2018 Honda Pilot Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 78about this part
- Share
- 18%of 441 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 51,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 78 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2018 Honda Pilot, 18% of the 441 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 51,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“Since the transmission was replaced at 12,181 miles in june 2019 on a 2018 Honda Pilot elite, other issues have popped up. The forward collision system has gone off twice on a 2 lane state highway. In both cases, I was on a 2 lane highway going about 50 miles an hour with no cars in front of me for at least a mile or two, no vehicles coming the other way, on a straight part of the road, nothing in the road and nothing on the side of the road. …”
NHTSA complaint #11233482, filed 2019-07, 13,350 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. It keeps on jerking when you are driving at 30 miles of hour.”
NHTSA complaint #11308095, filed 2020-02, 24,000 miles“On 11/2/19, while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle showed the message transmission problem on the dashboard. After this message was displayed, the vehicle would only stay in first gear. I was able to safely park the vehicle in a parking lot. The vehicle was just under 16 months old and had approximately 20,000 miles on it. After turning the vehicle off and then back on, I was able to change the gears once again. I immediately called Honda roadside assistance to have the vehicle towed to the nearest Honda dealership, which was ourisman Honda in tyson's corner virginia. …”
NHTSA complaint #11278784, filed 2019-11, 20,000 miles“6/13 5:10 pm on I-95 n 30 minutes south of fredericksburg, va was going 78 MPH when all of the sudden 'blind spot sensor error' appeared on dash and within 10 seconds transmission error - see owners manual - get somewhere safe appeared on the dash. The 2018 Honda Pilot elite immediately switched into neutral and went from 78 MPH to 60 MPH in 10 seconds. It was a total failure of the transmission. It had to be replaced. …”
NHTSA complaint #11233393, filed 2019-07, 12,181 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10244188Oct 6, 2023Service Bulletin - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications. As a result, the torque converter lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding…
- 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…
- 10241879Aug 31, 2023Service Bulletin - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications. As a result, the torque converter lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding…
- 10241864Aug 31, 2023Dealer Message - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications. As a result, the torque converter lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force…
- 10202256Oct 9, 2021Service Bulletin - The transmission has intermittent harsh or jerky upshifts with steady acceleration.
- 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…
- 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.
- 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…
- 10145388Sep 18, 2018Service bulletin - The transmission end cover leaks on vehicles with a 9-speed A/T. During assembly, the transmission end cover sealing gasket was torn.
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 2018 Honda Pilot
157 complaintsFuel system
125 complaintsElectrical system
85 complaintsOther or unknown
75 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 30, 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