Honda Pilot problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 9 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 2,945 owner complaints and 27 safety recalls for the Honda Pilot. That averages 63.4 complaints per year on the road — more complaints than typical (index 1.57 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Midsize SUVs segment it ranks #9 of 14 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 52.5.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is flat. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models are within 6% of the 2018 and 2019 models (62 early complaints per model year versus 72).
The 2019 model year has the highest rate (117.1 complaints per year) and the 2022 model year the lowest (34.2). Model years 2019 and 2025 run at least 50% above this model's average of 63.4 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. The 2022 model year runs at least 40% below this model's average of 63.4 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (24.3% of complaints), followed by Electrical (21.3%) and Driver-assist systems (10.1%). 85 complaints (2.9%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 69 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 745 complaints versus 668 in the previous 12 months — up 12%. The 2019 model year generated the most recent reports (165). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 44 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 27 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2023 (6). 5 NHTSA investigations have covered this model, 3 still open; the latest is “Inaccurate Rear Passenger Seat Belt Warning Status” (preliminary evaluation, opened 2025-10-28, still open).
Within its segment it has more complaints per year than Dodge Durango, Nissan Pathfinder, Honda Passport and Kia Sorento, but fewer than Ford Explorer, Subaru Outback, Kia Telluride and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 440 | 50.1 | 1.24 | 44 | 7 | Engine | View › |
| 2019 ▲50%+ | 912 | 117.1 | 2.9 | 165 | 13 | Engine | View › |
| 2020 | 492 | 72.5 | 1.8 | 80 | 11 | Electrical | View › |
| 2021 | 443 | 76.5 | 1.9 | 122 | 10 | Engine | View › |
| 2022 Fewest complaints | 164 | 34.2 | 0.85 | 72 | 5 | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 146 | 38.5 | 0.95 | 65 | 5 | Airbags & seat belts | View › |
| 2024 | 116 | 41.6 | 1.03 | 50 | 6 | Airbags & seat belts | View › |
| 2025 ▲50%+ | 209 | 116.9 | 2.9 | 124 | 4 | Electrical | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 23 | 23.0 | 0.57 | 23 | 1 | Steering | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 745 · Previous 12 months: 668 Within ±30% year on year
Problem areas
Engine ›
716 · 24.3% · 1.09 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Electrical ›
628 · 21.3% · 1.36 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Driver-assist systems ›
296 · 10.1% · 1.75 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Fuel system ›
286 · 9.7% · 2.24 vs. all vehicles · Falling
Unspecified or other ›
266 · 9.0% · 1.01 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Transmission / powertrain ›
217 · 7.4% · 0.63 vs. all vehicles · Falling
Body & structure ›
134 · 4.6% · 0.5 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Airbags & seat belts ›
131 · 4.4% · 1.17 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Brakes ›
115 · 3.9% · 0.65 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Steering ›
76 · 2.6% · 0.4 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Wheels, tires & suspension ›
43 · 1.5% · 0.58 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
24 · 0.8% · 0.44 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
13 · 0.4% · 0.28 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 44 months
What owners report
Airbag Failure Report – 2021 Honda Pilot (Incident Date: April 10, 2026) I am reporting a critical failure of the supplemental restraint system (SRS) in my 2021 Honda Pilot.
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the vehicle had caught on fire while parked in the driveway.
The motor is misfiring on cylinder 5 due to faulty engine components. The vehicle is available for inspection on request. My safety and children’s are at risk as the cabin fills up with raw fuel fumes and makes you feel dizzy.
My vehicle's auto idle engine stops when brake is engaged, goes into neutral when released instead of restarting causing me to have to turn on the flashers, shift into park, turn off the ignition then restart.
I am about to replace my windshield for the 5th time in my 2025 Honda Pilot Black edition. It has happened in different spots at different speeds and the windshield immediately spreads. I have replaced with OEM glass everytime. This is a safety concern.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Midsize SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dodge Durango | 786 | 15.2 | 0.38 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 18 | Lighting |
| 2 | Nissan Pathfinder | 596 | 19.2 | 0.48 | Worsening | Rising | 12 | Engine |
| 3 | Honda Passport | 759 | 24.8 | 0.61 | Improving | Rising | 17 | Electrical |
| 4 | Kia Sorento | 1,446 | 33.7 | 0.83 | Stable | Rising | 18 | Engine |
| 5 | Chevrolet Traverse | 1,738 | 42.0 | 1.04 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 14 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 6 | Ford Edge | 2,244 | 44.4 | 1.1 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 20 | Engine |
| 7 | Toyota Highlander | 2,162 | 45.8 | 1.13 | Improving | Rising | 21 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 8 | Hyundai Santa Fe | 2,092 | 58.4 | 1.45 | Worsening | Rising | 27 | Engine |
| 9 | Honda Pilot | 2,945 | 63.4 | 1.57 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 27 | Engine |
| 10 | Ford Explorer | 3,270 | 64.0 | 1.59 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 77 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 11 | Subaru Outback | 3,816 | 71.8 | 1.78 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 15 | Body & structure |
| 12 | Kia Telluride | 2,014 | 74.3 | 1.84 | Improving | Rising | 17 | Body & structure |
| 13 | Jeep Grand Cherokee | 3,477 | 82.4 | 2.04 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 53 | Electrical |
| 14 | Hyundai Palisade | 2,471 | 105.3 | 2.61 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 16 | Airbags & seat belts |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 27
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (7) · 2019 (13) · 2020 (11) · 2021 (10) · 2022 (5) · 2023 (5) · 2024 (6) · 2025 (4) · 2026 (1)
Investigations
- Inaccurate Rear Passenger Seat Belt Warning Status Open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 6 complaints, and multiple Early Warning Reporting (EWR) field reports alleging inaccurate rear seat belt warning status. These allegations concern both false positive and false negative statuses in model year (MY) 2023-2024 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured by American Honda Motor Co. (Honda). The complaints state that the rear passenger seat…
- Engine failure Open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 414 reports of connecting rod bearing failures in the 3.5L V6 engine used in the following vehicles: Model Years (MY) 2018-2020 Acura TLX, MY2016-2020 Acura MDX, MY2016-2020 Honda Pilot, MY2018-2020 Honda Odyssey, and MY2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline. The subject engine failures were analyzed as part of a Recall Query (RQ24013). It was determined…
- No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages Open
On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject …
- Engine failure Closed
On November 8, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ24013 to assess the scope of Honda recall 23V-751 after receiving complaints that alleged connecting rod bearing failures in vehicles that were not within the scope of recall 23V-751. In November 2023, Honda recalled 248,999 various Model Year (MY)2016–2020 Honda and Acura vehicles equipped with the 3.5L V6 engine…
- No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages Closed
On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject …