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Honda Pilot 2009–2015 problems by year and mileage

2nd generation · YF3 / YF4

NHTSA data through 24 September 20261,205 complaints, 812 with mileageMethod

Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.

The 2009 Honda Pilot

Close
Median failure report
70,000 mi
Complaints filed
134
Recalls naming this year
9

Most reported on the 2009

  1. Engine35 reports
  2. Airbag system29 reports
  3. Suspension19 reports

9 recall campaigns name the 2009: Air bags — frontal; Air bags; Seat belts — front. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2010 Honda Pilot

Close
Median failure report
60,000 mi
Complaints filed
111
Recalls naming this year
10

Most reported on the 2010

  1. Airbag system32 reports
  2. Engine28 reports
  3. Suspension17 reports

10 recall campaigns name the 2010: Air bags — frontal; Air bags; Seat belts — front. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2011 Honda Pilot

Close
Median failure report
46,000 mi
Complaints filed
293
Recalls naming this year
11

Most reported on the 2011

  1. Airbag system68 reports
  2. Brakes39 reports · median 30,000 mi
  3. Steering34 reports · median 46,000 mi

11 recall campaigns name the 2011: Air bags — frontal; Air bags; Seat belts — front. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2012 Honda Pilot

Close
Median failure report
36,000 mi
Complaints filed
171
Recalls naming this year
9

Most reported on the 2012

  1. Engine35 reports
  2. Brakes25 reports
  3. Electrical system22 reports

9 recall campaigns name the 2012: Air bags — frontal; Air bags; Fuel system, gasoline — storage. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2013 Honda Pilot

Close
Median failure report
28,000 mi
Complaints filed
271
Recalls naming this year
6

Most reported on the 2013

  1. Engine79 reports · median 5,500 mi
  2. Transmission and driveline54 reports · median 3,000 mi
  3. Body structure47 reports · median 60,000 mi

6 recall campaigns name the 2013: Air bags — frontal; Engine; Air bags. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2014 Honda Pilot

Close
Median failure report
34,000 mi
Complaints filed
116
Recalls naming this year
3

Most reported on the 2014

  1. Engine31 reports
  2. Body structure20 reports
  3. Wheels16 reports

3 recall campaigns name the 2014: Air bags — frontal. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

The 2015 Honda Pilot

Close
Median failure report
46,000 mi
Complaints filed
109
Recalls naming this year
4

At least 40% of the complaints about the 2015 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.

Most reported on the 2015

  1. Engine22 reports
  2. Problems owners could not categorise19 reports
  3. Electrical system13 reports

4 recall campaigns name the 2015: Fuel system, gasoline — delivery; Air bags — frontal. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.

When each system fails on this generation →

Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. † marks a year whose median likely understates the mileage: much of its reporting came after 2020, when most complaints stopped recording an odometer reading. The 2009 reports latest and the 2013 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2009 has had 4 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.

The short answer

“Is the 2009–2015 Honda Pilot reliable?”

Median of reported failures
43,000 mi
90% of reports came by
123,000 mi
Reports with mileage
812
Recalls
14

Most reported

  1. Engine21.7% of complaints · median 49,000 mi
  2. Airbag system15.5% of complaints · median 61,000 mi
  3. Brakes11.9% of complaints · median 31,000 mi

When each system fails ↓

Documented problems

What each one is ↓

Owners filed 1,205 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009–2015 Honda Pilot; the engine leads with 21.7% of them, and half of the 812 that record an odometer reading came by 43,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.

Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 12,000 and 80,000 miles.

Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗

How many miles does a 2009–2015 Honda Pilot last?

Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2009–2015 Honda Pilot, half of the 812 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 43,000 miles and 90% by 123,000 miles.

48 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 11 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Pilot reached that mileage, not that it failed there.

Figure 1 · Honda Pilot 2009–2015 · 812 reports with mileage

Mileage at failure

Complaints per 10,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 190 complaints.

Mileage at failure, Honda Pilot 2009–2015Histogram of 812 owner-reported failures by mileage, in 10,000-mile bins from 0 to 200,000. The tallest bin is 0 to 10,000 miles with 190 complaints, 23.4 percent of the total. Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 12,000 and 80,000 miles. A further 11 complaints, 1.4 percent, were reported above 200,000 miles and are shown as a separate detached bar. Median mileage at failure is 43,000.
  • Rest of the range
  • Median
  • 200,000+ — 11 complaints (1.4%), plotted separately
10%
500
25%
12,000
Median
43,000
75%
80,000
90%
123,000

Tallest bin: 190 complaints between 0 and 10,000 miles. Based on 812 complaints that record mileage. Bin width 10,000 miles.

Show the numbers
Complaints by mileage bin
MileageComplaintsShare
0–10,00019023.4%
10,000–20,000587.1%
20,000–30,000627.6%
30,000–40,000739.0%
40,000–50,000647.9%
50,000–60,000587.1%
60,000–70,000485.9%
70,000–80,000475.8%
80,000–90,000485.9%
90,000–100,000303.7%
100,000–110,000222.7%
110,000–120,000202.5%
120,000–130,000222.7%
130,000–140,00081.0%
140,000–150,000141.7%
150,000–160,000141.7%
160,000–170,00091.1%
170,000–180,000111.4%
180,000–190,00010.1%
190,000–200,00020.2%
200,000+111.4%

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.

What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.

Common Pilot problems, and when they happen

Figure 2 · Honda Pilot 2009–2015

When each system fails

Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.

  1. Transmission and driveline131 reports16,000500–51,000Transmission and driveline: 131 reports, median 16,000 miles, middle half 500 to 51,000 miles.
  2. Brakes143 reports31,00015,000–57,000Brakes: 143 reports, median 31,000 miles, middle half 15,000 to 57,000 miles.
  3. Engine261 reports49,0006,000–99,000Engine: 261 reports, median 49,000 miles, middle half 6,000 to 99,000 miles.
  4. Suspension111 reports50,00032,000–75,000Suspension: 111 reports, median 50,000 miles, middle half 32,000 to 75,000 miles.
  5. Problems owners could not categorise113 reports56,00020,000–87,000Problems owners could not categorise: 113 reports, median 56,000 miles, middle half 20,000 to 87,000 miles.
  6. Body structure117 reports60,00041,000–85,000Body structure: 117 reports, median 60,000 miles, middle half 41,000 to 85,000 miles.
  7. Airbag system187 reports61,00030,000–100,000Airbag system: 187 reports, median 61,000 miles, middle half 30,000 to 100,000 miles.
  • Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”

Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.

All systems in a table
Complaints by vehicle system
SystemComplaintsShareMedian25–75%
Engine26121.7%49,0006,000–99,000
Airbag system18715.5%61,00030,000–100,000
Brakes14311.9%31,00015,000–57,000
Transmission and driveline13110.9%16,000500–51,000
Body structure1179.7%60,00041,000–85,000
Problems owners could not categorise1139.4%56,00020,000–87,000
Suspension1119.2%50,00032,000–75,000
Electrical system937.7%42,0006,000–105,000
Steering836.9%40,00020,000–75,000
Throttle and speed control665.5%22,0002,500–46,000
System by system, in words

Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 43,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The engine accounts for 21.7% of complaints (261 reports, 170 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 49,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 6,000 and 99,000 miles.

The airbag system accounts for 15.5% of complaints (187 reports, 69 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 61,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 30,000 and 100,000 miles.

The brakes account for 11.9% of complaints (143 reports, 122 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 31,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 57,000 miles.

The transmission and driveline accounts for 10.9% of complaints (131 reports, 98 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 16,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 500 and 51,000 miles.

Body structure accounts for 9.7% of complaints (117 reports, 81 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 41,000 and 85,000 miles.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 9.4% of complaints (113 reports, 71 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 56,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 20,000 and 87,000 miles.

Known problems with the 2009–2015 Pilot

Engine 2009–2013

Variable Cylinder Management-related excessive oil consumption and spark plug fouling. Running on three cylinders wears the piston rings on the deactivated bank, oil enters the combustion chamber, plugs foul and misfire codes set. Honda issued warranty extensions covering spark plug fouling and piston-ring wear on VCM-equipped J35 engines and settled related class litigation.

Engine Mounts

Active/hydraulic engine mount failure producing heavy vibration in VCM three-cylinder mode.

Before you buy a 2009–2015 Pilot: the 3-minute check

Generated from 812 mileage-tagged complaints, 14 recall campaigns, 2 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.

  1. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 14 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
  2. Check engine on 2009–2013 cars. Variable Cylinder Management-related excessive oil consumption and spark plug fouling. Running on three cylinders wears the piston rings on the deactivated bank, oil enters the combustion chamber, plugs foul and misfire…
  3. Check engine mounts. Active/hydraulic engine mount failure producing heavy vibration in VCM three-cylinder mode.
  4. End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.

For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 12,000 and 80,000 miles, with a median of 43,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.

On inspection, the engine and the airbag system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine in particular shows a median failure mileage of 49,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.

None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.

Pilot problems by mileage: where your car sits

Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.

earlier most reports on that system came below this mileage — ask for repair records. in window this mileage sits inside the middle half of its reports. later most reports came above it. That describes reports, not your odds.

Where each system’s reports sit against common odometer readings
SystemMiddle half of reports, miAt 60k mi62% belowAt 90k mi80% belowAt 120k mi89% belowAt 150k mi94% belowAt 200k mi99% below
Engine6,000–99,000in windowin windowearlierearlierearlier
Airbag system30,000–100,000in windowin windowearlierearlierearlier
Brakes15,000–57,000earlierearlierearlierearlierearlier
Transmission and driveline500–51,000earlierearlierearlierearlierearlier
Body structure41,000–85,000in windowearlierearlierearlierearlier
Problems owners could not categorise20,000–87,000in windowearlierearlierearlierearlier
Suspension32,000–75,000in windowearlierearlierearlierearlier

Figure 3 · Honda Pilot 2009–2015 · 812 reports with mileage

Share of reports below each mileage

Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.

Cumulative share of reports by mileage, Honda Pilot 2009–2015Of 812 reports that record mileage, the share filed below each odometer reading, rising in steps at each 10,000-mile bin edge. 62 percent below 60,000 miles. 80 percent below 90,000 miles. 89 percent below 120,000 miles. 94 percent below 150,000 miles. 99 percent below 200,000 miles. Median 43,000 miles.
  • 60,000 mi — 62% of reports below
  • 90,000 mi — 80% of reports below
  • 120,000 mi — 89% of reports below
  • 150,000 mi — 94% of reports below
  • 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
  • Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
  • Your odometer — appears after you enter it above

The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 1.4% of reports (11) came above 200,000 miles.

Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.

2009–2015 Honda Pilot recalls (14)

NHTSA records 14 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.

The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (9), the fuel system (2), the engine (1). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.

Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.

Recall repairs are free at an authorized dealer, for any owner. Summaries below shorten NHTSA’s own wording.

  1. Dec 2023 · 2015 · Fuel System, GasolineFuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda…

    What can happen. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall…

    NHTSA campaign 23V-858 (2023-12-18).

  2. Jun 2019 · 2009–2015 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in…

    The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011…

    What can happen. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…

    NHTSA campaign 19V-502 (2019-06-27).

  3. May 2019 · 2009–2015 · Air BagsAn incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event…

    The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V…

    What can happen. An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019.…

    NHTSA campaign 19V-378 (2019-05-16).

  4. Sep 2018 · 2010–2015 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in…

    The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico…

    What can happen. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…

    NHTSA campaign 18V-661 (2018-09-27).

  5. Apr 2018 · 2009–2012 · Air BagsAn incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012…

    What can happen. An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda…

    NHTSA campaign 18V-268 (2018-04-26).

  6. Jan 2018 · 2009–2013 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in…

    The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX, ZDX, Honda Accord Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot vehicles, 2011-13 Acura TSX Sportswagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord,, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles…

    What can happen. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…

    NHTSA campaign 18V-042 (2018-01-09).

  7. Aug 2017 · 2009–2012 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag…

    The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2008-2012 Accord, 2010-2012 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2012 Fit and Pilot, 2010-2012 Insight, and 2009-2012 Acura TSX vehicles that received replacement passenger frontal air…

    What can happen. In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.

    The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…

    NHTSA campaign 17V-545 (2017-08-31).

  8. Jan 2017 · 2009–2012 · Air BagsAn inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury…

    The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Acura TSX, 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Acura ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2012 Honda Accord Crosstour and Honda Insight, 2009-2012 Honda Fit, 2009-2012 Pilot, 2007-2011 Honda CR-V…

    What can happen. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has mailed an interim notification, and will send a second notification…

    NHTSA campaign 17V-030 (2017-01-10).

  9. May 2016 · 2009–2011 · Air BagsAn inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury…

    The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Acura TSX, 2011 TSX Wagon, 2010-2011 Acura ZDX, 2008-2011 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid, and Civic GX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2010-2011 FCX Clarity…

    What can happen. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this…

    NHTSA campaign 16V-346 (2016-05-24).

  10. Aug 2013 · 2013 · EngineA worn piston may suddenly fail, causing the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    The defect. Honda is recalling certain model year 2013 Pilot 2WD and 4WD vehicles and certain model year 2013 Odyssey vehicles. During manufacturing of the engine piston, it is possible that the heat treatment process was not properly applied, resulting in the piston…

    What can happen. A worn piston may suddenly fail, causing the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine short block free of charge. The recall began on September 16, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's recall numbers…

    NHTSA campaign 13V-382 (2013-08-27).

  11. Jan 2013 · 2009–2013 · Air BagsThe absence of more than one rivet could alter the performance of the driver's airbag during deployment.

    The defect. Honda is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Pilot and 2011-2013 Odyssey passenger vehicles manufactured from March 13, 2008, through December 21, 2012. One or more rivets that attach the airbag module to the airbag cover may be missing.

    What can happen. The absence of more than one rivet could alter the performance of the driver's airbag during deployment. This could potentially increase the risk of injury during a crash.

    The free fix. Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda dealer. The dealer will inspect the driver's airbag module and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on…

    NHTSA campaign 13V-016 (2013-01-18).

  12. Feb 2012 · 2012 · Fuel System, GasolineAs a result, fuel may leak from the tank, increasing the risk of fire.

    The defect. Honda is recalling certain model year 2012 Pilot and Acura MDX vehicles. The vent shut float (vsf) valve case in the fuel tank assembly does not meet the design specifications.

    What can happen. As a result, fuel may leak from the tank, increasing the risk of fire.

    The free fix. Honda will notify owners and dealers will inspect the vsf assembly date and, if necessary, replace the fuel tank assembly, free of charge. The safety recall began on march 13, 2012. Owners may…

    NHTSA campaign 12V-063 (2012-02-17).

  13. Sep 2011 · 2009–2011 · Seat BeltsIf the stitching is incomplete or missing, the seatbelt may detach from the anchor webbing, increasing the…

    The defect. Honda is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Pilot vehicles manufactured from march 13, 2008, through august 30, 2011. There is a possibility that the stitching that secures the end of the driver and front passenger lap section of the seatbelt may be…

    What can happen. If the stitching is incomplete or missing, the seatbelt may detach from the anchor webbing, increasing the risk of personal injury in a crash.

    The free fix. Honda dealers will conduct a specialized inspection of the driver and front passenger seatbelts, and if necessary, replace the seatbelts, free of charge. The safety recall began on october 5, 2011.…

    NHTSA campaign 11V-468 (2011-09-09).

  14. Dec 2010 · 2011 · SuspensionLoss of steering increases the risk of a crash.

    The defect. Honda is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Honda accord v6 and model year 2011 Honda Pilot vehicles. The bolts that attach the lower left and right front damper bracket to the front suspension and the spindle nuts on the Pilot may not have been properly…

    What can happen. Loss of steering increases the risk of a crash.

    The free fix. Dealer will inspect and replace any loose front damper bracket bolts or spindle nuts on the Pilot if necessary. Dealer will inspect and replace the spindle nuts on the accord v6 if necessary. The…

    NHTSA campaign 10V-640 (2010-12-16).

Some of these 14 campaigns also cover Honda Accord 2008–2012 (9 of them), Honda Civic 2006–2011 (8 of them), Honda CR-V 2007–2011 (8 of them) and Honda Fit 2009–2013 (8 of them): the same campaign number appears in NHTSA’s file against both, which means the same defect and the same free repair. 1 of the 14 are specific to this vehicle alone.

Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported

What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 1,205 complaints against this generation:

Crashes
93 (7.7%)
Fires
18
Injury reports
53
Fatality reports
0

These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.

Pilot problems by model year

The 2011 drew the most complaints of this generation, 293, most of them about the airbag system, and the 2015 the fewest, 109. A typical year drew about 134.

That makes the 2011 stand out at roughly 2.2 times a typical year. A count like this follows how many cars of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as how often they failed, so it is not by itself evidence of a worse year; what each year's reports name, in its card and row, is the useful part.

Complaints by model year
YearComplaintsWith mileageMedian milesMost reportedRecalls
20091348370,000Engine (35)9
20101117160,000Airbag system (32)10
201129320046,000Airbag system (68)11
201217112736,000Engine (35)9
201327120128,000Engine (79)6
20141166634,000Engine (31)3
20151096446,000†Engine (22)4

† At least 40% of this year’s complaints were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. Its median rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.

What Pilot owners reported

The contact owns a 2011 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while parked, the front driver-side seat belt retractor failed to retract as intended. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V468000 (Seat Belts). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The…

2011 · 150,000 miles · Seat belts

The contact owns a 2014 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, there was a loud pop coming from the engine department. The contact became aware of a severe drop in the oil level while driving the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed…

2014 · 142,000 miles · Engine

The contact owns a 2015 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that upon pulling into the gas station and parking the vehicle, the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound, and the contact also noticed a grinding sound coming from the underbody of the vehicle. The contact stated that the grinding sound persisted and became…

2015 · 270,000 miles · Suspension

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 115,776 and at the time of registration. The contact stated the…

2011 · 191,000 miles · Electrical system

Built from 812 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built

Other Pilot generations

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