Honda Pilot Complaints (2016)

1,724 consumer complaints on file.

#11714808February 1, 2026
ENGINE
Engine noise, check engine light illuminating causing reduced engine power. Mechanic states rod bearing issue likely the cause
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714654January 31, 2026
ENGINE
Driving the car the engine bearing went out and wrecked the engine which has caused the engine to be replaced.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714460January 30, 2026
ENGINE, STEERING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Engine failure while on highway traffic in construction zone caused engine shut off, losing power steering and odd braking. I was driving on a split 4 lane highway (2 lanes each direction), with a large ditch median between the directional lanes. My direction had construction cones for several miles limiting traffic to 1 lane, still at a 65 MPH speed limit with heavy semi traffic. The right lane was closed for construction, so all traffic was lined in left lane, though maintaining the speed limit. A few hundred yards into the construction my check engine light came on, and then after a minute or so it started blinking but there was no place to pull over safely. I reduced speed and semi traffic was lining up behind me. Then the engine and rest of car shut off, losing power steering. I ended up weaving into the construction part and was finally able to stop but not without danger to myself and others. Motor would restart but sounded terrible and I did not feel safe driving further and did not have faith it would make it far, especially since I'd have to re-enter the highway construction traffic. I had it towed to local mechanic, who diagnosed the problem as a piston rod bearing spin/stuck, or in other words a spun/slipped rod/crank bearing.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714578January 30, 2026
ENGINE
We are being denied a repair that is exactly like the service recall Service Bulletin 24-001 Safety Recall: 2016 (&2018-19) Pilot Connecting Rod Bearing. They found metal shavings in the oil that are identical to vehicles that are covered. The dealership said they received 4 other 2016 Honda Pilots this week where the VIN wasn't in the range but the same issue. Honda is trying to avoid a recall when it is clear that all 2016 Honda Pilots are affected.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713546January 27, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Auto idle stop function causing car to not start back up. Could be at a stop sign, in a left turn lane, in the middle of an intersection waiting to turn. Very stressful and unsafe driving conditions. This has been ongoing for years. Dealership has blamed it on the battery, which has been replaced theee times (one of those times under warranty), dealership has looked at the car multiple times. Also made recommended Honda repairs per the issued safety bulletin. But it continues to happen.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712179January 20, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
We started having problems with the catalytic converter clogging so we put Heat in it and then only used 100%gas. Then we went to my daughter’s house and when we went to leave the car wouldn’t start. We could smell burning. We had it towed to our mechanic and he replaced the starter but he had a hard time getting it off because it was almost fused because of the heat. Then 3-4 days later all the check engine lights came on. We had it checked out by Christian Brothers and he had to replace all of the fuel injectors. He also had to replace the ERG valve. It all I feel was caused by the fuel injectors and was causing problems in the engine and causing the burning smell. I have read that this has been a problem on the vehicles and wanted to report it for a Recall. We love the vehicle but with the mileage only being at 143,400.
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
#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
#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
#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
#11709903January 9, 2026
ENGINE
My engine has failed at ~104K miles after regular and consistent maintenance. The failure (rod bearing) matches Recall 23V751 but my VIN was excluded.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709000January 6, 2026
ENGINE
Torque shutter, transmission oil burning quickly
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709176January 6, 2026
ENGINE
Honda Pilot 2016 and 83K miles and original owner. The car was traveling at I-95 going to Vermont when the engine light come on the dashboard showing low pressure oil. The car was stopped in a safe place and called AAA and towed to nearest mechanic in Massachusetts. The mechanic diagnosed and said the engine is shut and needed to be replaced. I called American Honda and was being told to tow it to a Honda Service dealership nearby and we did. Confirmed by them that the engine was shut and they found a metal inside the engine which is caused by the rod bearing. The American Honda did nothing at all to address it. So frustrating. The car is still sitting on the Honda Service lot in Massachusetts. The cost to replace the engine with a used one is $7500.00
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709216January 6, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that when he had parked the vehicle at work, he had heard an abnormal clicking sound from the engine compartment, and the vehicle was idling roughly. The contact stated that as he drove the vehicle back to his residence at approximately 60 MPH, the check engine warning started flashing on the instrument cluster. The contact drove the vehicle to an auto parts store, and the store employee used a handheld scanner and drew voltage and engine communication codes. The contact then had the vehicle towed to a local dealer. The dealer did not perform a detailed diagnosis, but when the contact picked the vehicle up, he was still hearing the abnormal clicking sound. The dealer had a mechanic try to evaluate the abnormal noise by listening and thought it sounded like a failing timing belt tensioner. The contact then drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the rod bearings had failed and the crankshaft was scored. The mechanic recommended replacing the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact back to a dealer to run a diagnostic check to see if the contact qualified for a "goodwill assistance program. The contact stated that the manufacturer advised that the program was not guaranteed. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708799January 5, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that there was an abnormal engine knocking sound coming from the vehicle. There were recurring oil leaks and a misfire coming from the engine. The engine warning light was flashing. Additionally, the ESC, hill start assist, VSA, EPS, and steering low warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who confirmed the codes. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The local dealer was not contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708256January 2, 2026
ENGINE
. We have owned our 2016 Pilot since 2023. We have never had a problem with it and have had the recommended maintenance performed on schedule. The incident of our engine failing, out of the blue, occurred when my husband drove from MN to Indiana and then he made it back to MN and the engine died literally at the exit to our hometown. Our Honda Pilot ran perfect when my husband drove from MN to IN with no problems at all. He made it all the way back to MN and when he took the exit to our town, a bunch of lights went off on the dashboard. There were several lights and I don't know exactly which ones unfortunately. He was able to get it into our driveway and it was unable to be started once he turned it off. We had to get it towed to the dealer (Tom Kadlec) . After diagnostic testing, we were told we needed a new engine. It cost us $8000 for a rebuilt engine. The mechanic knows all the details of the problem, but rod bearings were included in the description of our problem. I realize our vehicle has higher mileage, but this is so unlike a Honda vehicle to just quit and then to have such a drastic and expensive result....a new engine needed. Of course, completely unexpected and disappointing,out of the blue, I just am shocked and would like to know if it had something to do with the recall. I appreciate your assistance. Thank you very much. [XXX] 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
#11707133December 26, 2025
ENGINE
The vehicle experienced a sudden engine malfunction while being driven at highway speeds in the carpool lane under normal conditions. The engine began knocking and misfiring, followed by a significant loss of power. There were no warning lights, oil pressure alerts, or messages prior to the failure. The loss of power and engine knocking made it difficult to safely cross multiple highway lanes from the carpool lane to reach an exit, creating a serious safety hazard in active traffic. The driver exited the freeway as soon as safely possible, parked the vehicle, turned the engine off, and had it towed to prevent further damage or risk. The vehicle was towed home and then towed the following day to an authorized Honda dealership for inspection. The dealership confirmed the failure was caused by internal engine damage due to a connecting rod bearing failure, resulting in a misfire on cylinder 4. This diagnosis was confirmed by the dealership, and the vehicle remains available for inspection. The vehicle has been regularly maintained, including routine oil and filter changes. There was no indication of oil starvation, overheating, or neglect prior to the failure. The engine failure occurred suddenly and without warning. There is an existing recall and an active federal investigation related to connecting rod bearing failures in certain 2016 Honda Pilot vehicles. While this vehicle’s VIN has not been officially included, the failure mode, symptoms, and dealer-confirmed diagnosis in this incident appear consistent with the issues described in those actions. Sudden internal engine failure at highway speeds presents a serious safety risk due to unexpected loss of power in traffic. This complaint is submitted to document a similar internal engine failure with no warning and its associated safety implications.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11706748December 23, 2025
ENGINE
FAILING ROD BEARING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11706798December 23, 2025
ENGINE
This car was purchased new from Gustman Honda in Appleton WI. It was well maintained and never driven off road. On [XXX], my [XXX] old daughter was driving it to school. She was on [XXX] when the engine had a severe failure and several rods punctured the engine block. There were no warnings, no engine lights, etc. prior to this complete engine failure. Luckily she was going to school for an early morning class and there were few cars on the highway. She was able to get the car somewhat off the road and call called me for help. I had it towed to Jiggers Auto in Chilton WI where they determined the complete engine failure 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
#11706838December 23, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
warning engine light came on. Emission control system light came on too. Honda Pilot 2016 Milage 70,662. Vehicle operating normally. Had car parts store use OBD electronic scanner and it revealed a code P0328: "Knock Sensor voltage High". Code was deleted after scan. I was told by tech at car parts store that the sensor was detecting odd electronic signals and sent info to the cars computer, which intern made the computer to display the warning lights on the dash panel. Warning lights were then off, and then a day later, the engine warning lights came on again. There are no physical or audible signs that any mechanical errors are happening, The car/engine is operating as normal. next day; made appt with Honda dealership to check system with their equipment and the warning lights did not come on , prior to the trip to the dealership. Dealership scan (Dec 23, 2025) confirms a faulty Knock Sensor w/code P0328. My internet search of this code reading, reveals possible engine damage, improper fuel distribution and possible engine failure when driving. This issue has been reported before, many times, per my internet search...why no recall? Dealership wants $1,234 to replace Knock sensor bank 1& 2. My original request to the dealership was to check my vehicle to see if it had any performance problems as noted in Honda Service Bulletin 20-100 Nov 24, 2020 problems, but their search revealed the P0328 code . I was charged $100 just for this diagnostic system search.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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