Honda Pilot Complaints

9,418 consumer complaints on file.

#11711332January 16, 2026
ENGINE
My Honda Pilot has been diagnosed with engine failure by Royalty Auto in Kingsland, GA despite having been cared for quite well. This failure occurred well before reaching the expected life of the vehicle, yet outside the warranty window and having NO symptoms before the sudden failure. After doing some research on Pilot owner online forums, as well as, the NHTSA website, it seems similar complaints have been well reported and a recall has been issued for some vehicles in the same year and model under NHTSA campaign number 23V75100. This relates to Honda manufacturer recall XG1 and Honda recall GG0.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711376January 16, 2026
ENGINE
According to my mechanic there is the low end bearing noise and bearing chirp that indicates it lost oil pressure due to internal components and a damaged engine. recommends replacing the engine. He said because of the recall there are no remanufactured engines available. Computer diagnostics showed code P0303 #3 cylinder misfire. He believes this has to do with recall 23V-751or RQ24-013. No repairs have been done.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711414January 16, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the rear-view camera had been failing but had stopped operating weeks ago and only displayed a blank screen. The contact stated that prior to the complete failure of the camera, there were intermittent failures for approximately 1 year. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer several times for camera repair. The contact stated that after each repair, the camera failed again. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and contacted the dealer for help with the repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had reimbursed the contact for one of the diagnostic test fees that was paid to the dealer. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711134January 15, 2026
ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN
2014 Honda pilot touring--ENGINE-is running through oil faster than it should. The spark plugs/coil packs have all been replaced now. Starting with 1 an 3.I was driving down the road and it started stalling out while I was in traffic about 8 mo.ago . The vehicle didn't want to go anywhere an when it would get some power to go it was slow an the engine was shaking so hard the whole time even at idle. So I pulled over, turned car off an then on trying to get it home since I wasn't far at all. Finally the check engine light came on as I pulled in the drive. Put a code reader on it to find out that plugs 1.and 3 were misfiring., Fixed that problem and 2 months later it did the same thing. Checked codes again and seen now we needed to replace the rest of the spark plugs and all coil packs. Which made it run normal again. Dates are unknown at this point. Best guess it started about between 6 months an a year ago. We have had problems every since though. The check engine light came on again an the car was shaking and idling up an down an the code was- low transmission fluid. Transmission fluid doesn't leak unless something's wrong. There was none leaking and when we checked the level it was perfect We just turned the car off for awhile an when we started it back it acted fine. Seems like it could be something with the computer possibly?? There is so many more problems with this 14 Pilot. This thing shakes really bad during take off an slowing down. Drivetrain-- there is something in the front end making noise like it's gonna break any moment. Could be CV joint, hub assembly or numerous things. Also sometimes I can smell gas fumes or a burning smell and it doesn't show that it's overheating. ELECTRICAL- the doors used to unlock all over when put in park. Now only the driver door unlocks. Also the daytime running lights warning comes up on the dash. It stays on there. The taillights stopped working, wasn't a fuse or anything. Its the wiring. Paint-gone above windshield.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711149January 15, 2026
SUSPENSION, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LIGHTING--DTR warning light stays on an they don't work but then I was pulled over 1 morning on the way to work because the both taillights stopped working. Checked everything no idea what it could be but the wiring. Because if you piggy back off a hot wire they will work. SUSPENSION-- there is a constant popping noise coming from the front, it's either ball joints, stabilizer bar, or could be the torsion bars. It has new struts so that's not it. ELECTRICAL-- check parking sensor stays on the dash as well DTR. Now this vehicle used to unlock all doors when put in park but now only unlocks the driver side. There seriously needs to be responsibility taken for all these complaints from people who spend their hard earned money on Honda. Do better please. I know about the recall that went up to the 2013 but I guarantee Honda used same paint that's flaking off and several other parts from the 2013 to make the 14. Honda, just do the next right thing an if you do Id bet you that when you need help an don't have any recourse something good will happen for you to help you through. Just be a person, put yourself in our shoes. You see all these complaints about the same things concerning vehicles bought from you, you should want to take care of your customers to keep them coming back.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711254January 15, 2026
ENGINE
Most recently my engine started to have a clicking/knocking sound that was progressively getting worse. This happened within 1000 miles of replacing the timing belt. I now have a cylinder 2 failure and the dealer is recommending a $6000 plus complete used engine replacement with a warranty of only 12,000 miles. the knocking goes away if cylinder 2 plug is pulled. car has had multiple problems, 9-Speed Transmission Defect rough/delayed shifting, loud noises, harsh acceleration/deceleration, and sudden power loss, creating a safety risk. It has stopped at stoplights and failed to restart for 10-15 seconds. Auto Idle Stop (AIS) System: Claims that the engine doesn't always restart when the driver lifts their foot off the brake, a defect that has led to a class-action settlement.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710919January 14, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I am the original owner of my 2003 Honda pilot and had to replace the front driver side door actuator years ago. Now all the remaining 3 doors need to have the door actuators replaced. If you're outside the car you cannot open the door. Using the key remote or putting the key into the front door keyhole will NOT unlock or lock the door. You have to be inside the car and lift or depress the lock button to get them to open or to lock it. This is a very dangerous situation for if an emergency should occur and it's necessary to either exit the vehicle or enter you won't be able to. I know the later year Honda's has had recalls on door actuators.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710938January 14, 2026
ENGINE
Purchased my 2016 Honda pilot with 3.5 v6 engine at Baierl Honda in November 2024. In December 2025 my engine failed. Towed to dealer I purchased from . Mechanic said there is metal in the oil the motor is done and needs replaced. Many of these motors were recalled , but for some reason mine is not on the list. I still owe 12,000 on loan on this car. I contacted Honda said nothing they can do because it hasn't been recalled "yet". There were other recalls from Honda in the same motor. Why wasn't mine recalled?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710981January 14, 2026
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The vehicle is extremely slow to accelerate at low speeds under 20mph. There have been several near accidents due to the lack of acceleration. The recall for the fuel injector was addressed and ECM per manufacture but hasn’t solved the problem. This is dangerous for any acceleration that can cause you to get hit.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710654January 13, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I received a letter from Honda regarding a warranty extension on the torque converter of my 2017 Honda Pilot. When I took the vehicle into the dealership, their senior technician confirmed the mechanical issues happening with the vehicle are aligned with the description of the concerns outlined in the warranty extension. The only element of the extension condition that was not happening was a code popping up on the screen. When I asked what conditions would need to take place for the code to pop up, they stated the torque converter would seize up while driving and cause the vehicle to be a hazard to those in the vehicle. When I explained this to Honda, they continued to deny the repair since the code did not populate. I am asking the NHTSA to look into this matter as I assume the purpose of the warranty extension was to repair an issue that could cause serious injury to the inhabitants of the vehicle, and not to rely on an electronic error code to pop up. Thank You
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710772January 13, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
While driving straight, my 2019 Honda Pilot activates collision “BRAKE” warnings and applies steering wheel torque when there are no vehicles or obstacles present. The system intervenes unexpectedly and repeatedly. The attached documents show that I reported this issue to a Honda dealership and Honda Customer Relations (case #16094868). No diagnosis has been completed yet. This is a safety concern.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710812January 13, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The 9 speed transmission suddenly lost power while accelerating onto an interstate from an on ramp. It is available for inspection at the auto shop as it is not driveable and had to be towed. The vehicle did not give any indication in the moment. My safety and the safety of other drivers were at risk due to the posted speed limit of 65 MPH and my car had no ability to accelerate and get to a shoulder with three lanes of traffic. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by the dealer. I've reported this issue numerous times and they always state they don't find anything defective with the vehicle. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or other entities. There has never been any warning lamps or messages prior to the sudden loss of power on this occassion. In the past when I have lost power, it's been momentarily and no signs have illuminated. It has gained power within seconds of me stepping on the gas. On this occassion, it never got power back and the signs came on. Once I got to the side of the road, I tried turning the vehicle off and back on but once I try to put it in drive, it goes back to neutral automatically on its own. Prior to this incident, other than losing power momentarily at times, when stopped at a red light or stop sign, the car would automatically put itself in neutral and I was unable to drive when the light turned green/my turn at stop sign. I had to turn the car off (in the middle of the road) and turn it back on to get it to go in drive and accelerate again.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710399January 12, 2026
ENGINE
Engine failure: one of the engine rods blew through the longblock and seized the engine while driving on the highway. The car is regularly serviced from the dealership, well maintained, has low mileage, and is relatively new (2019). There is no recalls for the car, but this seems related to the ongoing investigation with Honda and Acura cars that have had engine failures.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710406January 12, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE
The auto-idle feature on this vehicle stalls out the engine on a regular basis, causing risk of accident from surrounding traffic. When breaks applied for red light, stop sign, traffic, etc., the auto-idle feature first engages and powers down the engine, however upon releasing the breaks, the engine stalls out, shifts into neutral, and the battery light comes on. I then have to get it into park and try to restart the vehicle. Sometimes it starts right away, other times it can take a few tries. Meanwhile, cars behind me are honking because I can't get my vehicle to move forward with traffic. Several times I have almost been rear-ended because the car behind me is expecting me to move forward when they see my brake lights turn off. I've talked to my dealer who informed me they completed a auto-idle recall software update in 2023 (recall #23-008) but the problem continues to happen. They have scheduled me to bring in the vehicle to look at the starter for potential replacement, I am hopeful it will not cost me a lot of money. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX THIS ISSUE! This is known issue on many Honda vehicles (there is a class-action lawsuit). It is also ridiculous that ther is no way to permanently disable the auto-idle feature. Thank you!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710281January 12, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
It is constantly breaking when cars are coming the other way. It almost caused a vehicle to almost hit me. Also the auto shut off has almost caused accidents because it causes my car to stall and I wish I could keep it off and not have to push the button off every time.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710183January 11, 2026
SUSPENSION, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
I was driving and went through an intersection when all of a sudden the car automatically shifted into Neutral and lights started flashing and stalled. The engine ceased up. I checked to see if I had oil. I did. Prior to this event on multiple occasions while driving on the HWY and trying to accelerate the engine had problems getting into gear. This vehicle has made me feel unsafe multiple times while driving and shifting out of gear and now just stalling while driving. Honda has a huge problem with the engines.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710068January 10, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES
Repeatedly there has been a cylinder 1 misfire causing the check engine light to activate. The vehicle starts to shake and idling is rough. It has happened repeatedly over the past 3-4 years. In 2025 it happened in August, October and December despite repeated maintenance. Error codes that have popped up due to the issue primarily include cylinder 1 misfires a known and documented issue related to the faulty VCM system. The problem has repeatedly been identified by multiple mechanics. I use my vehicle primarily to transport my children to and from school. We have all been in the car during these misfires endangering their safety. At many of the times when the misfires have happened my children have been in the car and any engine failure while operating the vehicle puts them in danger. My children are ADHD/autistic and during the times the vehicle has broken down while driving it has caused them extreme distress. The vehicle is available for inspection at any time. I have reached out to Honda repeatedly to have the issue resolved however despite repeated promises the vehicle would be fixed due to recalls and extended warranties Honda officials have repeatedly made erroneous claims and insist my vehicle's vin needs to be approved for any repairs. This is a well documented known issue for this make and model due to the faulty VCM system causing oil to get into the cylinders leading to the misfires and piston ring wear and corroded spark plugs. All I am requesting is for Honda to make the necessary repairs so my vehicle is safe to transport my children. I have kept up with the maintenance of the vehicle. The problems we have experienced are directly caused by the known VCM/MIL failures. Also we have consistently had codes come up for the ABS as well. Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act Honda is responsible for making the repairs.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710110January 10, 2026
SUSPENSION
I could hear a loud grinding noise while driving and the rear of the truck felt like it was driving without any type of suspension. Any bump or slight imperfection in the roadway felt like metal banging and a severe thump could be felt inside the vehicle. The front of the vehicle felt fine but the rear felt extremely strange and unstable.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710162January 10, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I’ve had to replace the puddle lamp bulbs on my Honda Pilot three times so far, and I purchased it brand new less than a year ago. My local dealer would not cover this under the bumper to bumper warranty either. It would seem that this is a prevalent issue with Honda Pilots and other model Honda/Acura vehicles if this forum post is accurate: [XXX] You would think that after a few years Honda would’ve redesigned/corrected the casting so that water intrusion isn’t an issue, but that has not happened. This is disappointing for a “reliable” car brand. Can anything be done to at least acknowledge this is an issue? 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
#11709829January 9, 2026
ENGINE
10/27/2023 replaced all spark plugs 12/16/2/24 Engine light and VTM-light and traction control light on, misfire in 1st cylinder, replaced spark plugs and ignition coil 1/9/25 Engine light and VTM-light and traction control light on, misfire in 3rd cylinder. These issues are consistent with many complaints on this year, make and model of Honda Pilot
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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