2014 Honda Pilot Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2014 Honda Pilot most often describe engine-related concerns — cylinder misfires tied to oil fouling of spark plugs, and a steady vibration when the variable cylinder management (VCM/ECO) system engages. Two other patterns recur: cracks in the factory steel wheel welds that cause slow tire leaks, and peeling paint on white-finished vehicles, mainly on the roof and between the windshield and sunroof.

1. 1
   Wheels

   Cracked wheel welds causing slow tire leaks

   • 12 complaints (10%)
   • median 40,116 mi at 3.5 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2016–2018

   Owners describe tires losing air repeatedly and shops finding a hairline crack in the weld of the factory steel rim, sometimes on two or three wheels of the same vehicle. Several say the dealer replaced one rim as a goodwill or warranty item and then declined further coverage. Complaints emphasize the vehicle was driven on normal paved roads without curb or pothole impacts. Mostly reported between about 15,000 and 60,000 miles, on vehicles driven in ordinary conditions.

   What to check: Check each wheel for slow pressure loss over a week and have a tire shop look for cracks along the rim weld. Ask whether any wheel has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Over a period of time from 2/14/16 until 2/29/16, I have had issues with flat tires due to cracks in the weld of a rim. One was discovered and I had it repaired. On the 29th, while having another flat checked, two more cracks were discovered on the same rim, but in a different location than the original crack. All three were located in the original factory weld.”

   NHTSA complaint #10838951, filed 2016-02, 46,765 miles

   “Three rims are leaking and I've taken them to Honda on multiple ocasiones and the only thing they've would tell me is the it needed air in them. When I took the Pilot to discount tires for a tire repair they advise me that it was a rim problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #11048243, filed 2017-11, 33,516 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pedal vibration and poor stopping

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe shaking or pulsing through the vehicle when braking, pulling to one side, and in some cases a pedal that went much closer to the floor than expected. Owners report rotor resurfacing or replacement, and some say the dealer could not reproduce the concern or attributed it to driving conditions and weather. Spread from a few hundred miles up to about 50,000 miles, with several reports in the 13,000-38,000 mile range.

   What to check: Test braking from highway speed on a clear road and feel for pulsing or pulling; check rotor condition and thickness, and ask for brake service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle shimmies, shakes, vibrates when braking and pulls to the left. Had 26,000 mile on vehicle. Brought to dealership and they said it could be due to breaking, car washes, and weather. Rosters were resurfaced at my expense. Now vehicle has 38,000 miles on it with the same problem. Dealership says it's my fault. All miles are highway and vehicle is garaged at home and during the day at the office.”

   NHTSA complaint #10809857, filed 2015-12, 21,000 miles

   “Vehicle shimmies, shakes, vibrates when braking and pulls to the left. Had 26,000 mile on vehicle. Brought to dealership and they said it could be due to breaking, car washes, and weather. Rosters were resurfaced at my expense. Now vehicle has 38,000 miles on it with the same problem. Dealership says it's my fault. All miles are highway and vehicle is garaged at home and during the day at the office. Did not need to replace roaters on any previously owned SUV's for 75,000 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10786574, filed 2015-10, 38,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Cylinder misfire with oil-fouled spark plugs

   • 27 complaints (23%)
   • median 37,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2013–2026

   Complaints describe the check engine light coming on, sometimes with the VSA/VTM-4 light, and diagnosis of a misfire in a specific cylinder. Owners say they were told oil was reaching the spark plug and fouling it, linked to piston ring function, and in some cases the engine needed major work. Several owners point out that earlier Pilot model years were covered for a similar concern and ask why this year was not. Some report the misfire returning after plugs and oil were changed. Reported across a wide mileage range, roughly from the 20,000s to past 150,000 miles, with several under 60,000 miles.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing spark plug and oil change history, and whether any misfire codes (P0301-P0304) were diagnosed. A pre-purchase scan for stored codes and a look at plug condition is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Check engine and vsa/vtm-4 lights appeared on dash. Took to Honda dealer and code returned issue with a misfire in cylinder #3 due to a piston ring failure. Known issue 2009-2013 Honda pilots that resulted in class action lawsuit. Honda repaired those vehicles at no cost and extended engine warranty. Honda not willing to do the same for a known issue in a 2014 version.”

   NHTSA complaint #11122936, filed 2018-08, 68,000 miles

   “Consistent vibration when ECM engages culminating in engine bucking along with engine light flashing this occurred on rural road at 55mph. Mechanic changed oil and spark plugs which seemed to fix the problem. Two months later, engine light on and ECM not engaging at all. Vtm light on for a short while. Code indicates a cylinder problem. This waa also at approx. 50mph. The code is ambiguous but seems to indicate misfire of some sort. Research shows this to be a pervasive problem with this model. Why has this not been recalled?”

   NHTSA complaint #11297199, filed 2020-01, 91,100 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Peeling white paint on roof and tailgate

   • 16 complaints (14%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe paint flaking or bubbling on the roof, between the windshield and sunroof, on the tailgate and in some cases the hood, typically on white-finished vehicles. Owners report being told the repair was covered in part or not at all, and some mention a paint warranty extension for specific white colors with limits on which panels it covers. Usually reported between about 45,000 and 115,000 miles, on vehicles several years old.

   9 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect the roof, tailgate and area around the sunroof in good light for bubbling or lifting edges, and confirm the paint code. Ask whether any paint warranty extension work was already performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a pearl white 2014 Honda Pilot touring that has had paint issues that Honda refuses to fix on the hood. I came outside one day to get in my car and noticed that pint was peeling. I took the vehicle in to the local dealership in colorado springs, co and was directed by them to take it to their collision center to have the paint tested. After the test, the report stated that the paint is indeed factory paint and that Honda didn't put enough paint on the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11291933, filed 2019-12, 114,000 miles

   “Paint started peeling off of hood and bubbling on roof. Honda certified collision expert say manufacture defect. Honda will not take responsibility for the hood. They will cover the cost to replace painting roof but refuse to repaint hood. Terrible customer service when you call corporate. Told me to wait until enough complaints come in and then they may consider it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11298257, filed 2020-01, 80,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Engine vibration when ECO/VCM mode engages

   • 7 complaints (6%)
   • median 10,000 mi at 1.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2013–2018

   Owners describe a low-frequency shudder or rumble at steady cruising speeds or light acceleration when the ECO light comes on and the engine runs on fewer cylinders. Some say the dealer acknowledged the behavior but called it normal, and a few report transmission shuddering or gear hunting at similar speeds. Complaints generally describe it as an annoyance rather than a breakdown. Reported from very low mileage up to around 90,000 miles, often at steady speeds between about 35 and 60 mph.

   What to check: During a test drive, hold a steady 40-60 mph and watch for a shudder when the ECO indicator lights up. Ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced and whether any vibration complaints were previously raised.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When the variable cylinder management kicks in at 2000 RPM the engine vibrates. It does this constantly when the eco green light comes on. Very distracting and annoying. Also is a problem in my sisters 2013 pilots. Dealer knew it was a problem but would not disclose until after I purchased the car.”

   NHTSA complaint #10556767, filed 2013-12, 50 miles

   “When cruising in my 2014 Honda Pilot ex-l at about 60 MPH on relatively flat terrain, there is a low frequency vibration and rumble. I believe this is due to the vcm feature of the engine. It is possible this could get worse and cause some engine damage.”

   NHTSA complaint #10567514, filed 2014-03, 250 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the engine (stored misfire codes, plug and oil condition) and on all four wheels for weld cracks and slow leaks. For white vehicles, check the roof and tailgate paint closely and confirm whether any warranty extension work was done.

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.