2018 Honda Pilot Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe hesitation or loss of power under acceleration, sometimes with the engine stalling and restarting after several tries; many of these complaints reference the open fuel pump recall and say the remedy part was not yet available. A second cluster involves idle stop: the engine shuts off at a stop and does not restart promptly, and a third involves transmission shudder or delayed engagement, including torque converter diagnosis. Engine complaints at higher mileage include knocking, in some cases traced to connecting rod bearing wear consistent with a recall for certain VINs.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Hesitation or loss of power under acceleration

   • 100 complaints (23%)
   • median 72,100 mi at 6.5 yrs old (43 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe the vehicle hesitating or failing to respond when the accelerator is pressed, from a stop or at highway speed, in some cases with stalling and needing several restart attempts. Many owners reference the fuel pump recall and state the dealer could not perform the remedy because parts were unavailable; some had fuel injectors, sensors or fuel system flushes done without resolving it. A few were told the fault could not be duplicated. Spread from roughly 30,000 to 170,000 miles, with many reports in the 40,000-100,000 mile range.

   Recall 23V8580002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether recall 23V858000 has been completed and whether the fuel pump was actually replaced, not just scheduled. During a test drive, accelerate from a stop and at highway speed and note any lag, stumble or stutter.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated while responding. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11592397, filed 2024-06, 78,500 miles

   “The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving or parked, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11589177, filed 2024-05, 120,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, jerking and torque converter

   • 89 complaints (20%)
   • median 48,077 mi at 4.9 yrs old (26 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 13 quotes)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe jerking, shuddering or delayed takeoff, sometimes with the transmission warning light and an inability to accelerate as expected. Several owners say the dealer diagnosed the torque converter and recommended replacement; in some cases a transmission control software update or fluid service was done first, and some were told the issue could not be duplicated. Typically reported between about 24,000 and 90,000 miles, often during steady or light-throttle driving.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at steady 30-65 mph and from a rolling stop, listening for shudder or a delay before engagement. Ask whether the transmission software update or fluid service was performed and whether any torque converter diagnosis exists.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The SUV jolts and decreases speed . It takes a long time to take off again. The jolting can be strong and it has decreased on the freeway. This is not safe for a family vehicle. This has happened for a couple of months. I was told at the dealer I just needed a new battery I did change it and it still does it then I was told they found nothing.”

   NHTSA complaint #11406741, filed 2021-04, 52,000 miles

   “First when I bought the vehicle new after one month a message popped up saying 'transmission problem' on the dashboard and the car only had 2,000 miles on it. I took the car to Honda dealer. They didn't do anything and said don't know what happed and they were able to remove the message without doing any repair. Now the 2018 Honda Pilot has 24,000 miles on it , the vehicle jerks and I felt the transmission flared and hard shift in gear 2nd to 3rd. It does not feel safe to drive the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11308095, filed 2020-02, 24,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Engine does not restart after idle stop

   • 147 complaints (33%)
   • median 34,500 mi at 3.1 yrs old (26 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,500 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe the engine shutting off at a stop light in idle stop mode and then failing to restart, with warnings to shift to park and press the start button; several say repeated attempts were needed, and in some cases the vehicle had to be cycled off and on. Dealers either could not reproduce the problem or suggested a battery or idle stop sensor; complaints say the vehicle returned to normal after restart but the behavior recurred. Mostly reported between about 8,000 and 25,000 miles, though later examples appear up to about 90,000 miles.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the idle stop product update or software service was applied. Test a few stops with idle stop active and confirm the engine restarts without delay.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle would stall out at a stop light or stop sign when I was in auto idle-stop and pressed on the gas. I first noticed that the auto idle-stop was hesitating when it would start up. I also noticed that the radio would cut out . After that, the vehicle would just stall out and I would have to push park, put my foot on the brake and then push start. This has happened several times.”

   NHTSA complaint #11317205, filed 2020-03, 8,000 miles

   “After about 20 miles of freeway driving I exited and stopped at a stop light. I believe my car went into the engine stop mode where it turns off the engine to save gas. It did not restart and would not restart. The car told me to put it into park, so I did. I touched the car start button and it would not start it kept reporting an error on the screen. I panic'd because my family was in the car and the light turned green with cars coming from behind very quickly I kept pressing the button get the car to start but it would not. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11360107, filed 2020-09, 18,750 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine knock and connecting rod bearing wear

   • 25 complaints (6%)
   • median 102,000 mi at 7.1 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners report a knocking sound, sometimes preceded by a flutter at mid-range RPM, followed by a flashing check engine light and loss of power. Dealers or independent shops in these complaints determined the engine needed replacement due to connecting rod bearing wear; several owners note a recall covers certain VINs but not theirs. Mostly reported between about 80,000 and 170,000 miles.

   Recall 23V751000Recall 19V2980002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen for a rhythmic knock at idle or light throttle and check the oil level and service history. Ask whether the VIN was included in the connecting rod bearing or timing belt recalls and whether those repairs were completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “• Several months ago my 2018 Honda Pilot with 80K miles started to have an engine flutter at 2500 to 3000 RPM • Serviced the vehicle several times and dealership couldn't find the issue • A few weeks ago the engine light started flashing and the engine started knocking • Had the car towed to a Holman Honda in Denver, who said the the motor is shot and needs to be replaced at $23,000 • The issue was rod bearing knock, which is usually associated with maintenance issue or improper oil • Honda has a recall on certain VINs but not on our VIN …”

   NHTSA complaint #11662360, filed 2025-05, 80,873 miles

   “The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly decelerated to 40 MPH and failed to properly accelerate. The check engine warning light was illuminated and there was a knocking sound coming from the engine. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, and the vehicle was towed to the residence. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11728116, filed 2026-03, 116,744 miles

Buying note. Have the vehicle scanned for stored codes and confirm completion of the open fuel pump and engine recalls before purchase. A pre-purchase inspection focused on engine noise, transmission shudder and a cold idle stop restart is worthwhile, since several of these complaints were reported at moderate mileage.

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.