Honda Pilot 2016–2022 problems by year and mileage
3rd generation · YF5 / YF6
NHTSA data through 24 September 20265,047 complaints, 1,485 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2016 Honda Pilot
Close- Median failure report
- 50,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,703
- Recalls naming this year
- 8
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2016 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 2016
- Engine769 reports · median 62,000 mi
- Electrical system579 reports · median 49,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise291 reports · median 42,000 mi
8 recall campaigns name the 2016: Suspension — rear; Fuel system, gasoline — delivery; Engine and engine cooling — engine. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2017 Honda Pilot
Close- Median failure report
- 38,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 924
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2017 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 2017
- Engine467 reports · median 43,000 mi
- Electrical system265 reports · median 38,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise135 reports
4 recall campaigns name the 2017: Suspension — rear; Air bags — sensor; Fuel system, gasoline — delivery. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2018 Honda Pilot
Close- Median failure report
- 48,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 440
- Recalls naming this year
- 7
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2018 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 2018
- Engine157 reports
- Electrical system85 reports
- Transmission and driveline78 reports
7 recall campaigns name the 2018: Suspension — rear; Air bags — sensor; Fuel system, gasoline — delivery. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2019 Honda Pilot
Close- Median failure report
- 20,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 904
- Recalls naming this year
- 13
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2019 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 2019
- Electrical system263 reports · median 6,000 mi
- Engine233 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise165 reports
13 recall campaigns name the 2019: Suspension — rear; Air bags — sensor; Fuel system, gasoline — delivery. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2020 Honda Pilot
Close- Median failure report
- 4,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 487
- Recalls naming this year
- 11
Most reported on the 2020
- Electrical system212 reports · median 2,000 mi
- Engine101 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise95 reports · median 2,500 mi
11 recall campaigns name the 2020: Suspension — rear; Air bags — sensor; Fuel system, gasoline — delivery. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2021 Honda Pilot
Close- Median failure report
- 31,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 433
- Recalls naming this year
- 10
Most reported on the 2021
- Electrical system126 reports
- Engine104 reports
- Forward collision avoidance98 reports
10 recall campaigns name the 2021: Suspension — rear; Air bags — sensor; Fuel system, gasoline — delivery. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2022 Honda Pilot
Close- Median failure report
- too few reports to time
- Complaints filed
- 156
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2022
- Forward collision avoidance41 reports
- Electrical system34 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise34 reports
5 recall campaigns name the 2022: Suspension — rear; Air bags — sensor; Service brakes, hydraulic — foundation components. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
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 2016 reports latest and the 2020 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2016 has had 4 more years on the road to accumulate mileage. 1 of these years carries fewer than 30 reports with an odometer reading and shows no median at all, rather than one computed from a handful.
The short answer
“Is the 2016–2022 Honda Pilot reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 40,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 105,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 1,485
- Recalls
- 23
At least 40% of this generation’s complaints were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading, so the median likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported
- Engine36.9% of complaints · median 56,000 mi
- Electrical system31.0% of complaints · median 38,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise17.4% of complaints · median 26,000 mi
Owners filed 5,047 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016–2022 Honda Pilot; the engine leads with 36.9% of them, and half of the 1,485 that record an odometer reading came by 40,000 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 13,000 and 70,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2016–2022 Honda Pilot last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2016–2022 Honda Pilot, half of the 1,485 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 40,000 miles and 90% by 105,000 miles.
36 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 5 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Pilot reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Honda Pilot 2016–2022 · 1,485 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 241 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 5 complaints (0.3%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 1,600
- 25%
- 13,000
- Median
- 40,000
- 75%
- 69,700
- 90%
- 105,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 241 | 16.2% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 87 | 5.9% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 60 | 4.0% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 46 | 3.1% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 58 | 3.9% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 63 | 4.2% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 75 | 5.1% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 95 | 6.4% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 85 | 5.7% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 56 | 3.8% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 85 | 5.7% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 57 | 3.8% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 62 | 4.2% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 44 | 3.0% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 43 | 2.9% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 38 | 2.6% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 33 | 2.2% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 28 | 1.9% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 28 | 1.9% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 27 | 1.8% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 25 | 1.7% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 22 | 1.5% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 15 | 1.0% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 10 | 0.7% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 21 | 1.4% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 8 | 0.5% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 12 | 0.8% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 11 | 0.7% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 8 | 0.5% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 6 | 0.4% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 6 | 0.4% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 5 | 0.3% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 6 | 0.4% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 5 | 0.3% |
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 2016–2022
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.
- Forward collision avoidance401 reports25,00010,000–78,000Forward collision avoidance: 401 reports, median 25,000 miles, middle half 10,000 to 78,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise876 reports26,0005,500–50,000Problems owners could not categorise: 876 reports, median 26,000 miles, middle half 5,500 to 50,000 miles.
- Electrical system1,564 reports38,0008,000–60,000Electrical system: 1,564 reports, median 38,000 miles, middle half 8,000 to 60,000 miles.
- Fuel and propulsion system530 reports42,00033,000–62,000Fuel and propulsion system: 530 reports, median 42,000 miles, middle half 33,000 to 62,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline567 reports44,00020,000–70,000Transmission and driveline: 567 reports, median 44,000 miles, middle half 20,000 to 70,000 miles.
- Engine1,860 reports56,00033,000–89,000Engine: 1,860 reports, median 56,000 miles, middle half 33,000 to 89,000 miles.
- Fuel system197 reports78,00049,000–106,000Fuel system: 197 reports, median 78,000 miles, middle half 49,000 to 106,000 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
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1,860 | 36.9% | 56,000 | 33,000–89,000 |
| Electrical system | 1,564 | 31.0% | 38,000 | 8,000–60,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 876 | 17.4% | 26,000 | 5,500–50,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 567 | 11.2% | 44,000 | 20,000–70,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 530 | 10.5% | 42,000 | 33,000–62,000 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 401 | 7.9% | 25,000 | 10,000–78,000 |
| Lane departure | 205 | 4.1% | — | — |
| Fuel system | 197 | 3.9% | 78,000 | 49,000–106,000 |
| Brakes | 173 | 3.4% | 6,500 | 2,000–26,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 157 | 3.1% | 15,000 | 5,000–40,000 |
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 40,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 36.9% of complaints (1,860 reports, 325 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 33,000 and 89,000 miles.
A single system taking 36.9% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The electrical system accounts for 31.0% of complaints (1,564 reports, 562 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 38,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 8,000 and 60,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 17.4% of complaints (876 reports, 218 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 26,000 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 5,500 and 50,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 11.2% of complaints (567 reports, 221 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 44,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 20,000 and 70,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 10.5% of complaints (530 reports, 100 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 42,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 33,000 and 62,000 miles.
Forward collision avoidance accounts for 7.9% of complaints (401 reports, 14 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 25,000 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 10,000 and 78,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2016–2022 Pilot
Transmission 2016–2018
ZF 9-speed (9HP48) low-speed jerkiness, hesitation from a stop, harsh 1-2 and 2-3 engagement and erratic gear selection with the electronic push-button shifter. Honda addressed it with successive TCM software recalibrations rather than hardware; early build years are the worst. Only Touring and Elite trims carried the 9-speed until 2021.
Engine 2016–2019
Direct-injection fuel injector failure and carbon buildup on intake valves; VCM-related oil dilution and consumption complaints continue from the previous generation.
Electrical
Idle-stop (auto start-stop) restart faults and infotainment/head-unit freezing and reboot complaints.
Before you buy a 2016–2022 Pilot: the 3-minute check
Generated from 1,485 mileage-tagged complaints, 23 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 23 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Ask for brakes repair records. Reports on this area come at a median of 6,500 miles — a newer example may not have reached that mileage yet, so ask what was repaired under warranty and what the warranty still covers.
- Ask for body structure repair records. Reports on this area come at a median of 9,000 miles — a newer example may not have reached that mileage yet, so ask what was repaired under warranty and what the warranty still covers.
- Check transmission on 2016–2018 worst; 9–speed present 2016–2022 cars. ZF 9-speed (9HP48) low-speed jerkiness, hesitation from a stop, harsh 1-2 and 2-3 engagement and erratic gear selection with the electronic push-button shifter. Honda addressed it with successive TCM software…
- Check engine on 2016–2019 cars. Direct-injection fuel injector failure and carbon buildup on intake valves; VCM-related oil dilution and consumption complaints continue from the previous generation.
- Check electrical. Idle-stop (auto start-stop) restart faults and infotainment/head-unit freezing and reboot complaints.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- 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 13,000 and 70,000 miles, with a median of 40,000. 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 electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 38,000, 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.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi68% below | At 90k mi85% below | At 120k mi93% below | At 150k mi98% below | At 200k mi100% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 33,000–89,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 8,000–60,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 5,500–50,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 20,000–70,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 33,000–62,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Forward collision avoidance | 10,000–78,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel system | 49,000–106,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Honda Pilot 2016–2022 · 1,485 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.
- 60,000 mi — 68% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 85% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 93% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 98% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 100% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 100%: the remaining 0.3% of reports (5) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2016–2022 Honda Pilot recalls (23)
NHTSA records 23 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 fuel system (4), the reversing camera and sensors (3), the airbag system (2). 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.
Jun 2026 · 2016–2022 · SuspensionFailure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and…
The defect. American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine…
What can happen. Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying…
May 2026 · 2017–2022 · Air BagsAir bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V…
What can happen. Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for…
Feb 2024 · 2020–2022 · Air BagsAn air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020…
What can happen. An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…
Dec 2023 · 2016–2021 · 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…
Nov 2023 · 2016, 2018–2019 · Engine and Engine CoolingA damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear…
What can happen. A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024.…
Jun 2023 · 2021–2022 · Service Brakes, HydraulicBrake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been…
What can happen. Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…
Jun 2023 · 2019–2022 · Back Over PreventionA rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear…
What can happen. A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the MOST cable harness and install a straightening cover over the vehicle cable connector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may…
Mar 2023 · 2020–2021 · VisibilityDetached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2020-2022 Passport and Odyssey vehicles. The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. As such, these…
What can happen. Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace both left and right side-view mirrors, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 17, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for…
Nov 2021 · 2016–2019 · Latches/Locks/LinkagesA hood that opens while driving can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash.
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Passport, 2016-2019 Pilot, and 2017-2020 Ridgeline vehicles. The hood latch striker may become damaged and separate from the hood, which can result in the hood opening while driving.
What can happen. A hood that opens while driving can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will either repair the hood latch striker, or replace the hood if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service…
Mar 2021 · 2019 · 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 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit…
What can happen. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 18, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Note…
Mar 2021 · 2019–2020 · TiresOvercured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Passport and Pilot vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
What can happen. Overcured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation, which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control…
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four tires and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 22, 2021. Owners may contact American Honda Motor Co. customer…
Nov 2020 · 2021 · TiresOver-cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation…
The defect. American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain 2021 Pilot vehicles equipped with Continental CrossContact LX Sport 245/50R20 102 H tires with DOT serial number A376 D3K9 2920 and mold numbers S-421920 and S-421921. The tires may have been cured for a…
What can happen. Over-cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle…
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four tires and replace the tires that have the affected DOT serial number and mold number, free of charge. The recall began January 11, 2021.…
Jul 2020 · 2019–2021 · Back Over PreventionA delayed or inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Pilot, 2019-2020 Odyssey and 2019-2020 Passport vehicles. Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from…
What can happen. A delayed or inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners that updated software is available. Owners have the option to either follow the mailed instructions to download and update the software for free, or visit a dealer to have…
Jul 2020 · 2019–2021 · Back Over PreventionOperating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019-2020 Passport, and 2019-2021 Pilot vehicles. Incorrect instrument panel control module software can cause the instrument panel to not display critical information, such as engine…
What can happen. Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument panel control module software, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…
Feb 2020 · 2020 · EquipmentIf the operator is unable to refer to the label information, the vehicle may be overloaded, increasing the…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020 Passport and Pilot vehicles. The certification label may have been printed with ink that can be wiped away with a solvent, removing the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) and Gross Vehicle Weight Rating…
What can happen. If the operator is unable to refer to the label information, the vehicle may be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the certification label, free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's…
Oct 2019 · 2019–2020 · StructureIn the event of a crash, incomplete body welding may provide inadequate protection to occupants, increasing…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Pilot and 2019 Passport vehicles. The front frame left and right side upper members may not have been welded completely to the unibody. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the…
What can happen. In the event of a crash, incomplete body welding may provide inadequate protection to occupants, increasing the risk of an injury.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for missing welds, free of charge. If the vehicle is identified as missing welds, the dealer will offer to repurchase the vehicle or…
Apr 2019 · 2018–2019 · Engine and Engine CoolingTeeth separation from the timing belt may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura MDX and Honda Pilot vehicles and 2019 Acura RLX, RLX Sport Hybrid, TLX and Honda Odyssey and Ridgeline vehicles. The timing belt teeth may separate from the belt.
What can happen. Teeth separation from the timing belt may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any affected timing belt free of charge. Vehicles receiving a replacement timing belt will also have the engine inspected…
Nov 2018 · 2019 · StructureIn the event of a crash, if the curtain air bag does not deploy as intended, it can increase the risk of…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Honda Ridgeline and Pilot vehicles. The mounting holes for the clip that secures the right center pillar trim panel may be larger than intended. In the event of a crash necessitating right side…
What can happen. In the event of a crash, if the curtain air bag does not deploy as intended, it can increase the risk of injury.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket on the right center pillar that will securely hold the center pillar trim clip, free of charge. The recall began January 22, 2019. Owners…
Apr 2018 · 2018 · SeatsIn the event of a crash, if the seat does not remain secured to the floor, the seat occupant has an increased…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018 Honda Pilot and Ridgeline vehicles and 2018 Acura MDX vehicles. The front driver and passenger powered seats in the Honda vehicles and the driver powered seats in the Acura vehicles may have been…
What can happen. In the event of a crash, if the seat does not remain secured to the floor, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver seat frame assembly in Acura MDX vehicles, and replace the driver and front passenger seat slide rail frames in Honda Pilot and Ridgeline…
Mar 2017 · 2016 · Fuel System, GasolineA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD and AWD vehicles. The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that may leak.
What can happen. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KE8.
Jun 2016 · 2016 · Fuel System, GasolineA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2015 Acura MDX 2WD and MDX 4WD vehicles, 2016 Acura MDX 4WD vehicles, 2015-2016 Honda Odyssey vehicles, and 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD and 4WD vehicles. The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that were…
What can happen. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda/Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. The recall began on July 29, 2016. Honda's…
Oct 2015 · 2016 · Electrical SystemIf a safety system cannot immediately warn the driver when needed, the driver may be at increased risk of a…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to September 8, 2015 and 2016 Pilot 4WD vehicles manufactured May 7, 2015 to September 4, 2015. In the affected vehicles, when one of the…
What can happen. If a safety system cannot immediately warn the driver when needed, the driver may be at increased risk of a crash.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began on December 11, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.…
Jul 2015 · 2016 · Seat BeltsIf the third row seatbelt is trapped, the occupants may not be restrained properly, increasing the risk of…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to June 5, 2015. Due to an assembly issue, the third row seatbelt may be trapped between the rear seat and the rear sideliner.
What can happen. If the third row seatbelt is trapped, the occupants may not be restrained properly, increasing the risk of injury.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the rear third row seat belt, free of charge. The recall began on August 6, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 5,047 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 83 (1.6%)
- Fires
- 28
- 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 2016 drew the most complaints of this generation, 1,703, most of them about the engine, and the 2022 the fewest, 156. A typical year drew about 487.
That makes the 2016 stand out at roughly 3.5 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.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,703 | 732 | 50,000† | Engine (769) | 8 |
| 2017 | 924 | 253 | 38,000† | Engine (467) | 4 |
| 2018 | 440 | 104 | 48,000† | Engine (157) | 7 |
| 2019 | 904 | 191 | 20,000† | Electrical system (263) | 13 |
| 2020 | 487 | 147 | 4,000 | Electrical system (212) | 11 |
| 2021 | 433 | 44 | 31,000 | Electrical system (126) | 10 |
| 2022 | 156 | 14 | under 30 reports | Forward collision avoidance (41) | 5 |
What Pilot owners reported
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost automotive power. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway and restarted the vehicle as a temporary fix. The message "Emission System Failure" was displayed. An appointment was…
2017 · 70,000 miles · Engine and its cooling system
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under an unknown recall; however, the recall repair failed to prevent the failure. The contact stated that while shifting in reverse(R), the rear-view camera failed to display a clear image. The local dealer was contacted. The…
2021 · 75,000 miles · Reversing camera and sensors
The contact owns a 2022 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving 56 MPH, the sunroof exploded without impact. There were no other vehicles nearby. The sunroof visor was closed. The dealer was contacted, and a voicemail was recorded. The service representative called back and informed the contact that there…
2022 · 57,000 miles · Visibility equipment
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop, the vehicle lost automotive power, and the battery, oil, and information warning lights remained illuminated. Several minutes later, the vehicle was restarted, and the contact continued driving. Another failure occurred while…
2016 · 99,000 miles · Engine
Built from 1,485 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Pilot generations
- Pilot 2003–2008 1,881 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline
- Pilot 2009–2015 812 reports with mileage, most about the engine