NHTSA has received 23 owner complaints about the 2026 Honda Pilot, or 23.0 per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical (complaint index 0.57, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 73 model-year 2026 vehicles we track, it ranks #49 of 73 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest). Against other Honda models its rate is 68% lower; against other Midsize SUVs it is 56% 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
Limited data: fewer than 30 complaints, so shares and indexes are unstable.
Complaints filed between 2026-05-20 and 2026-10-05. Median delay from incident to filing: 19 days.
23Complaints
23.0Complaints per year on the road
0.57Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
1Recalls
0.0%Share involving a crash or fire
23Last 12 months
Analysis
The previous model year (2025) drew 116.9 complaints per year, more than this one.
The most common problem area is Steering (43.5% of complaints), followed by Airbags & seat belts (21.7%) and Transmission / powertrain (13.0%). Steering complaints are 6.8 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. No report describes a crash, fire, injury or death.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 6 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was the first year (100% of incidents). In the last 12 months 23 complaints were filed, versus none in the 12 months before.
Steering wheel is stiff and constantly clicking when I turn the wheel. My dealership said there have been several complaints but no recall and they could not do anything to fix the issue at this time.
Steering · 2026-10-05 · ODI 11769005
Steering wheel makes a clicking noise. the internal steering rack or the cable reel (clock spring) behind the wheel.
Steering · 2026-09-23 · ODI 11766276
We believe there is a serious safety issue with our 2026 Honda Pilot with its delayed acceleration. There is a distinct delay between pushing the gas pedal and the engine engaging/moving the car forward (approximately 2 seconds).
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-09-14 · ODI 11764256
The airbag light came on and a warning stating “ Supplemental restraint system problem” on my brand new car. I purchased the car on Friday and the warnings occurred Sunday. The car has 280 miles on it.
Airbags & seat belts · 2026-08-31 · ODI 11761000
I am filing this complaint regarding my new Honda Pilot with only approximately 300 miles. The vehicle has multiple serious problems that I believe should be investigated as potential safety defects.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-08-27 · ODI 11759960
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2026 Pilot and Passport vehicles. The rear subframe bolts may have been tightened improperly.
Risk: Loose rear subframe bolts can lead to a loss of vehicle stability or rear subframe detachment, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rear subframe bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is OOY. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 10, 2026.
