2023 Honda Pilot Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 9%of 146 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 36,000miles
- Trend
- Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the engine of the 2023 Honda Pilot, 9% of the 146 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 36,000 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Vehicle stopped with no warning while waiting in traffic at a red light and it took a while to restart. Same thing happened while parked in a lot waiting. The former issue was dangerous as I was in traffic with numerous vehicles moving around me with my family in the car as I got out to check the problem under the hood. The latter issue happened while out of town which is scary and dangerous considering it was a remote area.”
NHTSA complaint #11651371, filed 2025-03“Car has been serviced at same dealership I purchased from. All service up to date, Gas type shell gas brand used 95% of the time. (Noticed November 2025)issue a month after recommended transmission flush and an engine oil change. Rough idling (especially when temp below 60⁰) and almost like a miss fire when driving. No check engine light, and dealership had vehicle for two days but claimed unable to replicate issue suggested these engines are prone to carbon buildup. But recommended I switch to premium gas. …”
NHTSA complaint #11713169, filed 2026-01“All listed problems act sporadically. Dangerously Defected 2023 Honda Pilot. Numerous problems with vehicle over several months. Kept taking it back to Charlie's Honda and was told they could not reproduce the problems I was stating. The Vehicle will bog, hesitate and jerk while driving. Charlie finds nothing wrong. Actually all items that are functioning incorrectly, Charlie's tell me they cannot repair anything when they can not reproduce the problem. They tell me that the 10 gears are so close that they skip? Sorry, that's ridiculous! …”
NHTSA complaint #11668149, filed 2025-06“Car wouldn't go more than 25-30 miles/hour and rpm was at 5-6, had to use blinkers on highway. Luckily there weren't any injuries, i was scared of the situation as I was travelling with my toddler and newborn. After reaching home, car wouldn't reverse. I had shutdown and started the car multiple times before i could reverse. There was smell as if something was burning in the engine. I shutdown the car for 15-20 mins for smell to go away and restarted the car again, that is when check engine light was turned on with warnings about transmission, AWD and emission systems. …”
NHTSA complaint #11546998, filed 2023-09“Transmission light came on and said: “Emissions system problem. Power may be reduced. See your dealer.” Spoke to dealer who said they are unsure how this could have occurred possibly wear. The vehicle has 41k miles and I’m the only owner. Also said the cam plate is leaking oil which caused the sensors to be damaged and causes the vehicle to lose power while driving”
NHTSA complaint #11654169, filed 2025-04Related service bulletins
- 11024910Oct 23, 2025Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2023-2025 Pilots with a customer complaint of a no auto re-start condition after going into an auto…
- 11024883Oct 17, 2025Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2023-2025 Pilots with a customer complaint of a no auto re-start condition after going into an auto…
- 11021747Jul 22, 2025"Service Bulletin - Burning oil smell from under hood and/or MIL comes on with DTC P2096 and/or P2270 due to possible porosity in the cylinder head cover bolt hole may cause oil…
- 11020573Jul 7, 2025Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2023-2025 Pilots with a customer complaint of a no auto re-start condition after going into an auto…
- 11019246May 21, 2025Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2023-2025 Odysseys, Passports, Pilots, and Ridgelines with a customer complaint of a no auto…
- 11000279May 18, 2024Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2023 Civic 2.0Ls, 2023-2024 Pilots with a customer concern of an oil leak or a dealer noticing an…
- 11000142May 1, 2024Service NewsDue to On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) regulation change starting with 2019 vehicles, American Honda’s Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) On-Board…
- 11000138May 1, 2024Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2023 Civic 2.0Ls, 2023-2024 Pilots with a customer concern of an oil leak or a dealer noticing an…
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 4% |
| 2025 | 33 | 15% |
| 2024 | 11 | 9% |
| 2023 | 13 | 9% |
| 2022 | 36 | 21% |
| 2021 | 112 | 25% |
| 2020 | 101 | 21% |
| 2019 | 240 | 26% |
| 2018 | 157 | 36% |
| 2017 | 476 | 51% |
| 2016 | 778 | 45% |
| 2015 | 22 | 20% |
| 2014 | 31 | 27% |
| 2013 | 79 | 29% |
| 2012 | 35 | 20% |
| 2011 | 31 | 11% |
| 2010 | 28 | 25% |
| 2009 | 35 | 26% |
| 2008 | 10 | 8% |
| 2007 | 14 | 7% |
| 2006 | 22 | 8% |
| 2005 | 48 | 7% |
| 2004 | 22 | 4% |
| 2003 | 25 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2023 Honda Pilot
34 complaintsElectrical system
28 complaintsOther or unknown
24 complaintsForward collision avoidance
20 complaintsSteering
19 complaintsBrakes
17 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 complaintsSeats
10 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaintsBody and structure
6 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsLane departure
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2023 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