2011 Honda Pilot Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2011 Pilot most often describe brakes and steering that shake or vibrate, along with front-end suspension noise and loose-feeling steering. A second cluster of complaints concerns airbag and SRS warning lights, airbag deployment, and the passenger inflator recall campaign, while a smaller group reports engine vibration or misfires and odd shifting in lower gears. Many of the brake and suspension reports come in well under 100,000 miles, while airbag, mirror and electrical complaints tend to appear later in the vehicle's life.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake shudder and vibration through the steering wheel

   • 31 complaints (11%)
   • median 36,501 mi at 2.8 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $513 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2020

   Owners describe the steering wheel shaking or vibrating when braking, typically at highway speeds or when slowing from 45-50 mph and above. Several report that dealers found warped or worn rear rotors and replaced rotors and pads, sometimes more than once, with the shaking returning afterward. Some also mention the pedal feeling soft or pulsating and the vehicle needing extra distance to stop, and a few say resurfacing the rotors was the only remedy suggested. Mostly reported between about 15,000 and 45,000 miles, often within the first few years of ownership.

   What to check: Test-drive at highway speed and brake firmly from around 50-60 mph to feel for wheel shake or pedal pulsing. Ask for brake service records and whether rotors have been replaced or resurfaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I began to accelerate from a stop sign and my steering wheel started to shake. In an effort to gain control of the vehicle, I pushed the brakes. The problem was, my brakes were not responding to any inputs. I had to drive my vehicle in a ditch in order to come to a complete stop. Luckily, I was only going 30mph when this occurred. This is a very dangerous and life threatening situation.”

   NHTSA complaint #10660746, filed 2014-11, 60,130 miles

   “2011 Honda Pilot has cracked, leaking compliance bushings. Now whenever I press on the break pedal at any speed above 30mph the whole large vehicle shakes and shakes until I take my foot off it, and on a downslope it feels as if the Pilot dives forward with no intent of stopping.. Honda is aware of the many complaints about the exactly same problem. Honda has redesigned the part to be replaced in when pilots come in for repair/replacement. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10597699, filed 2014-06, 45,731 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag and SRS warning lights / deployment concerns

   • 61 complaints (21%)
   • median 73,000 mi at 5.7 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2026

   Owners report the SRS or airbag warning light staying on continuously or lighting intermittently while parked and driving. Some describe a passenger-side airbag that deployed when a door was shut, airbags that did not deploy in a collision, or a deployment that struck the front occupant. Complaints also mention dealers attributing the light to the driver-side airbag while Honda said only the passenger side was covered, and several reference the Takata passenger inflator recall. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles up to well past 100,000 miles.

   Recall 19V502000Recall 19V378000Recall 18V268000Recall 18V042000Recall 17V030000Recall 16V346000Recall 13V0160005 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the passenger airbag inflator recalls were completed and get documentation; check that the SRS light comes on briefly at startup and then goes out.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall - front driver and passenger and front dash airbags, the sendor does not work. They will not deploy if we were to be in an accident. Also, I have been experiencing transmission shudder in my 2011 Pilot exl. When on light throttle between 25-40 MPH, then it disappears. This is while driving on the highway and city streets.”

   NHTSA complaint #11220666, filed 2019-06, 102,600 miles

   “Some times when turn on my Pilot the srs ligt stay on in the dash bord for my whole ratite and another times does not stay on just for around 5 seconds I don't know what is that but the ligth is red and thats mean danger and someone told me thats something about the airbag. I bought this car in november 2016”

   NHTSA complaint #10956186, filed 2017-02, 96,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Loose steering, clunks and rack-and-pinion noise

   • 18 complaints (6%)
   • median 72,000 mi at 4.9 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • filed 2013–2022

   Owners describe play in the steering wheel, a knock or click when turning or driving in reverse, and an overall loose feeling. Complaints mention dealers replacing the power steering unit and rack and pinion, sometimes repeatedly, and some say they were told the noise could not be reproduced or was typical. One report notes the dealer diagnosed a rack-and-pinion replacement that was never performed. Reported from low mileage up to roughly 110,000 miles, with many between 40,000 and 90,000 miles.

   Recall 10V640000

   What to check: With the engine running, turn the wheel slowly left and right while parked and listen for clunks or clicks, and note how much free play there is before the wheels respond.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Steering has felt loose for as long as I remember. Tires were lasting only 15k miles and front brakes go bad yearly. I have a good 1 to 2 inches of play turning the wheel to both left and right. I asked multiple mechanics to tighten the steering column down including Honda service department mechanics but they said it couldn't be done. When I moved farther away from my kids school in 2018 I had the car inspected by Honda for anything wrong since now my kids will be commuting 25 miles to school and back in it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11322030, filed 2020-04, 15 miles

   “Teering column makes a knocking noise when turning. Dealership replaced power sterring three times and rack and pinion along with other parts of power steering. Dealership also indicated that this is a problem for pilots and suggested I trade in my vehicle. Car has 100,000k but only is driven in town 90% and 10% hwy; original owner and otherwise in good condition.). Others have posted same complaint with Pilot online. This can't be normal wear and tear! To replace a steering column should not be a routine maintenance. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11231990, filed 2019-07, 90,000 miles
4. 4
   Suspension

   Front suspension noise and leaking compliance bushings

   • 27 complaints (9%)
   • median 45,487 mi at 3.8 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2020

   Owners report cracked or leaking front compliance bushings, clunking over bumps, and a broken lower tie rod. Several say a dealer replaced bushings under a warranty extension but the noise or shaking remained, while others were told at routine service that the bushings needed replacement at relatively low mileage. Often reported between about 45,000 and 85,000 miles, sometimes after a few years of use.

   Recall 10V6400003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have a shop inspect the front compliance bushings and tie rods for cracks, leaks or play, and confirm whether the front damper bracket bolts and spindle nuts from the suspension recall were tightened.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2011 Honda Pilot with only 45,243 miles. I took it to the dealership where I originally purchased for routine maintenance service on 10/05/20, and was told that the compliance bushings are leaking and needs to be replaced. This is a well maintained and driven vehicle, so it is surprising to learn about this problem with such low mileage. May I know if there is a recall for similar issues?”

   NHTSA complaint #11362962, filed 2020-10, 45,243 miles

   “2011 Pilot touring with 75k miles one it started shaking when breaking at highway speeds a few months ago. Took in for service and asked them to check on the cause of the shaking, and they replaced bushings as part of the extended warranty, claiming that would fix the problem. It did not affect the shaking at all. I then took to firestone for tires and breaks, who identified a busted lower left tie rod and gave me an estimate of $1100 to fix. It only has 75k miles on it, why these suspension/breaks/wheel issues already?? …”

   NHTSA complaint #10838133, filed 2016-02, 75,000 miles

Buying note. On a 2011 Pilot, prioritize documented completion of the passenger airbag inflator recalls and the front suspension bolt recall, then budget for brake and front-bushing work if service records don't show recent attention. A highway-speed brake test and a steering play check during the test drive will reveal most of what owners report.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.