem light came on and the car lost power. The car makes a squeaking noise between 23-30mph. Most recently we were traveling on an interstate at 75mph and had to slow down quickly (~55mph) once we began to accelerate the car went limp. This incident happened twice within a weeks time. This put the occupants in the car in danger because the car would not accelerate. It did finally begin to accelerate.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728954April 2, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Transfer case exploded internally and cracked the transfer case while pulling out of parking lot. I still have the transfer case for inspection.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728817April 2, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I was operating a 2022 Honda Pilot and had just made a left turn into a parking lot. I was slowly pulling into a parking space directly in front of a dance studio with a large floor-to-ceiling window. There were four children and a dance instructor standing inside near the window. As I was coming to a stop to park, my foot was on the brake. At that moment, the engine suddenly revved loudly and the vehicle accelerated forward unexpectedly without any additional throttle input. There were no warning lights, messages, or prior symptoms before this occurred. Despite braking, the vehicle continued forward and struck the exterior of the building. I was able to avoid the window area where the children were standing. The airbag deployed, and the front passenger side of the vehicle was damaged. The building was not structurally damaged, and no one was injured. There were no obstructions such as floor mats interfering with the accelerator, and there was no unintended pedal input. My foot was on the brake at the time of the incident. This appears to be a case of sudden unintended acceleration. The issue has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or service center, and there were no prior warning signs before the event. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. It has been towed to the body shop. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center at this time. The vehicle was inspected by insurance and they did not total it. It is going to be repaired. The vehicle has been inspected by insurance representatives. The manufacturer has not inspected the vehicle at this time. I did not call police because I was not hurt, the kids were not hurt and the building only had a couple of scratches on the brick.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728686April 2, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Front camera needs to be replaced. According to several Honda forums, this is a very common problem requiring the front camera to be replaced. All safety features requiring the camera no longer work.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728460April 1, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Transmission shudder/stutter during acceleration, most noticeable between 25-45 mph under light to moderate throttle. Issue began at approximately 10,000 miles and has persisted to the current mileage of approximately 65,000 miles. The vehicle has been taken to the Honda dealer on multiple occasions for this issue. The dealer has performed two separate transmission fluid flushes, which temporarily reduce the symptoms but do not resolve the defect. The dealer has now recommended a triple transmission flush at a cost of approximately $1,000, which the dealer acknowledged is a suboptimal solution. The dealer stated their hands are tied because no recall has been issued for the 2019 model year. This is the same transmission shudder defect that led to recalls and Technical Service Bulletins for the 2016, 2017, and 2018 Honda Pilot models. The 9-speed ZF automatic transmission (9HP) in the 2019 Pilot is the same or substantially similar unit. The defect creates a safety concern during acceleration, particularly when merging onto highways or accelerating through intersections, as the vehicle hesitates and stutters instead of delivering smooth, predictable power delivery.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728564April 1, 2026
ENGINE
Based on everything we've documented, here's a tight, factual account written in the style NHTSA expects — first person, chronological, no fluff: "I own a 2016 Honda Pilot Touring AWD, VIN [XXX] , with 89,962 miles. The vehicle began producing a clunking noise from the engine. I brought it to Honda of Tomball [XXX] ), where the dealer diagnosed all main rod bearings as damaged and recommended full engine replacement. This failure is identical to the defect described in NHTSA Safety Recall 23V-751 (Honda Recall XG1/GG0): premature connecting rod bearing wear and seizure caused by improperly ground crankshaft crank pins. My vehicle is a 2016 Honda Pilot, a model year explicitly covered under the recall. However, my VIN was not included in the identified recall population, and Honda of Tomball has not offered to cover the repair under the recall. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether my vehicle's crankshaft contains the same manufacturing defect, and that Honda be required to extend recall coverage to my VIN. The repair cost for a full engine replacement is substantial, and the failure mode is mechanically indistinguishable from the acknowledged recall defect 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
#11728639April 1, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
it is unfortunately the camshaft end play issue that we see with these engines from time to time. Honda identified that the surface roughness of the camshaft thrust cover on these engines was manufactured out of specification. This poor surface finish creates excessive friction and wear, allowing the camshaft to develop excess fore-and-aft movement (end play). As the camshaft shifts physically out of its correct alignment, it begins to scrape against the thrust cover or cause the reluctor wheel to physically strike and damage the Camshaft Position (CMP) sensor. So you have to replace the camshaft, the camshaft sensor, the thrust plate, and timing cover plate. In this picture you can see where the reluctor wheel has been scraping on the cam sensor. This was sent to me not only by one mechanic but multiple. Honda needs to replace this and a recall needs to be made!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728656April 1, 2026
AIR BAGS
My wife was driving at about 40mph and hit a curb while driving straight. The car’s swerved and hit the front right and right rear tire with the curb. The right side curtain airbag deployed. This vehicle was taken to the Honda dealership a few months ago to address the exact same problem that was addressed through a safety recall with a sensor that was supposedly replaced but the Honda dealership in Waco Texas. I am requesting assistance to hopefully get the vehicle inspected and repaired at no cost by the dealership. This should not be happening.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728575April 1, 2026
SEAT BELTS
The third row seat belt buckles on driver side and passenger side have been replaced due to failing to register when a child is seated and buckled in that row causing the vehicle alarm to go off notifying me that the child is unbuckled when they are not. I have been to the dealer 5 times going on 6 for this same issue. Have had a total of 3 buckles fail, one of them had failed twice now. 2 of them have been repaired and the vehicle is scheduled to go back to the dealership April 3rd to fix the two new buckles that have failed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728296March 31, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
We were on the way home from a soccer tournament in [XXX] on rt. XXX and 4 hours into our trip the car's fuel pedal stopped responding and our speed started descending rapidly. The engine light was on with the vehicles stability system, Hill assistant, emission system, power system, TSA..... All of them were lit. Scared I put hazards on and pulled over on the side of the road. I waited about 20 min and tried to start the car. It started and drove us home on side streets on speed 30-40 to [XXX] , wouldn't go faster and it was shaking while driving. It was quite terrifying and looking back I should have called 911, this was a first time ever I have been in a situation like that with my daughter. We got home at night. In the morning I called AAA to see if the battery was bad, they said no. The dashboard was cleared, no lights appeared and when I went to the Honda dealer they couldn't a identify the specific problem. They told me it could be a few things and told me to do repairs for $5000.00 not knowing if it would fix the problem. This first incident happened in summer 2025. I stopped driving the car on a highway and long distances, the dashboard lit up few more times but always went back to normal. A couple of weeks ago, when I again called AAA to check my battery, I was advised to go to AutoZone when the board lits up again. So I did today and was told it was code P0087 and had to do with the fuel pressure pump. So I went to my mechanic to diagnose the problem and they are in the process of repairing it. But after some research I found online that there has been a recall on Honda Pilots 2016-2018, but my car didn't qualify. So I called Honda manufacturing explaining my situation and warning them that the same thing happened to me and they said there was nothing they could do if my car's VIN # wasn't included. So I am writing to you to advise the traffic safety administration and suggest to expand the recall #XXX to more vehicles INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728324March 31, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
While driving, the vehicle lost engine power on three separate occasions (3/6/26, 3/10/26, 3/20/26) and had to coast to a stop on the road. One of the codes that appeared was P0087; the Honda dealership replaced the fuel pump kit (part # 06161-RLV-305) due to the fuel rail pressure being too low, but the vehicle continued to stall upon replacement after being picked up from the dealership. When it was brought back to them, they could not find a problem or replicate the stalling. This is a safety risk because the car is stalling for an unknown reason and will not start back up for 10-15 minutes. This is a safety risk to the driver and others because stalling could cause an accident or fatalities if the driver is unable to safely pull over. Fuel pumps are a known problem in 2017 Pilots and this vehicle was not included in the recall (SB 24-010). I paid $1694 for the repair from the Honda dealership and the problem is still occurring. There were no warning lights prior to the failure. Honda should reimburse me for this cost, but they denied responsibility for the cost despite Service Bulletin 24-010. These vehicles are unsafe and should not be on the road at all.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728401March 31, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
Vehicle: 2019 Honda Pilot Issue: Complete dashboard blackout / loss of safety systems Safety Defect: Yes Description of the problem: While driving, the entire dashboard and infotainment system suddenly go black without warning. This includes the speedometer, fuel gauge, warning lights, backup camera, and all Honda Sensing features (Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation, Road Departure Mitigation). When this happens, I cannot see my speed or any critical vehicle information. The system reboots on its own while still driving. This failure happens intermittently and unpredictably, including at highway speeds. It creates a serious safety hazard because I lose all driver information and safety alerts. Many other 2019 Honda Pilot owners report the same issue, and Honda has not issued a recall or permanent fix. Honda cannot figure out why this happens depsite me taking it to dealer several times. Frequency: • Has happened multiple times When it occurs: • While driving What has been done so far: Honda dealers have not provided a permanent fix. Software updates and resets do not resolve the issue. Honda has not acknowledged this as a safety defect despite widespread reports. Why this is a safety issue: Losing the speedometer, warning lights, and safety systems while driving is extremely dangerous. I cannot tell how fast I am going, whether the vehicle has warnings, or whether safety systems are active. This should be investigated as a safety defect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728269March 31, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
ACC and road departure mitigation system would become disabled for no apparent reason. A message would display on the instrument panel that there is a problem, to see your dealer. Also, a collision mitigation braking system problem would display on the instrument panel with a brake system warning light. A display on the instrument panel would show an area to clean (Honda emblem on front grill). I tried to clean this area several times to no avail. The weather was clear and warm when this occurred. The system has returned to normal on its own.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728082March 30, 2026
SUSPENSION
Referring to my 2008 Honda Pilot, as I was pulling into my driveway I heard a very loud bang in the rear area of my vehicle. When I looked underneath the vehicle I could see the rear subframe had rusted through and detached. This is my main vehicle that I use on a daily basis to provide rides to family members. 3 weeks before this happened I had 7 people in this car that I drove approximately 30 miles one way which had us on the highway doing 70 mph. Please note that is the speed limit on that highway. Had the subframe broke off at that time it would have been catastrophic. Honda America requested I have it towed to the nearest Honda dealer to diagnose it. It happened on March 11, 2026 and was towed to the dealer that same day, with an appointment to be looked at on Friday March 13, 2026. The dealer diagnosed the subframe detached due to rust and had notified Honda America of this fact. Honda America just notified me today (Monday, March 30, 2026) that they will not assist me in anyway as this particular model Honda has not been recalled or is the result of any defects. There was no prior warning light to warn me.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728113March 30, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I was taking my kids to school and then suddenly a knocking sound started and then a boom. I found out that at 134,000 miles my engine threw a rod and punched a hole in my block. My [XXX] old was freaking out because there was smoke coming from the engine and her sisters said the car was going to catch fire. The [XXX] old was stuck in her seatbelt and couldn't get out. Then as I was calling a tow truck my [XXX] old almost walked out into traffic because she wanted to see what I was looking at. After getting another family member to get my kids to school I was able to get to a repair shop where I was informed that Honda had a safety recall for rod issues and was advised to see if my car was covered. I check and it looked like only the all wheel drive cars were covered but mine was front wheel drive so it didn't fall under the recall. I want to issue a formal complaint to expand the recall on Honda Pilots for rod issues because mine obviously had an issue with the rod and should have been recalled. American honda refuses to give any good will because I didn't get my oil changes with them, even though it is an hour drive to get to the closest dealership. Engines shouldn't throw rods at 134,000 miles. A car is a big investment and it died after 9 years. I had all my maintenance done as scheduled, this never should have happened. Currently my car is at Carson Honda in Carson City NV. Also, another issue. I would get transmission system warnings. I did take it to the honda dealer because I was told there was an injector issue and they looked at the car, reset the code and said there was nothing more they could do. I don't know if the two were connected in any way but wanted to throw that out there. They need to be investigated for crappy parts and scamming customers. 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
#11728116March 30, 2026
ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly decelerated to 40 MPH and failed to properly accelerate. The check engine warning light was illuminated and there was a knocking sound coming from the engine. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the residence and a mechanic, and the dealer inspected the vehicle and determined that there was a rod knock coming from connecting rod bearing wear which was referenced in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 116,744.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728152March 30, 2026
ENGINE
So our family of four, two adults and two kids driving down buford dr in GA on March 29 2026 apparently at 11am found ourselves in a dangerous situation. The oil light on our honda pilot came on and the vehicle shut off in the middle of a 3 lane extremely busy road. This is not safe and I am a experience automotive technician for more then 20 years of experience and have not yet found a rod bearing to go bad at 167k with full oil and no oil leaks this is unacceptable for honda to only recall only some year models knowing the used the same j32 in most of there vehicles
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728021March 30, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Car fails to start and warning flashes, keyless start system problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728022March 30, 2026
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at slower speeds, the transmission unexpectedly shifted to neutral(N) while the accelerator pedal was depressed. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was taken to a local dealer for a fuel injector replacement. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump and catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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