2008 Honda Pilot Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 5%of 133 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 45,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2008 Honda Pilot, 5% of the 133 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 45,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While driving on a freeway, a truck kicked up a rock. The rock bounced back and under my vehicle. I heard a popping noise. When I pulled into my garage a short while later, I heard a hissing noise coming from the front end of my vehicle. There was a fluid leaking. I had the vehicle checked out, and the noise was coming from my air conditioning condenser, which now has a hole in it.”
NHTSA complaint #10318084, filed 2010-03, 30,000 miles“Honda Pilot was struck (tbone) at 65 MPH side curtain airbags deployed and driver was knocked unconscious and leaned on the gas. Car went into full rev and crashed into a wall where the front airbag deployed. Homeless man was sleeping behind the wall and was struck by the runaway Honda Pilot. Shouldn't the vehicle of shut down after airbag deployment? Fuel inertia or cut off did not engage.”
NHTSA complaint #10706361, filed 2015-04, 88,000 miles“While driving on the highway at 70mph the engine light came on followed by several other warning lights. The engine stopped and I barely made it to the shoulder of the road. Dealer analyzed a broken timing belt and replaced belt and heads. Taking car back to dealer for engine noise which started after repair.”
NHTSA complaint #10237199, filed 2008-08, 3,000 miles“My Honda often gets the engine light turn on and then a few days later the light is off.. When the engine light turns on, I had taken it to dealer in which they update microsoft but it comes back again. The dealer runs the car into the computer and doesn't find anything wrong with engine or nothing else.. But the light turns on and off often..”
NHTSA complaint #10479651, filed 2012-10“The contact owns a 2008 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that after having maintenance performed on the vehicle, she started smelling burning oil fumes in the vehicle. The contact mentioned that white smoke was emitted from the exhaust pipes. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 130,000 and the current mileage was 132,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10450314, filed 2012-03, 130,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10177599Jun 3, 2020These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory due to a loss of CARB certification. These SKUs can no…
- 10177598Jun 3, 2020These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory due to a loss of CARB certification. These SKUs can no…
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 1% |
| 2021 | 5 | 1% |
| 2020 | 3 | 1% |
| 2019 | 10 | 1% |
| 2018 | 8 | 2% |
| 2017 | 13 | 1% |
| 2016 | 45 | 3% |
| 2015 | 2 | 2% |
| 2014 | 3 | 3% |
| 2013 | 5 | 2% |
| 2012 | 10 | 6% |
| 2011 | 5 | 2% |
| 2009 | 4 | 3% |
| 2008 | 7 | 5% |
| 2007 | 10 | 5% |
| 2006 | 10 | 4% |
| 2005 | 43 | 6% |
| 2004 | 28 | 5% |
| 2003 | 37 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2008 Honda Pilot
32 complaintsBody and structure
16 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
11 complaintsEngine
10 complaintsElectrical system
9 complaintsExterior lighting
9 complaintsSeats
8 complaintsSteering
8 complaintsSuspension
8 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsElectronic stability control
7 complaintsOther or unknown
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Honda Pilot
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology