716 of the 2,945 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.
716Complaints · Engine
24.3%Share of complaints
1.09×vs. all vehicles
182Last 12 months
1.8%Share involving a crash or fire
2Related recalls
Analysis
182 Engine complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 149 in the 12 months before — up 22%.
13 of these reports (1.8%) 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 motor is misfiring on cylinder 5 due to faulty engine components. The vehicle is available for inspection on request. My safety and children’s are at risk as the cabin fills up with raw fuel fumes and makes you feel dizzy.
Engine · 2026-10-13 · ODI 11770920
My vehicle's auto idle engine stops when brake is engaged, goes into neutral when released instead of restarting causing me to have to turn on the flashers, shift into park, turn off the ignition then restart.
Engine · 2026-10-12 · ODI 11770656
This has happened to me 5 times in the last month or so. It is a safety situation and is scary when it happens. The Idle Stop feature is malfunctioning and could cause me to be rear ended.
Engine · 2026-10-11 · ODI 11770432
A recent drive on the expressway with my two young children turned into a nightmare when my vehicle's transmission failed without warning. Traveling at 65 mph, I was faced with a huge risk to our safety.
Engine · 2026-10-11 · ODI 11770395
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 revealDesign choices linked to oil consumption in recent engines, the warning signs owners describe, what counts as normal, and which tracked models currently have the highest engine share in their complaints.
