Honda Pilot Complaints (2016)

1,724 consumer complaints on file.

#11743174June 10, 2026
ENGINE
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine stalls out and shuts the car down. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? While driving down the road, if the engine shuts off, myself, passengers, and other vehicles could cause a fatal crash. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Not yet Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? I have brought this in several times to try and fix this issue. The fuel pump has been replaced and the auto idle recall has been take care of. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? The check engine light comes on occasionally when it happens; sometimes when it does not. Other details: Several times now my car has randomly shut off especially when driving down the road. I wasn't sure what happened, but I finally figured out a way to replicate it. Basically if you drive it after about an hour of non-stop driving / engine being turned on, the engine overheats causing the car to stall out and eventually turn off. I timed this at 10:15AM to 11:25AM and my suspicions were correct. At 11:25AM, the car stalled and shut off while I was parked in my driveway.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742409June 5, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I heard knocking as I was leaving gas station. I was scared about what was going wrong and if it was safe to drive home. I was alone and it was after dark. I took the next day off and took the car to my mechanic. He said it sounded like rod knock but didn’t want to do the engine replacement so he sent me to another mechanic who also said it sounded like the engine needed to be replaced. I didn’t have the money or the time to deal with it so it has been parked for the last five months. Today I took it to the dealer (that I bought it from new) for a diagnostic inspection. They stated that the noise was coming from main shaft, unable to repair, will need to replace engine. Cost estimate to replace engine is $15,964.36. I do not remember a check engine light coming on, only the lights for the driving sensing items. Which I read were also problems on this vehicle. Photos of the inspection report have been uploaded. A mistake was made on the mileage it is 103,203 not 103,703. Thank you for your time.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741576June 2, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that after attempting to use the Push-To-Start to start the vehicle, an abnormal clicking sound was heard and the engine failed to turn over. Several Unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a seized engine that was possibly related to NHTSA Campaign: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was later towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed at the consumer's expense as having a seized engine; however, the vehicle was not repaired due to the VIN not being included in NHTSA Campaign:23V751000(Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 78,962.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741659June 2, 2026
ENGINE
The connecting rod is failing. Loud knocking is happening just as outlined in the recall on other 2016 Pilots. Poses a great safety risk as failure will result in total engine destruction.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741661June 2, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
Taligate is rusting through near the handle as well as around the right taillight. Another recall for this exact issue is in place for the same year/make/model, yet my vehicle is not included in the recall. Faulty seals allow water to get into the tailgate and rust from the inside-out. Honda has told me they won't help even though it is a known issue (recall).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741438June 2, 2026
ENGINE
The engine seized up and car will not start. Luckily, I was trying to start the car in my driveway when this happened, but it would have been dangerous had it happened while I was driving. All of the warning lamps and messages started when the issue begin. The vehicle was inspected and the problem has been reproduced by a service center AND a Honda dealer. I have attached the invoice from the service center. After their diagnosis, I had the car towed to Ourisman Honda in Bethesda, MD because I was hoping to start the recall process with them, however they will not do it because, stangely, my vin # is not included. There is a known recall for this issue (#23V-751) and the recall lists my exact car (2016 Honda Pilot) however, for some reason my vin # is not showing as being included in the recall. The car is experiencing the exact issue that this recall covers, but the Honda dealer will not cover it because my specific vin # isn't listed. This would be a significant expense that I am not able to cover out of pocket, and I have now been without my car for over a week. I am not sure why only certain vin #'s are eligible when there are obviously many other 2016 Honda Pilots experiencing the issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741372June 1, 2026
ENGINE
The vehicle was noticeably chugging when going uphill. After awhile, some warning messages appeared on dashboard— several different messages. The vehicle finally had a complete loss of power as wife and I were returning from a road trip several miles away from home. We took it to a garage where we were at the time and was able to get home. We took it to a nearby mechanic for a diagnostic. We were told that the system was detecting a pinging in the engine. The mechanic said that it is sometimes animals can nibble on electrical and may need a harness replacement. We chose to take the vehicle to Shottenkirk Honda in Huntsville , Alabama for repair. They kept the vehicle for longer than they annticipated and told us that they would have to get a technician from Carrollton, Georgia to look at it. They contacted us over a week later and told us it was the fuel pump. They fixed the pump and the vehicle seemed fine. That was October, 2025. Now, the vehicle is again displaying a chugging when going uphill. I have not carried it for diagnostics yet. I have no issue with the service I received at the dealership. But, on GoodCar VIN check, my vin# returns recalls related to fuel pump and engine loss of power and pinging. I called the dealership and American Honda and was told that no recalls exist for this vehicle. I am submitting this in case there is a pattern of problems for vehicles in my group. I have owned Hondas my whole life and have not had engine troubles until now. I am at 170kmiles. My Honda Odyssey and other Pilot were not and have not had this difficulty. Since the recall for these associated items exist, I would like consideration for the uncommon issues my Pilot is having.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740861May 29, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that on multiple occasions, while driving at an undisclosed speed, a knocking noise was heard coming from the engine, and the vehicle lost motive power with multiple warning lights illuminated, including the Check Engine, Emissions System, and Power Steering warning lights. The contact stated that the vehicle could typically be restarted after approximately one hour; however, the failure persisted. The contact also stated that on several occasions, the vehicle had to be towed to the contact's home. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 181,563.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740621May 28, 2026
ENGINE
Driving down the road with no previous issues and the dashboard flashed a ton of warning lights. Then the engine started knocking. Towed it to Vern Eide Honda and Arrowhead Automotive to be told by both that the rod bearing caused the engine issue and needed to be replaced.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739869May 25, 2026
ENGINE, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
I set out to make a quick trip to the store after work and the car was hesitating and I looked at the dash and noticed the check engine light was on. I stopped was in the store about 10 minutes when I came out I restarted it and it sounded fine and then engine light was not on. I was about 2 miles in towards home when the braking system failure message came on, steering failure message came on and many other messages. The engine started sounding very loud and knocking. I immediately pulled over and called a tow truck. I had no previous messages come up and the vehicle was running fine before this incident. The auto repair shop that I had it towed to listened to the engine and thinks it sounds like a crank shaft failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739921May 25, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
On [XXX] at 106,266 miles, Brandon Honda (Brandon, FL) diagnosed my 2016 Honda Pilot with DTC P0219A (Air/Fuel Ratio Variation, Cylinders #1 & #2). The dealer quoted $2,637.99 to replace fuel injectors. This is a known manufacturing defect documented in Honda Service Bulletin A20-100 (issued 11/24/2020). Honda acknowledged that debris from the high pressure fuel pump or fuel injector machining process causes internal wear and clogging of the fuel injectors. Honda extended the warranty on this repair to 10 years / 150,000 miles from the original in-service date. My vehicle is approximately 5 months past the 10-year time limit but 44,000 miles UNDER the 150,000-mile limit. Honda denied my goodwill warranty request solely based on the time expiration. This defect affects hundreds of 2016 Pilot owners. Forum threads on [XXX] have accumulated 280,000+ views with 75+ participants reporting the same failure. Many owners received $0 repairs under the bulletin while others — unaware of the bulletin or slightly outside the window — paid $750-$2,600+ out of pocket for a defect that is Honda's manufacturing responsibility. This issue was never issued as a full recall despite being a widespread manufacturing defect. The warranty extension is insufficient — it allows Honda to avoid accountability for vehicles just barely outside an arbitrary time window while the defect is clearly mileage-related (my vehicle is well within mileage limits). Honda should recall this defect or extend coverage for all affected vehicles regardless of the time limitation. 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
#11739584May 22, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
In May 2026, the Emission Warning Light unexpectedly illuminated on my 2016 Honda Pilot. I immediately sought an inspection, and repairs were completed on 5/9/2026. Failed Component: The fuel injection system failed. Specifically, the injectors for cylinders #4 and #5. The replaced parts [are / are not] available for inspection. Safety Risk: This defect caused the engine to run dangerously rich, dumping raw fuel into the exhaust. This poses two severe safety hazards: 1) Sudden loss of motive power, hesitation, or stalling while driving in traffic, drastically increasing crash risk. 2) Extreme overheating of the catalytic converter, creating a significant under-vehicle fire hazard. Confirmation & Symptoms: The issue was confirmed by a professional service center. They pulled diagnostic code P0430 (Front Bank Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 2). Following Honda’s Service Bulletin 20-100, the technician performed a software update and a cylinder A/F test. Cylinders #4 and #5 failed the test (running rich), requiring immediate injector replacement to make the vehicle safe to drive. Inspection by Others & Manufacturer Awareness: The vehicle was inspected by the repairing facility. Honda is fully aware of this widespread defect, as evidenced by SB 20-100 and a related warranty extension. However, Honda chose to handle this severe defect via a limited warranty extension rather than a mandatory safety recall. My extended warranty expired in October 2025. When this known safety hazard manifested in May 2026, I was forced to pay for the repair entirely out of pocket. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this known stalling and fire hazard and compel Honda to issue a formal safety recall so consumers are not left at risk.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739209May 21, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I was driving and I was crossing a major intersection and the vehicle started loosing power and stalled in the middle of the intersection. I had to power the vehicle off and power on again and then it drove. It usually happens when my gas is under half. It has happened multiple times. This is extremely dangerous. I was told it is a fuel pump issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739379May 21, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle idled roughly and an abnormal noise was coming from the rear of the vehicle with no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the rear differential had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where the same diagnosis was provided. The contact was informed that the rear differential had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738581May 18, 2026
ENGINE
Knocking in engine led to a replacement of the engine by dealer
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738178May 15, 2026
ENGINE
The vehicle engine catastrophically failed on the road due a rod bearing failure on cylinder #3. This was verified after getting towed to a dealership during a bottom engine inspection. This model year of this vehicle has an active Safety Recall as published on Honda SB 23-097 which is for rod bearing failures. Honda is stating that even though my vehicle has experienced the exact same failure as what is covered in the safety recall, it is not their fault because the vehicle does not fall in their determined VIN range.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738222May 15, 2026
ENGINE
The same issue with recalled Honda engines that were made in the same factory. early 2016 engines are not included in the recall yet Honda had me pay 14k for a replacement engine at 66k miles For a used engine. This is a known issue
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737152May 11, 2026
ENGINE
Driving home on [XXX] , coming back from [XXX] the car started to tick, then a loss of motive power happened then knocking really bad. The rest of the trip home was in the slow lane with hazards, tops 35 miles an hour. I also have videos sent by Honda. That confirms rod, knock and the sound of the engine 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
#11735564May 4, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
no incident : recall that was done on hood. gas cap/lid doesn't close tightly Hood looks like it going to open , left side front end lifts when driving on freeway, Honda of the Desert replaced latch but it did not solve the problem
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11734399April 28, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Car has shut off while driving. Check engine light, traction control light, hill assist light, power steering light, and vehicle stability light have all come on causing me to have to pull over on the side of the road.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Honda Pilot