Honda Pilot 2009–2015
2nd generation · YF3 / YF4
NHTSA data through 12 August 20261,594 complaints, 1,105 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 8,739 and 78,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 12 complaints (1.1%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 300
- 25%
- 8,739
- Median
- 41,010
- 75%
- 78,000
- 90%
- 120,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 278 | 25.2% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 72 | 6.5% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 86 | 7.8% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 98 | 8.9% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 92 | 8.3% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 78 | 7.1% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 62 | 5.6% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 68 | 6.2% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 55 | 5.0% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 38 | 3.4% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 29 | 2.6% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 28 | 2.5% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 30 | 2.7% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 10 | 0.9% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 21 | 1.9% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 17 | 1.5% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 11 | 1.0% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 15 | 1.4% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 2 | 0.2% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 3 | 0.3% |
| 200,000+ | 12 | 1.1% |
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.
Owners filed 1,594 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009–2015 Honda Pilot, and 1,105 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 8,739 and 78,000 miles. The median is 41,010 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine (16.3% of complaints, typically around 49,000 miles), the airbag system (11.7% of complaints, typically around 61,000 miles), the brakes (9.0% of complaints, typically around 31,000 miles).
14 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Engine49,000median 49,200 miles, middle half 6,000 to 99,000
- Airbag system61,000median 61,000 miles, middle half 30,000 to 100,000
- Brakes31,000median 31,241 miles, middle half 15,000 to 57,000
- Transmission and driveline16,000median 15,875 miles, middle half 500 to 51,000
- Body structure60,000median 60,000 miles, middle half 41,000 to 85,000
- Problems owners could not categorise56,000median 56,200 miles, middle half 20,000 to 87,000
- Suspension50,000median 50,000 miles, middle half 32,000 to 75,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 260 | 16.3% | 49,000 | 6,000–99,000 |
| Airbag system | 187 | 11.7% | 61,000 | 30,000–100,000 |
| Brakes | 143 | 9.0% | 31,000 | 15,000–57,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 131 | 8.2% | 16,000 | 500–51,000 |
| Body structure | 116 | 7.3% | 60,000 | 41,000–85,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 112 | 7.0% | 56,000 | 20,000–87,000 |
| Suspension | 111 | 7.0% | 50,000 | 32,000–75,000 |
| Electrical system | 94 | 5.9% | 40,000 | 6,000–80,000 |
| Steering | 83 | 5.2% | 40,000 | 20,000–75,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 66 | 4.1% | 22,000 | 2,500–46,000 |
Which systems, and when
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 41,010 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 16.3% of complaints (260 reports, 170 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 49,200 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 11.7% of complaints (187 reports, 69 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 61,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 30,000 and 100,000 miles.
The brakes account for 9.0% of complaints (143 reports, 122 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 31,241 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 8.2% of complaints (131 reports, 98 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 15,875 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 7.3% of complaints (116 reports, 81 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 60,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 41,000 and 85,350 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 7.0% of complaints (112 reports, 71 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 56,200 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 20,000 and 87,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2011 model year drew the most — 390 complaints — while 2015 drew the fewest at 139. The median year sits at 174.
That makes 2011 an outlier: roughly 2.2 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
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). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
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.
Reported severity
Of the 1,594 complaints filed against this generation, 136 reported a crash; 33 reported a fire; 139 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 8.5% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 8,739 and 78,000 miles, with a median of 41,010. 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 49,200, 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.
Documented problems
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.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 174 | 114 |
| 2010 | 142 | 96 |
| 2011 | 390 | 280 |
| 2012 | 228 | 170 |
| 2013 | 368 | 277 |
| 2014 | 153 | 86 |
| 2015 | 139 | 82 |
Recalls (14)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 23V858000 | 2024-03-29 | Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump |
| 19V502000 | 2019-08-12 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 19V378000 | 2019-07-05 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 18V661000 | 2018-11-06 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 18V268000 | 2018-06-22 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 18V042000 | 2018-02-16 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 17V545000 | 2017-10-30 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 17V030000 | 2017-02-22 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 16V346000 | 2016-11-15 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 13V382000 | 2013-09-16 | Engine |
| 13V016000 | 2013-03-14 | Air Bags |
| 12V063000 | 2012-03-13 | Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly |
| 11V468000 | 2011-10-05 | Seat Belts:front:webbing |
| 10V640000 | 2010-12-23 | Suspension |
What owners reported
2009 Honda Pilot has a brake system problem. The car can't be stop fast enough, it needs a very long distance after hitting the brake to stop. This is a brand new car. I informed Honda dealer of martin main line Honda in pa of the problem, the technicians told me that all Pilot behaves the same, so it is not a…
2009 · 60 miles · Equipment
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Honda Pilot. The contact was driving 50 MPH when the vehicle would suddenly stall without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle within several minutes. The vehicle was inspected by the dealer but the vehicle was neither diagnosed for the failure nor repaired. The manufacturer…
2009 · 100 miles · Engine and its cooling system
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Honda Pilot. When attempting to start the vehicle, it exhibited a no-start condition. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but the technician could not identify the cause of the failure. Two days later while driving on the highway at 60 MPH, the vehicle began losing power. She was able…
2009 · 3,500 miles · Engine and its cooling system
Honda 2009 Pilot mva 4/10/2010 reported passenger airbag deployed and injury occurred to sternum and ribs. Noted recall of Honda for airbag in newpaper and internet. Called 1-800-999-1009 #7 product concern dept. VIN [xxx] report [xxx] to Honda on 4/11/13 Honda Pilot was totaled when hit by suburban…
2009 · 5,500 miles · Airbag system
Built from 1,105 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page