Honda Pilot 2016–2022
3rd generation · YF5 / YF6
NHTSA data through 12 August 20267,458 complaints, 2,090 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 12,000 and 66,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 4 complaints (0.2%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 1,700
- 25%
- 12,000
- Median
- 39,000
- 75%
- 66,000
- 90%
- 100,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 348 | 16.7% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 131 | 6.3% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 100 | 4.8% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 72 | 3.4% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 82 | 3.9% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 86 | 4.1% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 111 | 5.3% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 136 | 6.5% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 115 | 5.5% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 76 | 3.6% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 110 | 5.3% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 81 | 3.9% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 90 | 4.3% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 64 | 3.1% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 62 | 3.0% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 53 | 2.5% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 55 | 2.6% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 36 | 1.7% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 34 | 1.6% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 32 | 1.5% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 33 | 1.6% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 27 | 1.3% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 18 | 0.9% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 14 | 0.7% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 27 | 1.3% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 12 | 0.6% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 13 | 0.6% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 14 | 0.7% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 9 | 0.4% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 7 | 0.3% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 8 | 0.4% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 3 | 0.1% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 6 | 0.3% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 8 | 0.4% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 2 | 0.1% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 3 | 0.1% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 6 | 0.3% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 1 | 0.0% |
| 200,000+ | 4 | 0.2% |
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 7,458 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016–2022 Honda Pilot, and 2,090 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 12,000 and 66,000 miles. The median is 39,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine (24.3% of complaints, typically around 55,000 miles), the electrical system (20.7% of complaints, typically around 38,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (11.5% of complaints, typically around 26,000 miles).
23 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Engine55,000median 55,200 miles, middle half 33,000 to 88,000
- Electrical system38,000median 37,700 miles, middle half 8,000 to 58,000
- Problems owners could not categorise26,000median 26,500 miles, middle half 5,500 to 50,000
- Forward collision avoidance22,000median 22,000 miles, middle half 5,000 to 78,000
- Transmission and driveline43,000median 43,400 miles, middle half 20,000 to 67,000
- Fuel and propulsion system42,000median 42,500 miles, middle half 33,000 to 62,000
- Fuel system77,000median 77,000 miles, middle half 49,000 to 105,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1,809 | 24.3% | 55,000 | 33,000–88,000 |
| Electrical system | 1,541 | 20.7% | 38,000 | 8,000–58,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 859 | 11.5% | 26,000 | 5,500–50,000 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 577 | 7.7% | 22,000 | 5,000–78,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 560 | 7.5% | 43,000 | 20,000–67,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 516 | 6.9% | 42,000 | 33,000–62,000 |
| Lane departure | 236 | 3.2% | — | — |
| Fuel system | 197 | 2.6% | 77,000 | 49,000–105,000 |
| Brakes | 172 | 2.3% | 6,500 | 2,000–26,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 156 | 2.1% | 15,000 | 5,000–40,000 |
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 39,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 24.3% of complaints (1,809 reports, 321 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 55,200 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 33,000 and 88,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 20.7% of complaints (1,541 reports, 561 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 37,700 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 8,000 and 58,174 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 11.5% of complaints (859 reports, 218 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 26,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 5,500 and 50,000 miles.
Forward collision avoidance accounts for 7.7% of complaints (577 reports, 18 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 22,000 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 5,000 and 78,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 7.5% of complaints (560 reports, 219 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 43,400 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 20,000 and 67,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 6.9% of complaints (516 reports, 100 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 42,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 32,690 and 62,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2016 model year drew the most — 2,358 complaints — while 2022 drew the fewest at 242. The median year sits at 777.
That makes 2016 an outlier: roughly 3.0 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 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). 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 7,458 complaints filed against this generation, 140 reported a crash; 43 reported a fire; 135 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 1.9% 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 12,000 and 66,000 miles, with a median of 39,000. 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 37,700, 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
Transmission 2016–2018 worst; 9–speed present 2016–2022
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.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2,358 | 1,027 |
| 2017 | 1,322 | 349 |
| 2018 | 644 | 148 |
| 2019 | 1,409 | 272 |
| 2020 | 777 | 221 |
| 2021 | 706 | 56 |
| 2022 | 242 | 17 |
Recalls (23)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 26V332000 | 2026-07-06 | Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger |
| 23V858000 | 2024-03-29 | Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump |
| 24V064000 | 2024-03-28 | Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger |
| 23V751000 | 2024-03-28 | Engine and Engine Cooling:engine:hard Parts Internal/Mechanical |
| 23V174000 | 2024-01-17 | Visibility:rearview Mirrors/Devices:exterior |
| 23V458000 | 2023-08-07 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder |
| 23V431000 | 2023-07-24 | Back Over Prevention:display Function |
| 21V932000 | 2022-01-18 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:hood:latch |
| 21V215000 | 2021-05-18 | Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump |
| 21V165000 | 2021-04-22 | Tires |
| 20V725000 | 2021-01-11 | Tires |
| 20V440000 | 2020-09-23 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera |
| 20V439000 | 2020-09-23 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera |
| 20V067000 | 2020-03-24 | Equipment:other:labels |
| 19V784000 | 2019-11-06 | Structure:body |
| 19V298000 | 2019-06-07 | Engine and Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and Associated Pulleys |
| 18V848000 | 2019-01-22 | Structure:body:roof and Pillars |
| 18V221000 | 2018-05-30 | Seats |
| 17V219000 | 2017-05-15 | Fuel System, Gasoline:storage |
| 16V417000 | 2016-07-29 | Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly |
| 15V668000 | 2015-12-11 | Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel |
| 15V424000 | 2015-08-06 | Seat Belts:rear/Other |
| 26V365000 | — | Suspension:rear |
What owners reported
The bluetooth doesn't work as a true hans free. When making a call you have to place the phone to your ear wait for the other person to pick up then transfer the call otherwise you can't use bluetooth. Most names i say when trying to call someone by voice command ends up in 911. Also gps can't be played over the…
2016 · Problems owners could not categorise
I am having problems with the stop-start system of my 2016 Honda Pilot. We purchased it brand new in 2015 from a Honda dealership and were initially very happy with it's performance. It is equipped with a stop-start system which causes the car to idle when you fully step on the brakes when are at a stop but it would…
2016 · 5 miles · Electrical system
This is a recurring problem! When the car is stopped and the auto engine idle is on, when i lift the brake to press the accelerator, the car shuts off the engine completely, puts itself in neutral or park, and requires me to put the car in park and restart (press brake and ignition button). So when i'm at a red light…
2016 · 6 miles · Electrical system
I bought a brand new 2016 Honda Pilot SUV on 10/8/2016. On the first night driving i noticed that the vehicle is lack of brightness from the headlights and fog lights. It seems very dark when i drive at night with the headlights and fog lights on. I talked with the person who install my license plate from Honda…
2016 · 20 miles · Exterior lighting
Built from 2,090 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page