2021 Honda Pilot Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year center on the idle-stop system leaving the engine off when the driver releases the brake at a light, and on the electronics — a rearview camera or infotainment screen that goes blank, and driver-assist warnings that disable cruise control, lane keeping and automatic braking. Owners also describe side mirrors that shake, fold on their own or look distorted after a mirror recall repair, and a smaller group reports engines that stall, lose power or fail internally at higher mileage. Many idle-stop and electrical complaints arrive between roughly 30,000 and 70,000 miles, while camera and warning-light complaints appear from a few thousand miles upward.

1. 1
   Engine

   Idle stop shuts engine off and it will not restart

   • 124 complaints (28%)
   • median 41,000 mi at 4.6 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $400 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe stopping at a light or stop sign with idle stop engaged, then finding the engine will not come back on when they release the brake or press the accelerator. Complaints say the vehicle has to be shifted into park and started several times, and that it can take anywhere from 30 seconds to several minutes before it restarts. Several owners report that a software update or a new battery was tried at the dealer but the problem returned, and some say they were told the repair was not covered. Reported from about 15,000 miles up to over 120,000 miles, with many complaints between 30,000 and 70,000 miles.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the idle stop software update or product update was applied and keep the paperwork. Before buying, sit at a stop with idle stop enabled and confirm the engine restarts cleanly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was stopped at a red light and my engine stopped like normal but then when light turned green and i attempted to accelerate the engine never turned back on. I had to put the car in park. Shut down the vehicle and then attempted to start the car again. It took a few time before I was able to start up the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11651762, filed 2025-03

   “On multiple occasions, when sitting at a stop light and then attempting to drive as the light changes, the engine just shuts off as I take my foot off the brake. It then takes several attempts to get the car started.”

   NHTSA complaint #11665458, filed 2025-06
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Rearview camera and infotainment screen go blank

   • 73 complaints (16%)
   • median 49,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,800 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Complaints describe the center screen going black or the rearview image failing to appear when reverse is selected, sometimes with audio dropping out or a popping and crackling noise from the speakers. Several owners say the display returns after the vehicle is shut off and restarted, then fails again later, and a few report backing into parked vehicles because no image appeared. Owners who had the rearview camera recall performed state the problem came back afterward, and some were told their VIN was not covered. Spread across the sample from about 1,500 miles to 75,000 miles, with no clear mileage pattern.

   Recall 23V431000Recall 20V440000

   What to check: Shift into reverse and confirm the camera image appears immediately. Also ask whether the rearview camera recall repair was done and whether the symptom returned afterward.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving for about an hour on the freeway the sound to my bluetooth audio quit. Then the apple carplay would not connect. When I got to the grocery store tryin to maneaver into a parking spot the backup camera did not work when I put in reverse. At first I thought I had pressed park instead of reverse but that was not the case. Not until I parked, shut the vehicle off and restarted it did everything start working properly ( at least for now). The vehicle has approximately 1500 miles on it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11374713, filed 2020-11, 1,500 miles

   “The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rearview camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the rearview camera image was blank. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11693616, filed 2025-10, 55,000 miles
3. 3
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Side mirrors shake, distort or fold on their own

   • 24 complaints (5%)
   • median 31,650 mi at 2.3 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2025

   Complaints describe the exterior mirrors vibrating at highway speed so the view behind becomes unusable, or both mirrors swinging inward on their own and needing to be repositioned repeatedly. Several owners who had the side-view mirror recall repair done say the replacement glass looked wavy or distorted, and that repeat replacements did not resolve it. Complaints describe dealers replacing mirror assemblies or glass under the recall, with mixed results. Reported from very low mileage up to about 100,000 miles, including several complaints filed after a recall repair.

   Recall 23V174000

   What to check: Look at the mirror glass from the driver's seat for waviness or distortion, and confirm the mirror recall repair was completed. A highway drive will show whether the mirrors vibrate.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V174000 (VISIBILITY), 24V064000 (AIR BAGS), and under TSB: 0101T0. The contact stated that the dealer did not repair all the recalls. The contact stated that in the driver’s side mirror, the image appeared wavy and resembled a funhouse mirror. The TSB regarding the coaxial cable terminal (FAKRA) was not repaired properly. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11700685, filed 2025-11, 84,436 miles

   “The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated both exterior mirrors turned inward independently. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated she positioned both mirrors but continued to experience a failure. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 29,300.”

   NHTSA complaint #11478730, filed 2022-08, 29,300 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine cuts out, loses power or fails internally

   • 109 complaints (24%)
   • median 58,000 mi at 4.8 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe the engine cutting out at speed and then restarting after a wait, or a flashing check engine light followed by heavy loss of power and many warning lights coming on. Others report a ticking or rattling from the engine bay, with dealers diagnosing worn bearings and connecting rods and recommending an engine replacement. Complaints mention the vehicle being towed, and shops and dealers reaching similar conclusions. Mostly between roughly 70,000 and 145,000 miles, with a couple of complaints describing failures under 20,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen for ticking or rattling from the engine at idle, check oil level and condition, and ask for service records covering oil changes and any engine work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “So on Oct 25, 2024 I took my car to get an oil change at the moss bros Honda dealership. I always get all maintenance done there. Then a week later on Nov 3, 2024 my suv pilot broke down on the freeway it just started jerking and the screen kept glitching then right after the engine light went on. I was not aware of any signs for it to happen but Luckily there was a cop and a tow truck close by because who knows what would have happened. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11631834, filed 2024-12

   “While driving the check engine light started flashing and lost a lot of power. Pulled over and turned the car off. Turned the car back on and the light was gone and power seemed to be back. Trying to get home about 15 minutes later every light came on. Lane assist, check engine, blind spot, traction control, literally all warning lights. When these came on the car lost all power within a minute. Wouldn't turn over or even power on to use lights or the radio. Got the car towed to two separate garages both stating engine failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11708268, filed 2026-01
5. 5
   Forward collision avoidance

   Driver-assist warnings and unrequested automatic braking

   • 93 complaints (21%)
   • median 20,000 mi at 3.8 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,900 (median of 14 quotes)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners report clusters of messages appearing for collision mitigation, adaptive cruise, lane keeping, road departure mitigation and auto high beam, after which those systems stop working. Complaints describe the front camera being blamed and a camera replacement or recalibration quoted, with the warnings returning each time the vehicle is started. A few owners describe the automatic emergency braking engaging with no obstacle present, or the brakes applying on their own while driving at moderate speed. Mostly reported between about 10,000 and 50,000 miles in the sample.

   What to check: Start the vehicle and confirm no driver-assist warnings stay on the cluster, and ask whether the front camera or radar has been replaced or recalibrated.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 2 different occasions within the last 2 days, the automatic emergency brake engaged for no reason. The first instance, I was driving down the road with a car in front of me about 3 car lengths ahead and a car in a left hand turning lane. For no reason the brake light engaged and the brakes hit hard but not fully. Thankfully the car behind me was far enough to not hit us as I had my child in the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11433467, filed 2021-09

   “No FIRENo INJURIES0 DEATHS0 The collision mitigation braking system problem, adaptive cruise control problem, lane keeping assist problem, road departure mitigation system problem and auto high-beam problem. All these are keep showing on my dashboard. It is stated that this is the Multi Point Camera RADAR avg cost repair 2000.OO”

   NHTSA complaint #11661163, filed 2025-05

Buying note. Before buying, check that the outstanding recalls and the idle stop software update were completed and keep the receipts, since owners report repeat symptoms after repairs. A test drive that includes a stop with idle stop engaged, a reverse into a parking space and a short highway run covers most of what owners describe here.

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.