2010 Honda Pilot Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 28about this part
- Share
- 25%of 111 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 87,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 28 complaints about the engine of the 2010 Honda Pilot, 25% of the 111 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 87,500 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Excessive oil consumption cause engine pistons to blow. Seems to be a common issue. No check oil light came on or any indication that the car was low on oil. Received oil change 2k miles prior. Mechanic said this is a common issue he has seen with my year and motor. I owe $12k on a car worth nothing that I can no longer drive.”
NHTSA complaint #11163955, filed 2018-12, 128,500 miles“We were told by several service technicians at the wolfchase Honda in bartlett, tn that there was a recall on all 2010 Honda pilots, (ours is a touring fwd), due to a miss-firing issue. We purchased our Pilot 9/2015 and repeatedly reported that the car was miss-firing, which caused the check engine light to appear. When we took it in for oil changes, the techs would tell us to do a gas treatment, such as lucas (they did it once themselves), or to change the air and cabin filters. We did that, and the problem persisted. …”
NHTSA complaint #11281312, filed 2019-11, 100,000 miles“Excessive oil burning issue. Between standard oil change mileage distance, the engine can burn so much oil that it no longer registers on the dipstick setting a faulty positive for a bad rocker arm oil pressure switch. Obviously if the engine get so low on oil it can be catastrophic and if that happens at speed then it could be deadly. I've caught it early enough that so far it hasn't caused catastrophic failure but I'm told by my dealership and Honda that there is nothing to be done and to just let it break.”
NHTSA complaint #11063565, filed 2018-01, 123,000 miles“Driving along at normal highway speeds and the emission management indicator light started blinking. Took vehicle to Honda dealership for inspection and found out that there was a software update needed for the fuel management control systems as Honda was getting multiple complaints of early spark plug fouling due to incorrect management of the eco drive state. We found out that we had lost 4 out of 6 cylinders due to the spark plugs being fouled. …”
NHTSA complaint #10533840, filed 2013-08, 48,400 miles“At 7:15am in a public parking lot of a strip mall setup, I approached a parking place but first letting an employee of panera bread cross in front of me before I approached the space. Upon approaching I was gliding in using the brake to slow me when all at once the engine reved while my foot was on the brake accelerating me and the vehichle into a tree 8 feet past the parking space, deploying the air bag and bouncing me back around 16 feet. The vehichle had at least accelerated to 20mph to accomplish what had happend. …”
NHTSA complaint #11003530, filed 2017-07, 120,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10152434Dec 20, 2018"Service bulletin - American Honda is announcing a powertrain warranty extension as a result of a settlement of a class action captioned, Soto et al.v. American Honda Motor Co…
- 10087402Oct 19, 2016"techline summary article - if the engine is overheating and theres engine oil mixed in the coolant reservoir, chances are the cylinder head may be cracked. A crack may form…
- 10084330Jun 28, 2016Service news article - while driving under steady cruise (between 30 and 65 mph) or light acceleration, does the engine intermittently rattle or runs rough with the mil blinking?…
- 10083965May 17, 2016Service bulletin - the piston rings on certain cylinders may rotate and align which can lead to spark plug fouling. Spark plug fouling may reuslt in rough engine idle and/or…
- 10099310Sep 5, 2015"service bulletin - american honda is announcing a powertrain warranty extension as a result of a settlement of a class action captioned, soto et al.v. American honda motor co…
- 10099105Sep 5, 2015Service bulletin - warranty extension: mil comes on with dtcs p0301 thru p0304 - the piston rings on certain cylinders may rotate and align, which can lead to spark plug fouling…
- 10053786Oct 8, 2013Honda: on certain vehicles, piston rings for certain cylinders rotate and align and can lead to fouling spark plug and a powertrain warranty extension has been issued. Model…
- 10053762Oct 8, 2013Honda: vehicles with multimodel vcm2 would experience misfire due to engine misfire of a fouled plug and a warranty extension has been issued to cover repairs. Model 2008-2013…
- 10054296Jul 30, 2013Honda: an investigation on some vehicles regarding an oil leak at the engine's b-cap side bolts. Model 2010-2012 odyssey, pilot, ridgeline.
- 10052477May 1, 2013Honda: the engine shuts off, power on, but in accessory; never use conventional wheel & tire assemblies on pax vehicles; mil on after throttle body cleaning or replacement; s/m…
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 4% |
| 2025 | 33 | 15% |
| 2024 | 11 | 9% |
| 2023 | 13 | 9% |
| 2022 | 36 | 21% |
| 2021 | 112 | 25% |
| 2020 | 101 | 21% |
| 2019 | 240 | 26% |
| 2018 | 157 | 36% |
| 2017 | 476 | 51% |
| 2016 | 778 | 45% |
| 2015 | 22 | 20% |
| 2014 | 31 | 27% |
| 2013 | 79 | 29% |
| 2012 | 35 | 20% |
| 2011 | 31 | 11% |
| 2010 | 28 | 25% |
| 2009 | 35 | 26% |
| 2008 | 10 | 8% |
| 2007 | 14 | 7% |
| 2006 | 22 | 8% |
| 2005 | 48 | 7% |
| 2004 | 22 | 4% |
| 2003 | 25 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2010 Honda Pilot
32 complaintsSuspension
17 complaintsOther or unknown
11 complaintsBrakes
9 complaintsElectrical system
9 complaintsSteering
6 complaintsBody and structure
6 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
6 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaintsFuel system
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsWheels
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2010 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