Honda Pilot Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 9,393 consumer complaints across the 24 model years of the Honda Pilot (2003–2026) that have at least 5 complaints. 2016 has the most, with 1,720. Across all years, the part named most often is engine (2,360 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Pilot model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 27 | 12,000 | 1 | 0 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2025 | 216 | 8,218 | 4 | 35 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2024 | 116 | 35,000 | 6 | 43 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 146 | 18,000 | 5 | 90 | 53 · Typical | Too new |
| 2022 | 169 | 36,000 | 5 | 93 | 41 · Typical | Rising |
| 2021 | 450 | 32,000 | 10 | 99 | 90 · More | Rising |
| 2020 | 492 | 4,000 | 11 | 149 | 100 · More | Stable |
| 2019 | 920 | 22,000 | 13 | 223 | 100 · More | Rising |
| 2018 | 440 | 47,500 | 7 | 140 | 46 · Typical | Rising |
| 2017 | 936 | 38,000 | 4 | 181 | 68 · More | Stable |
| 2016 | 1,720 | 50,000 | 8 | 365 | 100 · More | Stable |
| 2015 | 109 | 46,000 | 4 | 85 | 0 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2014 | 116 | 34,258 | 3 | 84 | 1 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2013 | 271 | 28,000 | 6 | 89 | 58 · Typical | Falling |
| 2012 | 172 | 36,000 | 9 | 62 | 45 · Typical | Stable |
| 2011 | 293 | 46,375 | 11 | 77 | 62 · Typical | Falling |
| 2010 | 111 | 59,940 | 10 | 83 | 5 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2009 | 134 | 70,400 | 9 | 73 | 23 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2008 | 133 | 87,000 | 7 | 39 | 0 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2007 | 211 | 82,177 | 7 | 54 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2006 | 268 | 100,000 | 8 | 63 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2005 | 679 | 102,000 | 13 | 147 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 544 | 104,000 | 12 | 194 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 720 | 117,000 | 13 | 190 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Engine2,360 24%
- Electrical system2,061 21%
- Transmission and drivetrain1,331 14%
- Other or unknown1,203 12%
- Fuel system881 9.0%
- Air bags735 7.6%
- Brakes648 6.7%
- Forward collision avoidance516 5.3%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2016: “UPON INSPECTION FOUND KNOCKING NOISE FROM LOW END ROD KNOCK. INTERNAL FAILURE OF ROD CAUSING NOISE FROM SPUN BEARING- Honda told me that the VIN was not included in the previous recall despite being manufactured in the same month and year of the recall causing me to pay out of pocket to replace the short block of the engine at 85,000 miles”
NHTSA complaint #11667080, filed 2025-06, 87,701 miles2018: “The SUV jolts and decreases speed . It takes a long time to take off again. The jolting can be strong and it has decreased on the freeway. This is not safe for a family vehicle. This has happened for a couple of months. I was told at the dealer I just needed a new battery I did change it and it still does it then I was told they found nothing.”
NHTSA complaint #11406741, filed 2021-04, 52,000 miles2003: “Was able to pull my key from the ignition switch when my 2003 Honda Pilot is parked and in the transmission shifter in drive position. I already had my ignition switch repaired twice (using my own dime); Honda has a partial recall (nhsta campaign number 12v573000 and Honda recall no. S73/s74), but a Honda rep told me that my Pilot is not affected.”
NHTSA complaint #11315854, filed 2020-03, 125,000 milesOther Honda models
24,617 complaintsHonda Civic
16,239 complaintsHonda CR-V
16,058 complaintsHonda Odyssey
12,865 complaintsHonda Ridgeline
2,216 complaintsHonda Fit
2,201 complaintsHonda HR-V
1,871 complaintsHonda Passport
1,680 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology