Honda Pilot 2009–2015 problems by year and mileage
2nd generation · YF3 / YF4
NHTSA data through 18 October 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
- Engine35 reports
- Airbag system29 reports
- Suspension19 reports
Recall areas Air bags — frontal · Air bags · Seat belts — front
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2010 Honda Pilot
Close- Median failure report
- 60,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 111
- Recalls naming this year
- 10
Most reported on the 2010
- Airbag system32 reports
- Engine28 reports
- Suspension17 reports
Recall areas Air bags — frontal · Air bags · Seat belts — front
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2011 Honda Pilot
Close- Median failure report
- 46,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 293
- Recalls naming this year
- 11
Most reported on the 2011
- Airbag system68 reports
- Brakes39 reports · median 30,000 mi
- Steering34 reports · median 46,000 mi
Recall areas Air bags — frontal · Air bags · Seat belts — front
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2012 Honda Pilot
Close- Median failure report
- 36,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 171
- Recalls naming this year
- 9
Most reported on the 2012
- Engine35 reports
- Brakes25 reports
- Electrical system22 reports
Recall areas Air bags — frontal · Air bags · Fuel system, gasoline — storage
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2013 Honda Pilot
Close- Median failure report
- 28,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 271
- Recalls naming this year
- 6
Most reported on the 2013
- Engine79 reports · median 5,500 mi
- Transmission and driveline54 reports · median 3,000 mi
- Body structure47 reports · median 60,000 mi
Recall areas Air bags — frontal · Engine · Air bags
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2014 Honda Pilot
Close- Median failure report
- 34,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 116
- Recalls naming this year
- 3
Most reported on the 2014
- Engine31 reports
- Body structure20 reports
- Wheels16 reports
Recall areas Air bags — frontal
Check the VIN at NHTSA
The 2015 Honda Pilot
Close- Median failure report
- 46,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 109
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
† This median likely runs low (why).
Most reported on the 2015
- Engine22 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise19 reports
- Electrical system13 reports
Recall areas Fuel system, gasoline — delivery · Air bags — frontal
Check the VIN at NHTSA
Tiles: each year’s median failure mileage. † Median likely runs low (complaints filed after 2020). Latest: the 2009; earliest: the 2013, and the 2009 is 4 years older (part of the gap is age).
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
- Engine21.7% of complaints · median 49,000 mi
- Airbag system15.5% of complaints · median 61,000 mi
- Brakes11.9% of complaints · median 31,000 mi
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 — complaints, not a failure rate.
No single peak: the middle half runs 12,000 to 80,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2009–2015 Honda Pilot last?
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 (why that is not a lifespan).
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
10,000-mile bins, 0 to 200,000 miles, linear scale; tallest bar 190 complaints
- 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
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 190 | 23.4% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 58 | 7.1% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 62 | 7.6% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 73 | 9.0% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 64 | 7.9% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 58 | 7.1% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 48 | 5.9% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 47 | 5.8% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 48 | 5.9% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 30 | 3.7% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 22 | 2.7% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 20 | 2.5% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 22 | 2.7% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 8 | 1.0% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 14 | 1.7% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 14 | 1.7% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 9 | 1.1% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 11 | 1.4% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 2 | 0.2% |
| 200,000+ | 11 | 1.4% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
Common Pilot problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Honda Pilot 2009–2015
When each system fails
Bar: middle half of reports · notch: median · proportional (log) scale (how to read it)
- Transmission and driveline131 reportsmedian 16,000middle half 500–51,000
- Brakes143 reportsmedian 31,000middle half 15,000–57,000
- Engine261 reportsmedian 49,000middle half 6,000–99,000
- Suspension111 reportsmedian 50,000middle half 32,000–75,000
- Problems owners could not categorise113 reportsmedian 56,000middle half 20,000–87,000
- Body structure117 reportsmedian 60,000middle half 41,000–85,000
- Airbag system187 reportsmedian 61,000middle half 30,000–100,000
- Your odometer, once entered below
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 261 | 21.7% | 49,000 | 6,000–99,000 |
| Airbag system | 187 | 15.5% | 61,000 | 30,000–100,000 |
| Brakes | 143 | 11.9% | 31,000 | 15,000–57,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 131 | 10.9% | 16,000 | 500–51,000 |
| Body structure | 117 | 9.7% | 60,000 | 41,000–85,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 113 | 9.4% | 56,000 | 20,000–87,000 |
| Suspension | 111 | 9.2% | 50,000 | 32,000–75,000 |
| Electrical system | 93 | 7.7% | 42,000 | 6,000–105,000 |
| Steering | 83 | 6.9% | 40,000 | 20,000–75,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 66 | 5.5% | 22,000 | 2,500–46,000 |
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.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 14 campaigns cover this generation.
- Check engine on 2009–2013 cars. What each looks like: Known problems.
- Check engine mounts.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car.
Pilot problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer, or read the table.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi62% below | At 90k mi80% below | At 120k mi89% below | At 150k mi94% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 6,000–99,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Airbag system | 30,000–100,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Brakes | 15,000–57,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 500–51,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Body structure | 41,000–85,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 20,000–87,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Suspension | 32,000–75,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Honda Pilot 2009–2015 · 812 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Steps at bin edges (how to read it)
- 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 50% line)
- Your odometer, once entered
Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
2009–2015 Honda Pilot recalls (14)
NHTSA records 14 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation (what a recall is).
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (9), the fuel system (2), the engine (1) (why one area can repeat).
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
Out of 1,205 complaints against this generation, owners also reported:
- Crashes
- 93 (7.7%)
- Fires
- 18
- Injury reports
- 53
- Fatality reports
- 0
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 (what a yearly count can and cannot say).
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 134 | 83 | 70,000 | Engine (35) | 9 |
| 2010 | 111 | 71 | 60,000 | Airbag system (32) | 10 |
| 2011 | 293 | 200 | 46,000 | Airbag system (68) | 11 |
| 2012 | 171 | 127 | 36,000 | Engine (35) | 9 |
| 2013 | 271 | 201 | 28,000 | Engine (79) | 6 |
| 2014 | 116 | 66 | 34,000 | Engine (31) | 3 |
| 2015 | 109 | 64 | 46,000† | Engine (22) | 4 |
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 2026-10-20 · open data · how it is built
Other Pilot generations
- Pilot 2003–2008 1,881 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline
- Pilot 2016–2022 1,492 reports with mileage, most about the engine