Honda Pilot Complaints (2009)

134 consumer complaints on file.

#11709543January 7, 2026
ENGINE
Serpentine belt tensioner bolt keeps snapping and or breaking has been replaced 3 times now. Research shows at least 10 years of part being defective.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11692462October 9, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2009 Honda Pilot VIN [XXX] Mileage 128,000 Issue: Transmission shuddering, a KNOWN and ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM Why is there not been a recall for this problem? I have spoken with other Pilot owners and all have experience this problem. The dealership gave me about 3 reasons, all out of pocket costs. I am on fixed income, this is a problem for me. HONDA knows there is a problem and yet the US government has not enforced any recall, WHY !! Help us. 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
#11617571October 1, 2024
AIR BAGS
DTC code 12-51 passenger air bag is on OBD. have not gone to dealership. been on for several years.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11592760June 5, 2024
AIR BAGS
I bought this car from Nalley Honda. After that I drove back to Birmingham. On my way airbag alarm pops up. Now they says I have to pay for this. But why should I pay for an safety issue as they should make sure its works fine.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11582445April 11, 2024
ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
See attached document for complaint
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11546707September 26, 2023
ENGINE
My 2009 Honda Pilot has 188,793 miles, I barely drive the vehicle and it need Piston Rings. I'm aware that this is a common problem with the 2009 Honda Pilots. I do not have $3,000. to just give to these people when Honda knows there is a problem with this vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11513890March 27, 2023
SEAT BELTS
My driver's side seat belt is constantly releasing as I'm driving.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11498297December 20, 2022
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
WE HAVE LEARNED FROM OTHER Honda Pilot OWNERS AS WELL FROM THE DEALER THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS A VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY COMMON ISSUE. IT WILL COST OVER $6,000 TO FIX. THAT IS CORRECT, OVER $ 6,000 !!!!!!!! WE HOPE THE US GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE ACTION. WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT HONDA IS WELL AWARE OF FOR YEARS NOW. PLEASE HELP US COMMON FOLK THANK YOU
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11481250August 25, 2022
ENGINE
In September of 2021 my mechanic noticed low oil. oil consumption and poor mileage. We have to travel from New Mexico to Houston to see our grandchildren and sometimes we bring them back to our home. The risk is that we can get stranded in the middle of the desert. There have been reports of oil consumption see attached article: https://www.vehiclehistory.com/articles/honda-pilot-excessive-oil-consumption-recalls But when I called Honda customer service they dismiss it because my vin# does not show on their computers of recall of problems of such. I called the dealership and the same thing happened. I am an old timer that changes its oil and does the required maintenance regularly and on time. This should not happen to a very well-maintained vehicle! I hope you can help or at least direct me to someone that could help me. A very dissatisfied customer
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11470535June 22, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
check engine light manufacturer control
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11463314May 4, 2022
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2009 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. Additionally, there was an odor of burning oil present inside the cabin of the vehicle. In addition, the contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced excessive oil consumption and no oil leaks were present. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11453866February 24, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
The contact owns a 2009 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 45 MPH, the brake pedal failed to operate as needed upon depression as his wife crashed a vehicle that stopped at the light. The airbags deployed upon impact. The driver of the other vehicle was taken to a local hospital by ambulance; her injuries were unknown. The contact took his wife to the hospital after the accident where she was treated for neck and back pain. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard where it remained in their possession. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be diagnosed and remained in the possession of the independent mechanic. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11425067July 16, 2021
SEATS
I reclined the drivers seat to nap. After my nap the seat would not recline back into seating position. To get the seat to come forward I had to get out of my car and with one hand operate the knob and the other hand pulled the seat forward. The seat did not come fully upright and I had no support from the seat as I started to drive again. After driving for 10 min I found another place I could safely pull over. I once again got out of the car and pushing the knob in the direction that would bring the seat up with one had and pulling on the seat with the other hand finally got the seat in the full upright position. I finished my drive home and proceeded to call the dealership to schedule an appointment for the seat to be looked at. The dealership told me that the motor/drive system needed to be replaced as it was coming apart. The problem was that when they looked to see if a motor could be ordered a whole seat needed to be ordered. Now I have a seat that should I try to adjust the seat back I may never get it back into original position. I was quoted $1872.73 for a new seat and they would need the car for two days because the seat would need to go to the upholstery shop and that would be another $500 because the seat is leather.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11351695August 27, 2020
ENGINE
A VALVE FELL INTO THE ENGINE AS I WAS DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO PUT CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND COAST INTO SAFETY. IT WAS INOPERABLE AFTER THIS EVENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11343816August 7, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, SUSPENSION
ON JULY 29, 2020 I PURCHASED A VEHICLE FROM CROWN NISSAN OF GREENVILLE. THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A SAFETY INSPECTION AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND ALL THAT NEEDED WAS A NEW AC COMPRESSOR THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE AT THEIR EXPENSE. THEY WERE NOT TRANSPARENT ABOUT OTHER PROBLEMS THAT SURFACED WITHIN THE FIRST QUARTER TANK OF GAS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY AND WAS CAUSING ERRORS WHICH IS A SAFETY CONCERN. BOTH LOW CONTROL ARMS AND STRUTS WERE COMPLETELY WORN AND NOT SAFE FOR VEHICLE OPERATION. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAD A CRACK IN IT. THERE WERE ALSO FAULTY ENGINE MISFIRING. THERE INSPECTION DID NOT ANIMATE ANY OF THESE ISSUES AND SAID THE ONLY THING WRONG WAS THE AC COMPRESSOR, WHICH WAS A LIE. THE LEFT STRUT WAS ALSO WAS NOT OPERATIONAL AND HAS MADE THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN LESS THAN 100 MILES AND HAS CAUSED NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AND A SAFETY CONCERN FOR THE DRIVER. I USED THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT TWICE AND THEY WERE NOT TRANSPARENT ABOUT ISSUES CONCERNING THE VEHICLE. THEY DID NOT CARE AND BOTH TIMES SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE WHICH WAS NOT TRUE THERE WAS A LOT WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE THAT THEY WEREN'T DISCLOSING. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG BECAUSE I NEEDED TO KNOW AND THEY ASSURED ME THE SAFETY INSPECTION WAS DONE AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE HONDA MECHANIC FROM FISHERS GARAGE CLAIMS THE CAR HAS SIGNS OF BEING IN A ROUGH ACCIDENT WITH UNDERNEATH REPAIRS, HOWEVER THE DEALER ASSURED THERE WAS NO ACCIDENTS AND THE CAR FAX WAS CLEAR OF ANY DEFECTS. WHICH ALSO TURNS OUT TO BE A LIE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11318771March 20, 2020
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), POWER TRAIN
I HAD JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE, AND ONLY HAD IT 3 DAYS WHEN IT BEGIN TO IDLE HIGH AND IT SEEMED AS IF THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL WHILE I WAS DRIVING BUT IT WASN'T. THEN THE D LIGHT BEGAN TO BLINK AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I STOPPED AT A CAR REPAIR PLACE TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND WHEN THE PERSON GOT IN AND TURNED THE CAR BACK ON IT WAS LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN IT STARTED ACTING UP AGAIN, BUT AS SOON AS THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN IT ACTS NORMAL FOR A FEW. I WASN'T DOING NOTHING BUT DRIVING AT THE TIME AT A SPEED UNDER 60MPH. WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING OVER 60MPH IT DIDN'T DO IT AT ALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11297362January 6, 2020
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA PILOT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT INDEPENDENTLY UNLATCHED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE PERSISTED FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11290550December 30, 2019
ENGINE
2009 HONDA PILOT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PISTON RING FAILURE. *LD *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11281354November 20, 2019
SEATS
THE DRIVER'S POWER SEAT HORIZONTAL POSITION TRACK JAMMED SO THAT THE SEAT COULD ONLY BE MOVED ABOUT 2 INCHES FORWARD/BACKWARD. THIS LOCKED THE DRIVER INTO A POSITION VERY CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND UNABLE TO REACH AUTO CONTROLS, SEAT BELT WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTY. HONDA DEALER SAID THEY'RE HAD A RASH OF THESE POWER SEAT JAM-UPS ON PILOTS. HAD TO REPLACE THE "LOWER SEAT TRACK ASSEMBLY" WHICH COST $1,340 WITH PARTS, LABOR AND TAX.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11267704October 10, 2019
SUSPENSION
I WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT MY COMPLIANCE BUSHINGS WERE LEAKING AND NEEDED REPAIR. FOUND THERE'S WAS A BULLETIN PUT OUT BY HONDA, BUT I WAS NEVER CONTACTED. SPOKE TO A HONDA REP THAT SAID THEY ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO INFORM OWNERS ABOUT BULLETINS. SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR THE COST OF REPLACEMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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