2018 Honda Pilot Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 85about this part
- Share
- 19%of 440 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 51,250miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 85 complaints about the electrical system of the 2018 Honda Pilot, 19% of the 440 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 51,250 miles. 1 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.
“On saturday I was driving my 10 month old 2018 Honda Pilot with approx. 7,000 miles on it to airport to pick up my daughter. My husband and 3 young kids were merging onto airport property on a extremely busy afternoon, my vehicle stalled. It was like a complete electrical failure. I was left stranded at 7pm, in dark, with 3 scared children, unable to alert other hostile drivers around me by turning on flashers. …”
NHTSA complaint #11186259, filed 2019-03, 7,000 miles“Failure to start. My car was located in my driveway. As soon as I pushed the start button the car completely shut off no power to any part. No lights were working, nothing, couldn't even lock it with key fob. The car was completely dead. With only 17k mile on a almost 3 year old car this should not be happening. After I few minutes, checking the battery, and many attempts to start, it eventually started with a sputter and the gauges jumping.”
NHTSA complaint #11355727, filed 2020-09, 17,000 miles“The navigation screen of the vehicle blacks out intermittently and without warning when I turn on the vehicle. I have called the nearest dealer at least 3 times over the past 3 months and they keep telling me that Honda is supposedly working on the issue- but nothing so far. Sometimes the problem clears when I turn off the engine and restart but I never know when it is going to work or not. Contacted Honda customer service- no satisfaction.”
NHTSA complaint #11259123, filed 2019-09, 15,000 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. It kept reporting errors. …”
NHTSA complaint #11360107, filed 2020-09, 18,750 miles“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 98,423 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was over 230,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11667708, filed 2025-06, 230,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10234629Apr 12, 2023Service Bulletin - The engine will not crank on initial startup after precipitation and sub-freezing temperatures. Water can enter the starter motor, and when temperatures drop…
- 10231048Jan 25, 2023Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart. Typically, the customer can…
- 10230594Jan 19, 2023Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2017-2018 Odyssey, Pilot, Ridgeline with a customer complaint of the vehicle running rough or in…
- 10229678Jan 6, 2023Dealer Message - During development, the idle stop enable criteria was mis-set allowing idle stop to improperly engage while battery health is low. Under certain circumstances…
- 10229676Jan 6, 2023Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop, the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or…
- 10229675Jan 6, 2023Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart. Typically, the customer can…
- 10187008Feb 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…
- 10184318Dec 11, 2020Service Bulletin - The Bluetooth HandsFreeLink (HFL) system freezes after a phone call and stored voice tags are missing when the ignition is turned ON.
- 10181389Oct 16, 2020Service Bulletin - The transmission has intermittent harsh or jerky upshifts with steady acceleration.
- 10159441Apr 26, 2019ServiceNews Article - Here's something you really ought to know about: When you play a DVD with 5.1 surround sound (Dolby Digital), you'll hear the dialogue coming from just the…
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 4% |
| 2025 | 45 | 21% |
| 2024 | 11 | 9% |
| 2023 | 28 | 19% |
| 2022 | 40 | 24% |
| 2021 | 136 | 30% |
| 2020 | 214 | 44% |
| 2019 | 266 | 29% |
| 2018 | 85 | 19% |
| 2017 | 266 | 28% |
| 2016 | 581 | 34% |
| 2015 | 13 | 12% |
| 2014 | 9 | 8% |
| 2013 | 9 | 3% |
| 2012 | 22 | 13% |
| 2011 | 26 | 9% |
| 2010 | 9 | 8% |
| 2009 | 5 | 4% |
| 2008 | 9 | 7% |
| 2007 | 22 | 10% |
| 2006 | 18 | 7% |
| 2005 | 57 | 8% |
| 2004 | 60 | 11% |
| 2003 | 129 | 18% |
Other parts of the 2018 Honda Pilot
157 complaintsFuel system
125 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
78 complaintsOther or unknown
74 complaintsVehicle speed control
23 complaintsBody and structure
17 complaintsSeat belts
12 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 complaintsBrakes
10 complaintsForward collision avoidance
10 complaintsEngine cooling
8 complaintsSeats
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2018 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