Honda Pilot Complaints (2016)

1,724 consumer complaints on file.

#11675748July 23, 2025
ENGINE
For the past three years or more the car does randomly turns of the engine often at a red light stop and sometimes requires multiple push on the start button to start the motor running. we have complained to the local Honda dealer of this issue several times through the years. they run all the tests needed and that the car has no problem. the can has been unreliable to drive in fact it is scary to drive.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674291July 17, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
In my 2016 Honda pilot a lot of buttons are popping up on the screen with no information about how to fix it. My car is having trouble accelerating and is hesitating when needing to accelerate. I was unable to speed up while driving to get to 45 mph Because it would not speed up. All the buttons that are coming up on my car or not correct it’s showing trailer issues and I’ve never once trailed anything with my car. It seems like it’s having extra trouble when the air condition is on as well. I’m unable to figure out what is wrong with my car because all the buttons are not coming up correct when they plug it in for a diagnostic. I have had the alternator replaced and that did not change anything.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673743July 15, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
The tailgate paint started to peel. I took the vehicle into the Honda Collision shop. They said I missed the extended warranty by a few months. I called America Honda and they said there is nothing they can do about even though they are aware of the issue with the white paint. This was about a year ago. Now the roof of the vehicle is peeling. This is a hazard because of the potential of rust and weakening the structure of the vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673364July 14, 2025
ENGINE
2016 Honda Pilot was taken to Utah Moto Shop for routine maintenance and to diagnose engine noise after Honda replaced fuel injectors Nov 2024. Noise started right after injectors were replaced but customer was told that noise was normal. Utah Moto Shop found rod knock and diagnosed issues with connecting rod bearings. The shop contacted Honda in regards to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 and the related connecting rod bearing recall by Honda. Utah Moto Shop was told the VIN did not qualify. The vehicle has been deemed unsafe to drive due to the likelihood of engine failure at any time. The vehicle remains unrepaired and undriveable at 147,996 Miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672419July 10, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, there was an abnormal rattling and vibration in the engine. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Action Number: RQ24013. The contact stated that the failure was like the failure documented in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was scorching on rod bearing 1,2,3,4, and 6 rod bearings were damaged, and the crankshaft was damaged. The mechanic recommended that the engine be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11671893July 8, 2025
ENGINE
While traveling at highway speed a rod knock suddenly developed inside the engine. Engine lost power which could have led to crash or injury. Had vehicle towed to the nearest Honda dealer (Fox Honda in Grand Rapids, MI) and they reported broken pieces internal to the engine coming out when draining the oil. There is an existing Honda service bulletin 24-001 that covers this issue on some 2016 Pilots but we were told by the dealer that our VIN does not fall within the range. I have seen reports online of other owners of 2016 Pilots being affected by this and being told the same thing.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11671922July 8, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My battery was being drained until dead by a faulty keyless control module. I paid to have the battery replaced after my son and I got stranded 1.5 hours from home. All the lights on the dash went off and nearly every error code displayed as well. Currently at Honda dealership getting the module replaced at a mere $840 after I paid $370 for battery installation when my car "broke down". Now to see I am not the only Honda customer with this issue in this model of vehicle. The car started displaying all the error codes about a week before it began just completely draining the battery that was on 6/23. Battery replaced that day and by Saturday 6/28 was unable to start my car due to battery being completely dead. Had to jump my car and take to dealership on sunday 6/29. So was late to work and have been without my vehicle for over a week while they were trouble shooting the issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11671707July 7, 2025
ENGINE
Car had a low oil light and started a knocking noise on 6/6. Stopped vehicle and had it towed to dealership on 6/7 report came back with a connecting rod problem. No further inspection after that. Was made aware that there is a current recall on my vehicle specs but not my specific vin number.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11670272June 30, 2025
ENGINE
Honda Technician upon inspection found code p0175 fuel system too rich, preformed af test found bank 2 failed on all injectors, injectors need to be replaced. But the honda dealer is NOT willing to replace the fuel injector based on "SERVICE BULLETIN 20-100, & 20-11 Warranty Extension". The service bulletin ask for replacement of the fuel injectors and/or a software update.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11670116June 29, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AIS is failing. Car stalls out multiple times. Sometimes car will not even start when turning trying to turn on the first time. Weird instances occur all of the time: screen going black, radio going to full volume and not able to turn down, screen not working at all. Reached out to Honda several times with specific dates of incidents, and they ignore.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11669257June 25, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Transmission Temperate Too Hot warning came on in summer of 2023. Ended up needing to replace the engine. Fast forward to 6/25/25 and the light came on again. We take very good care of this vehicle and do all scheduled maintenance so this is very disappointing.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11668718June 23, 2025
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
In many instances (perhaps 30 in the five years) while driving on the highway I will depress the accelerator to pass a vehicle but instead of accelerating the engine revs drop and the speedometer goes blank. This is very dangerous as you are expecting to accelerate - especially when changing lanes to pass someone - but instead of accelerating the car starts to slow down for a few seconds and then, after the revs drop, they pick up again. I have a video of this but I can't upload it below. Please let me know where to send it. The first time I brought it to a Honda dealer they said they had to remap the "software". The second time they had no idea why it was happening or how to fix it. I would like to get this fixed but am flummoxed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11667978June 19, 2025
POWER TRAIN
I had to replace my transmission in my 2016 Honda Pilot. Honda paid for part of the repairs and I was responsible for the remaining amount. It has been well documented that this year and model have transmission problems. I asked Honda to reimburse me for the amount I was responsible for, but they refused to because of the mileage and age of the vehicle, even though I reported transmission issues when the vehicle only had 38k miles. I sent several emails and left several voicemails with no meaningful response. They have been very difficult to deal with.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11667404June 17, 2025
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light and the low oil pressure warning light were illuminated. The contact's wife pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was then towed to Dennis Automotive Care, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not under recall or warranty coverage. The manufacturer referred the contact to a dealer for additional diagnostic testing. The dealer was not contacted. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: RQ24013 (Engine). The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11667080June 16, 2025
ENGINE
UPON INSPECTION FOUND KNOCKING NOISE FROM LOW END ROD KNOCK. INTERNAL FAILURE OF ROD CAUSING NOISE FROM SPUN BEARING- Honda told me that the VIN was not included in the previous recall despite being manufactured in the same month and year of the recall causing me to pay out of pocket to replace the short block of the engine at 85,000 miles
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11667026June 15, 2025
ENGINE
Engine seems to have failed. Having it towed to get a final diagnosis but it seems seized/blown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11666947June 14, 2025
ENGINE
According to the Honda dealership of Winchester, West Virginia, an engine rod came through back of block and into oil plan, causing oil to leak on exhaust, which then caused the car to catch on fire. My daughter was driving and her safety was at risk. There were no warning signs about this prior to the incident. We had just driven the car from Nashville to West Virginia with no problems. I was told that there was a recall for this for 2016 Honda Pilots, but that my VIN was not included. This has cost me $215.31 in car rental fees, $169.38 in Uber fees, $1661.35 in auto transport and towing fees, $165.99 inspection from Honda. I'm still waiting on final costs for a new engine; I was quoted $12K from Honda; trying to find a cheaper alternative.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11666297June 11, 2025
POWER TRAIN
I am writing to report a persistent powertrain issue with my 2016 Honda Pilot, specifically regarding hard shifting between first and second gear when accelerating from a stop. Honda has acknowledged this issue and released an ECU software update intended to resolve it; however, in my case, as well as for many other owners who have reported similar concerns, the update did not effectively correct the problem. My vehicle currently has 76,000 miles, and despite Honda’s attempted fix, the hard shifting continues to impact performance and drivability. Given the widespread nature of this complaint, I urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter further and take appropriate action to ensure a proper resolution. Thank you for your time and attention to this issue. Sincerely,
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11665676June 9, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
Multipurpose camera failure. Lane keep assist, lane departure, adaptive cruise control
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11664734June 3, 2025
ENGINE
I was driving in the interstate today. Car started knocking really hard and shuts off. Dealership replaced fuel injectors. 2 weeks later car started knocking. Dealership said I need a new engine as they found metal shavings in the oil.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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