687 of the 2,824 complaints about the Honda Pilot (24.3%) concern Engine, making it the model's largest problem area. That share is 1.1× the Engine share across all tracked vehicles.
687Complaints · Engine
24.3%Share of complaints
1.1×vs. all vehicles
174Last 12 months
1.9%Share involving a crash or fire
2Related recalls
Analysis
By model year, Engine complaints peak with the 2019 model (236, 26% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2024 model (10). 174 Engine complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 138 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.
Owners most often describe: “restart”, “engine”, “auto”, “idle” and “light”. 13 of these reports (1.9%) describe a crash or fire, with 2 injuries and 0 deaths mentioned.
2 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 23V751000 (2023-11-13, model years 2018 and 2019).
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 operating a 2022 Honda Pilot and had just made a left turn into a parking lot. I was slowly pulling into a parking space directly in front of a dance studio with a large floor-to-ceiling window.
Engine · 2026-04-02 · ODI 11728817 · Crash
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.
Engine · 2026-09-02 · ODI 11761695
On Friday August 21,2026 at approximately 10:00am I departed my house. Approximately 4 minutes later while traveling the engine lost power and began misfiring. Steering and braking capabilities were both reduced. Numerous system failure lights were flashing.
Engine · 2026-09-02 · ODI 11761575
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while merging onto the highway at 40 MPH, the vehicle lost power and several warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel.
Engine · 2026-08-31 · ODI 11760868
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
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Related recalls
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL Campaign 23V751000 · 2023-11-13 · Model years: 2018, 2019
Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early April 2024, 2019 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-May 2024, 2020 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-June 2024, and 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed January 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS Campaign 19V298000 · 2019-04-12 · Model years: 2018, 2019
Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura MDX and Honda Pilot vehicles and 2019 Acura RLX, RLX Sport Hybrid, TLX and Honda Odyssey and Ridgeline vehicles. The timing belt teeth may separate from the belt.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any affected timing belt free of charge. Vehicles receiving a replacement timing belt will also have the engine inspected and any damaged components will be replaced for free. The recall began June 7, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is L4M. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is Z4L.
Why modern engines burn oil, and what owner complaints revealThe design choices that make many recent engines consume oil, the warning signs owners describe, what counts as normal, and which tracked models draw the most engine complaints right now.
Frequently asked questions
How common are Engine problems on the Honda Pilot?
687 of the 2,824 complaints about the Honda Pilot (24.3%) concern Engine, making it the model's largest problem area. That share is 1.1× the Engine share across all tracked vehicles.
Which Honda Pilot model years have the most Engine complaints?
By model year, Engine complaints peak with the 2019 model (236, 26% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2024 model (10).
Is there a recall for Honda Pilot Engine problems?
2 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 23V751000 (2023-11-13, model years 2018 and 2019).