Honda Pilot problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 2,824 owner complaints and 26 safety recalls for the Honda Pilot. That averages 67.4 complaints per year on the road — more complaints than typical (index 1.60 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Midsize SUVs segment it ranks #10 of 14 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 53.1.
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
Across eight model years from 2018 to 2025, the Honda Pilot has logged 2,824 owner complaints and 26 safety recalls, averaging 67.4 complaints per year which is higher than typical vehicles but ranks #10 of 14 in its segment for fewest complaints. The 2019 model year shows the highest rate at 116.2 complaints per year while 2022 is lowest at 31.7, with owners reporting 67 injuries and 0 deaths across all tracked years. Most common problems involve the Engine at 24.3% of complaints followed by Electrical at 21.5%, with recurring terms including "restart" and "idle." Recent activity includes 713 complaints in the last 12 months, 6 recalls received in 2023, and an open investigation into inaccurate rear passenger seat belt warning status opened on 2025-10-28.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.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 5% of the 2018 and 2019 models (62 early complaints per model year versus 72).
The 2019 model year has the highest rate (116.2 complaints per year) and the 2022 model year the lowest (31.7). Model years 2019 and 2025 run at least 50% above the model's own average — the ones to research most carefully. Model years 2022 and 2023 sit well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (24.3% of complaints), followed by Electrical (21.5%) and Driver-assist systems (10.0%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “restart”, “auto”, “system”, “camera” and “idle”. 82 complaints (2.9%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 67 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 713 complaints versus 644 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace. The 2019 model year generated the most recent reports (169). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 44 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 26 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2023 (6). 5 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model, 3 still open; the latest is “Inaccurate Rear Passenger Seat Belt Warning Status” (opened 2025-10-28, still open).
Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Dodge Durango, Honda Passport, Nissan Pathfinder and Kia Sorento; Kia Telluride, Subaru Outback, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Hyundai Palisade have more.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 437 | 50.4 | 1.2 | 33 | 0.37 | 50 | 7 | Engine | View › |
| 2019 Years to research carefully | 892 | 116.2 | 2.76 | 111 | 1.38 | 169 | 13 | Engine | View › |
| 2020 | 483 | 72.4 | 1.72 | 145 | 2.55 | 84 | 11 | Electrical | View › |
| 2021 | 424 | 74.7 | 1.78 | 80 | 1.31 | 116 | 10 | Engine | View › |
| 2022 Fewest complaints | 148 | 31.7 | 0.75 | 30 | 0.41 | 65 | 5 | Electrical | View › |
| 2023 | 137 | 37.3 | 0.89 | 49 | 0.59 | 59 | 5 | Airbags & seat belts | View › |
| 2024 | 109 | 40.7 | 0.97 | 76 | 1.08 | 47 | 6 | Airbags & seat belts | View › |
| 2025 Years to research carefully | 194 | 116.0 | 2.76 | — | — | 123 | 4 | Electrical | View › |
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: 713 · Previous 12 months: 644 Steady
Problem areas
Electrical ›
606 · 21.5% · 1.36 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- camera201
- infotainment109
- speakers72
- crackling60
Driver-assist systems ›
283 · 10.0% · 1.75 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- mitigation90
- collision137
- cruise106
- camera105
Fuel system ›
283 · 10.0% · 2.33 vs. all vehicles · Falling
- fuel239
- system gasoline132
- gasoline recall107
- distribution disconnect111
Transmission / powertrain ›
209 · 7.4% · 0.64 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- transmission115
- torque converter26
- fluid26
- gear38
Wheels, tires & suspension ›
42 · 1.5% · 0.6 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- tires28
- continental16
- sport16
- sidewall11
Other
23 · 0.8% · 0.45 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- seat headrest4
- row6
- seats4
- believe5
Lighting
13 · 0.5% · 0.29 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- headlight6
- night6
- condensation3
- led3
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- restart450
- auto398
- system863
- camera366
- idle219
- mitigation151
- fuel338
- feature207
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 44 months
What owners report
The moonroof of my car exploded on my panoramic sunroof. It was a hot summer day and I had the AC on. I opened the panoramic sunshade and as soon as it was fully open the moonroof glass upfront exploded.
The contact owned a 2025 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked on a neighborhood street, a vehicle crashed into the front driver’s side of the vehicle.
My dash will light up and say that cruise control is not working and lane keep assist is also not working
The vehicle experienced a check engine light with code P0430 and a failed Air/Fuel ratio test due to defective fuel injectors leaking raw fuel into the exhaust bank.
While driving to work this morning. Rate of speed under 45 mph with no apparent issues. Suddenly warning lights on the dash lit up and steering became difficult.
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 | 752 | 15.2 | 0.36 | Improving | Steady | 18 | Lighting |
| 2 | Honda Passport | 652 | 17.6 | 0.42 | Improving | Rising | 16 | Engine |
| 3 | Nissan Pathfinder | 566 | 20.1 | 0.48 | Worsening | Rising | 12 | Engine |
| 4 | Kia Sorento | 1,382 | 36.2 | 0.86 | Stable | Rising | 17 | Engine |
| 5 | Ford Edge | 2,164 | 43.6 | 1.04 | Improving | Steady | 20 | Engine |
| 6 | Chevrolet Traverse | 1,657 | 43.8 | 1.04 | Stable | Steady | 13 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 7 | Toyota Highlander | 2,062 | 44.5 | 1.06 | Improving | Rising | 21 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 8 | Hyundai Santa Fe | 1,968 | 58.3 | 1.38 | Worsening | Rising | 26 | Engine |
| 9 | Ford Explorer | 3,122 | 65.6 | 1.56 | Improving | Steady | 70 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 10 | Honda Pilot | 2,824 | 67.4 | 1.6 | Stable | Steady | 26 | Engine |
| 11 | Kia Telluride | 1,945 | 73.6 | 1.75 | Improving | Rising | 17 | Body & structure |
| 12 | Subaru Outback | 3,749 | 77.0 | 1.83 | Improving | Steady | 15 | Body & structure |
| 13 | Jeep Grand Cherokee | 3,335 | 85.9 | 2.04 | Worsening | Rising | 49 | Electrical |
| 14 | Hyundai Palisade | 2,277 | 102.2 | 2.43 | Worsening | Steady | 13 | Airbags & seat belts |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 26
- 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)
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 determin…
- No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages Open
On June 3, 2022, the Oï¬ce of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several ï¬eld 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 traï¬c light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The su…
- 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)2016â2020 Honda and Acura vehicles equipped with the 3.5L V6 engi…
- No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages Closed
On June 3, 2022, the Oï¬ce of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several ï¬eld 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 traï¬c light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The su…
Frequently asked questions
Which Honda Pilot model year has the most complaints?
The 2019 model year has the highest rate (116.2 complaints per year) and the 2022 model year the lowest (31.7).
Is the Honda Pilot getting better or worse?
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 5% of the 2018 and 2019 models (62 early complaints per model year versus 72). In the last 12 months owners filed 713 complaints versus 644 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace.
What are the most common Honda Pilot problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (24.3% of complaints), followed by Electrical (21.5%) and Driver-assist systems (10.0%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “restart”, “auto”, “system”, “camera” and “idle”.
How does the Honda Pilot compare with other Midsize SUVs?
Within the Midsize SUVs segment it ranks #10 of 14 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 53.1. Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Dodge Durango, Honda Passport, Nissan Pathfinder and Kia Sorento; Kia Telluride, Subaru Outback, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Hyundai Palisade have more.
Does the Honda Pilot have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 26 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2023 (6). 5 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model, 3 still open; the latest is “Inaccurate Rear Passenger Seat Belt Warning Status” (opened 2025-10-28, still open).