InsightArise CarsU.S. Owner Complaint Index
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2020 Honda Pilot problems, complaints & recalls

More Steady

NHTSA has received 483 owner complaints about the 2020 Honda Pilot, or 72.4 per year on the road — more complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 1.72, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 82 model-year 2020 vehicles we track, it ranks #71 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Honda models its rate is about the same; against other Midsize SUVs it is 36% higher.

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

Complaints filed between 2019-11-29 and 2026-09-01. Median delay from incident to filing: 11 days.

483Complaints
72.4Complaints per year on the road
1.72Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
11Recalls
3.1%Share involving a crash or fire
84Last 12 months

Analysis

The previous model year (2019) drew 116.2 complaints per year, more than this one. The following model year (2021) drew 74.7 per year, about the same. In its first two years on the road the 2020 model collected 145 complaints, 155% higher than the average vehicle of the same model year.

The most common problem area is Electrical (35.4% of complaints), followed by Engine (21.3%) and Driver-assist systems (11.2%). Electrical complaints are 2.2 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Within Electrical reports, owners most often mention “crackling”, “popping”, “speakers”, “radio” and “speedometer”. 15 reports (3.1%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 13 injuries and 0 deaths.

Half of the reported incidents happened within 38 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was years three to five (29% of incidents). In the last 12 months 84 new complaints were filed, versus 76 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.

NHTSA lists 11 safety recalls for this model year. 56% of the complaints fall in component areas that a recall addresses. 4 NHTSA defect investigations cover this model year; the most recent is “Engine failure” (opened 2025-08-20, still open).

Complaint index

  • vs. all tracked vehicles1.72
  • vs. other Honda models0.99
  • vs. other 2020 models1.92
  • vs. other Midsize SUVs1.36
  • Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (145)2.55
  • #71 of 82 · 2020Rankings ›

1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road.

Other model years

  • 201850.4 per year1.2
  • 2019116.2 per year2.76
  • 202072.4 per year1.72
  • 202174.7 per year1.78
  • 202231.7 per year0.75
  • 202337.3 per year0.89
  • 202440.7 per year0.97
  • 2025116.0 per year2.76

Honda Pilot problems, complaints & recalls by model year ›

What owners complain about

  • Electrical171 · 35.4% · 2.25×
  • Engine103 · 21.3% · 0.96×
  • Driver-assist systems54 · 11.2% · 1.95×
  • Interior & equipment45 · 9.3% · 1.04×
  • Fuel system34 · 7.0% · 1.63×
  • Transmission / powertrain32 · 6.6% · 0.57×
  • Brakes16 · 3.3% · 0.54×
  • Wheels, tires & suspension9 · 1.9% · 0.76×

vs. all vehicles: 1.00 = All-vehicle average

Electrical · Common terms in reports

  • crackling37
  • popping52
  • speakers40
  • radio57
  • speedometer38
  • infotainment45

Engine · Common terms in reports

  • restart44
  • engine64
  • idle20
  • auto28
  • light52
  • shut27

Driver-assist systems · Common terms in reports

  • collision mitigation19
  • camera25
  • departure13
  • mitigation system10
  • lane21
  • keeping assist8

Problem areas: Engine · Electrical · Driver-assist systems · Fuel system · Interior & equipment · Transmission / powertrain · Body & structure · Airbags & seat belts · Brakes · Steering · Wheels, tires & suspension

When complaints were filed

2019: 3 3 2019 2020: 98 98 2020 2021: 44 44 2021 2022: 61 61 2022 2023: 64 64 2023 2024: 74 74 2024 2025: 79 79 2025 2026: 60 60 2026
  • Crashes reported: 10
  • Fires reported: 5
  • Injuries: 13
  • Deaths: 0

Vehicle age at incident

  • <1 yr24.6%
  • 1–2 yrs10.8%
  • 2–3 yrs11.4%
  • 3–5 yrs28.6%
  • 5+ yrs24.6%

Median age at incident: 38 months

What owners report

Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.

Segment peers · 2020 · Midsize SUVs

ModelsComplaintsComplaints per year on the roadComplaint index
2020 Nissan Pathfinder527.80.19
2020 Dodge Durango7310.90.26
2020 Honda Passport9313.90.33
2020 Kia Sorento13420.10.48
2020 Hyundai Santa Fe20630.90.73
2020 Chevrolet Traverse22333.40.79
2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee23334.90.83
2020 Ford Edge31246.71.11
2020 Toyota Highlander31847.61.13
2020 Honda Pilot48372.41.72
2020 Hyundai Palisade52879.11.88
2020 Kia Telluride748112.12.66
2020 Subaru Outback896134.23.19
2020 Ford Explorer1,203180.24.28

Safety recalls (11)

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS Campaign 26V365000 · 2026-06-04

Summary: American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.

Risk: Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear subframe and install a rear subframe reinforcement kit and, as necessary, repair or replace the rear subframe components, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in the fall of 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are AOU and AOT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning June 10, 2026.

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER Campaign 26V332000 · 2026-05-21

Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER Campaign 24V064000 · 2024-02-01

Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.

Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP Campaign 23V858000 · 2023-12-18

Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION Campaign 23V431000 · 2023-06-15

Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the MOST cable harness and install a straightening cover over the vehicle cable connector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EEL, ZEM, and SFC.

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR Campaign 23V174000 · 2023-03-16

Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2020-2022 Passport and Odyssey vehicles. The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk: Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace both left and right side-view mirrors, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 17, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is FE5.

TIRES Campaign 21V165000 · 2021-03-11

Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Passport and Pilot vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.

Risk: Overcured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation, which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four tires and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 22, 2021. Owners may contact American Honda Motor Co. customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is UA2.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA Campaign 20V439000 · 2020-07-28

Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019-2020 Passport, and 2019-2021 Pilot vehicles. Incorrect instrument panel control module software can cause the instrument panel to not display critical information, such as engine oil pressure, speedometer, and gear selector position until the next ignition cycle. Additionally, it can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

Risk: Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument panel control module software, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is T89.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE Campaign 20V440000 · 2020-07-28

Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Pilot, 2019-2020 Odyssey and 2019-2020 Passport vehicles. Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

Risk: A delayed or inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners that updated software is available. Owners have the option to either follow the mailed instructions to download and update the software for free, or visit a dealer to have the software update performed, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is Y7Y.

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS Campaign 20V067000 · 2020-02-06

Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020 Passport and Pilot vehicles. The certification label may have been printed with ink that can be wiped away with a solvent, removing the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) and Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) information.

Risk: If the operator is unable to refer to the label information, the vehicle may be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the certification label, free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is B6T.

STRUCTURE:BODY Campaign 19V784000 · 2019-10-31

Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Pilot and 2019 Passport vehicles. The front frame left and right side upper members may not have been welded completely to the unibody. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 219, "Windshield Zone Intrusion."

Risk: In the event of a crash, incomplete body welding may provide inadequate protection to occupants, increasing the risk of an injury.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for missing welds, free of charge. If the vehicle is identified as missing welds, the dealer will offer to repurchase the vehicle or provide a similar replacement vehicle. Owner notification began November 6 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is X6J.

How to check whether your car has an open recall ›

Investigations

Frequently asked questions

How many complaints were filed for the 2020 Honda Pilot?

483 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Honda Pilot, or about 72.4 per year on the road.

What is the most common problem reported for the 2020 Honda Pilot?

The most common category is Electrical, accounting for 35.4% of complaints.

Does the 2020 Honda Pilot have any recalls?

NHTSA lists 11 safety recall(s) for this model year. 4 NHTSA defect investigations cover this model year; the most recent is “Engine failure” (opened 2025-08-20, still open).

Is the 2020 Honda Pilot still generating complaints?

In the last 12 months 84 new complaints were filed, versus 76 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.

How does the 2020 Honda Pilot compare with similar vehicles?

NHTSA has received 483 owner complaints about the 2020 Honda Pilot, or 72.4 per year on the road — more complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 1.72, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 82 model-year 2020 vehicles we track, it ranks #71 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Honda models its rate is about the same; against other Midsize SUVs it is 36% higher.