2016 Honda Pilot Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 201about this part
- Share
- 12%of 1,720 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 47,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 201 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2016 Honda Pilot, 12% of the 1,720 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 47,500 miles. 5 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.
“When going down a straigt hill going around 15mph my RPM's go up to 5 and 6. If I press the gas they go up higher. I usually have to pull over when this happens so it the RPM's stop climbing higher. This also happens somethimes when going on a backroad going around 20-25mph but the RPM's only go between 2-3. It seems like the gears are not shifting.”
NHTSA complaint #11258318, filed 2019-09, 32,500 miles“I got problem with shift stick make noise,look like come from transfer case or tramission.I go many time to dealer and the dealer just say nothing wrong,honestly they know but the prentend didn't know.I hope somebody can help me for fight to dealer for fix my car.second thing my axel leak littlebit and dealer didn't want to fix.pls help my case”
NHTSA complaint #11207395, filed 2019-05, 43,400 miles“While stopped at a traffic light the car put itself into park without my (the driver) knowledge. When the light turned green I attempted to accelerate however the car was in park. I attempted to shift the car into drive and it would not do so. I had to turn the car off and then back on in order to place the car into drive and proceed through the intersection.”
NHTSA complaint #11269264, filed 2019-10, 71,500 miles“While stopped at a traffic light the car put itself into park without my (the driver) knowledge. When the light turned green I attempted to accelerate however the car was in park. I attempted to shift the car into drive and it would not do so. I had to turn the car off and then back on in order to place the car into drive and proceed through the intersection.”
NHTSA complaint #11231392, filed 2019-07, 63,000 miles“Keyless start system problem error comes on and off since about 50,000 miles. I often have to try several times to start the vehicle even with a new battery. Transmission issues often as we are driving along there is a bumpiness whether accelerating or just driving along. This started at about 30,000 miles”
NHTSA complaint #11352820, filed 2020-09, 30,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10242219Sep 7, 2023Service Bulletin - The vehicle's transmission temperature can become too hot due to automatic transmission fluid deterioration causing high foaming and low viscosity. During…
- 10202256Oct 9, 2021Service Bulletin - The transmission has intermittent harsh or jerky upshifts with steady acceleration.
- 10187006Feb 11, 2021"Service Bulletin - The PCM software may misinterpret sensor inputs as a deteriorated catalytic converter. Additionally, debris from the high pressure pump or the fuel injector…
- 10183520Nov 24, 2020"Service Bulletin - The PCM software may misinterpret sensor inputs as a deteriorated catalytic converter. Additionally, debris from the high pressure pump or the fuel injector…
- 10181389Oct 16, 2020Service Bulletin - The transmission has intermittent harsh or jerky upshifts with steady acceleration.
- 10179308Aug 24, 2020Service Bulletin - The transmission has intermittent harsh or jerky upshifts with steady acceleration.
- 10161287Jun 12, 2019Service Bulletin - During a downshift from 9th or 8th gear to 7th gear or lower, a miscalculation in the TCM software causes the MIL to come on with DTC P0716, input shaft…
- 10152764Jan 22, 2019Tech line summary article - We're getting reports of vehicles being stuck in ACCESSORY mode and unable to fully shut down. When this happens, the audio unit stays on, the ENGINE…
- 10150425Nov 19, 2018"Customer letter - Our records indicate that a PRODUCT UPDATE has not been completed on this vehicle; refer to the address card for the affected VIN. Your Pilot previously had…
- 10150424Nov 19, 2018"Customer letter - Our records indicate that a PRODUCT UPDATE has not been completed on this vehicle; refer to the address card for the affected VIN. The 9-speed automatic…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 11% |
| 2025 | 23 | 11% |
| 2024 | 12 | 10% |
| 2023 | 10 | 7% |
| 2022 | 18 | 11% |
| 2021 | 25 | 6% |
| 2020 | 35 | 7% |
| 2019 | 94 | 10% |
| 2018 | 78 | 18% |
| 2017 | 122 | 13% |
| 2016 | 201 | 12% |
| 2015 | 11 | 10% |
| 2014 | 7 | 6% |
| 2013 | 54 | 20% |
| 2012 | 20 | 12% |
| 2011 | 21 | 7% |
| 2010 | 6 | 5% |
| 2009 | 12 | 9% |
| 2008 | 11 | 8% |
| 2007 | 13 | 6% |
| 2006 | 13 | 5% |
| 2005 | 176 | 26% |
| 2004 | 142 | 26% |
| 2003 | 224 | 31% |
Other parts of the 2016 Honda Pilot
778 complaintsElectrical system
581 complaintsOther or unknown
292 complaintsFuel system
192 complaintsBody and structure
54 complaintsEngine cooling
45 complaintsVehicle speed control
39 complaintsElectronic stability control
37 complaintsBrakes
31 complaintsForward collision avoidance
25 complaintsSteering
18 complaintsAir bags
15 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2016 Honda Pilot
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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