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EnginePart report

2011 Honda Pilot Engine Problems

Complaints
31about this part
Share
11%of 293 total for the year
Median mileage
66,924miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 31 complaints about the engine of the 2011 Honda Pilot, 11% of the 293 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 66,924 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 3 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I have replaced coils and plugs due to misfire code po302 two or more times. I have had cv joints replaced 2 or more times. I purchased this vehicle used approximately 4 years ago. I have contacted Honda USA on several occasions only to be told their are no recalls except takata airbag. Only to find out their is a (known) problem with cylinder misfires for my vehicle. I brought this up to Honda's attention. Not the other way around.”

NHTSA complaint #11240782, filed 2019-07, 163,000 miles

“When I started the car this morning, I heard a high-pitched grinding noise - something I've never heard before. Driving at 30mph, the car suddenly accelerated as I applied the brakes rounding a corner. I could hear the engine revving up so I quickly shifted it into neutral until it went back to normal. Then shifted it into drive and continued on.”

NHTSA complaint #10490340, filed 2012-12, 40,008 miles

“While slowing to yield onto a highway I was behind another vehicle which was stopped to the oncoming traffic. As I slowed to a stop, the Pilot quickly accelerated to 5000 RPM while I'm pushing the brake to the floor and came within inches on crashing into the rear of the vehicle in front of me. I was able to get the vehicle in to park. It then dropped down on its own to normal idle. This is a 2011 Honda Pilot touring with 29,800 miles.”

NHTSA complaint #10761733, filed 2015-09, 29,800 miles

“My 2011 Pilot was purchased new in aug 2011, has less than 68000 miles and I live in southern ca, yet: my battery died and had to be replaced apr 2018 (car was parked < 1hr and would not start, but started fine the hour before). My engine check transmission system light/warning came on and we had to add a quart of oil on july 18, 2019, even though I had an oil change done in may 2019 less than 500 miles before. On 7/24/19, my front windshield wipers stopped and today I had to have the motor replaced not just a fuse. …”

NHTSA complaint #11235163, filed 2019-07, 67,848 miles

“The car stutters when you hit the gas. They told me it is the spark plugs and that there is a recall but not for my VIN# ????? Same car and year as the recall states. It is the same issues as the cars that have the recall VIN#.”

NHTSA complaint #10894734, filed 2016-08, 84,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202614%
20253315%
2024119%
2023139%
20223621%
202111225%
202010121%
201924026%
201815736%
201747651%
201677845%
20152220%
20143127%
20137929%
20123520%
20113111%
20102825%
20093526%
2008108%
2007147%
2006228%
2005487%
2004224%
2003253%

Other parts of the 2011 Honda Pilot

Air bags
68 complaintsBrakes
41 complaintsSteering
34 complaintsSuspension
34 complaintsElectrical system
26 complaintsOther or unknown
23 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
21 complaintsBody and structure
19 complaintsVehicle speed control
18 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
16 complaintsFuel system
10 complaintsSeat belts
8 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2011 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