NHTSA has received 137 owner complaints about the 2023 Honda Pilot, or 37.3 per year on the road — a typical number of complaints for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.89, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 92 model-year 2023 vehicles we track, it ranks #61 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Honda models its rate is 49% lower; against other Midsize SUVs it is 30% lower.
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 2023-05-20 and 2026-09-02. Median delay from incident to filing: 11 days.
137Complaints
37.3Complaints per year on the road
0.89Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
5Recalls
2.9%Share involving a crash or fire
59Last 12 months
Analysis
The previous model year (2022) drew 31.7 complaints per year, fewer than this one. The following model year (2024) drew 40.7 per year, more than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2023 model collected 49 complaints, 41% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Airbags & seat belts (21.9% of complaints), followed by Electrical (19.0%) and Body & structure (10.2%). Airbags & seat belts complaints are 5.7 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Within Airbags & seat belts reports, owners most often mention “buckled”, “belt”, “seat”, “row” and “passenger”. 4 reports (2.9%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 3 injuries and 0 deaths.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 25 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was the third year (27% of incidents). In the last 12 months 59 new complaints were filed, versus 36 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.
NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for this model year. 18% of the complaints fall in component areas that a recall addresses. 2 NHTSA defect investigations cover this model year; the most recent is “Inaccurate Rear Passenger Seat Belt Warning Status” (opened 2025-10-28, still open).
Complaint index
vs. all tracked vehicles0.89
vs. other Honda models0.51
vs. other 2023 models0.89
vs. other Midsize SUVs0.7
Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (49)0.59
Vehicle had an engine fire yesterday. Inner cv boot is burned. Luckily fire was put out quickly with a fire extinguisher.
Engine · 2026-07-28 · ODI 11753195 · Fire
i was involved in a fairly significant accident at 55mph and another vehicle pulled out in front of us. Our Honda pilot had significant front and side damage on passenger side and not air bags deployed at all. This is and was alarming to us.
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.
Steering · 2026-09-02 · ODI 11761563
The engine required a short block replacement at approximately 40,000 miles. There was a severe knocking sound and the dealer diagnosed heavy scoring and abnormal wear present on the front bank cylinder walls.
Engine · 2026-08-31 · ODI 11761063
My Moonroof shade shattered all the way back, left(driver side) plastic went bad and it broke.
Interior & equipment · 2026-08-28 · ODI 11760239
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES Campaign 25V391000 · 2025-06-12
Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk: A brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 29, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are FLX and XLY.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM Campaign 25V031000 · 2025-01-23
Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type-S, 2023-2025 Honda Pilot, and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type-S vehicles. A software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) may cause an engine stall or a loss of power.
Risk: An engine stall or loss of power can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the FI-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EL1 and AL0.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP Campaign 24V900000 · 2024-11-27
Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Passport and 2023-2025 Pilot vehicles. The fuel filler neck tube and fuel filler pipe may separate, allowing fuel to leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the fuel filler neck tube and pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is OKM.
Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Honda Accord, Accord Hybrid, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Pilot, and 2024 HR-V, Acura Integra and Acura Integra Type S vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may not have been tightened properly, which can result in an unsecured seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 207, "Seating Systems."
Risk: An unsecured driver's seat may not adequately restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's seat cushion frame, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK Campaign 23V735000 · 2023-11-02
Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Pilot vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the gear box assembly may contain a loose ball bearing, which can result in a loss of steering control or steering lock-up.
Risk: A loss of steering control or steering lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the electric power steering rack, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 18, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is FFX.
Inaccurate Rear Passenger Seat Belt Warning StatusOpen
PE25017 · SEAT BELTS:STATUS INDICATOR SWITCH · Opened 2025-10-28 · Model years: 2023, 2024
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…
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop EngagesOpen
EA25004 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · Opened 2025-03-26 · Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
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
How many complaints were filed for the 2023 Honda Pilot?
137 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2023 Honda Pilot, or about 37.3 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2023 Honda Pilot?
The most common category is Airbags & seat belts, accounting for 21.9% of complaints.
Does the 2023 Honda Pilot have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 safety recall(s) for this model year. 2 NHTSA defect investigations cover this model year; the most recent is “Inaccurate Rear Passenger Seat Belt Warning Status” (opened 2025-10-28, still open).
Is the 2023 Honda Pilot still generating complaints?
In the last 12 months 59 new complaints were filed, versus 36 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.
How does the 2023 Honda Pilot compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 137 owner complaints about the 2023 Honda Pilot, or 37.3 per year on the road — a typical number of complaints for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.89, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 92 model-year 2023 vehicles we track, it ranks #61 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Honda models its rate is 49% lower; against other Midsize SUVs it is 30% lower.