10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,482 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #20

May 012022

Pilot

  • miles
Rear view mirror is hazy. This is a problem with most Honda Pilots 2011. The problem is most likely with adhesion or the chemicals tat make up the camera screen and electronics inside the mirror. It is too dangerous to drive with a hazy rear view mirror. Also, headlights get hazy on the Honda Pilot 2011. I think problem is adhesion. In other words, Honda is either did not apply adhesion properly on their lights and mirrors or they used poor material. Please issue a recall and fix these issues.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #19

Feb 012022

Pilot

  • miles
Nudged bottom of keychain when driving on highway. Heard click and key moved from on position to lock position while in motion. Lost power and came to full stop. Turned on hazard lights. Was able to turn on ignition on first attempt. Later, was not able to reproduce symptom at full stop. Needed to press key into steering column in order to switch from on to lock

- Levittown , NY, USA

problem #18

Dec 132021

Pilot

  • miles
Roof and hood of SUV PAINT PEELILNG badly. I notice many Honda Pilots with the same defect. I get my Pilot serviced at the dealer and NEVER have they offered to repaint/repair or offer suggestions. Obviously this is a Vehicle Defect from the factory. The rest of the body is in great shape.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #17

Aug 042020

Pilot

  • 119,078 miles
Paint chipping and getting worse. Internet search shows a lot with same issue Honda white paint.

- Livingston, NJ, USA

problem #16

Oct 122020

Pilot

  • 170,718 miles
Purchased as used and the interior rear view mirror looks blurred and cannot see. It looks like it is scratched but it is inside of the mirror. This has almost caused an accident as I could not see the car coming up behind me and did not brake. Luckily then veered away at the last moment. If I could have seen them, I could have moved and gotten out of danger.

- Walterboro, SC, USA

problem #15

Jun 172020

Pilot 6-cyl

  • miles
The truck door will unlock itself while driving.

- Milwaukee,, WI, USA

problem #14

Jul 042019

Pilot

  • 109,000 miles
Bought 2011 Pilot in May 2010, brand new. The brochure stated the vehicle has leather interior trim. To my dismay two years later, the center seat developed a crack and was taken to the dealer, and was told the seat was vinyl. Not leather! the hand rest on all doors and center console are all torn and stretched to reveal the trim was thin strips of some sort of rubber. Now all seats are also cracked and torn after the vinyl hardened. I feel as if I was fleeced by Honda. Had I known the interior was rubber and vinyl I would have stuck with the fabric seats. Additionally the vehicle kept shutting down only to find out the throttle body was defective. The vehicle 'eats' brake pads and the emergency does not work properly. I learnt the hard way few months after purchasing my vehicle. I parked it in my driveway which has a very slight incline, placed it in neutral and applied the brakes and stepped out, only to hear horns blowing. On checking, the vehicle had rolled into the street. To this day the dealer cannot figure why the emergency brake does not work if the vehicle is on an incline with the back towards the bottom of the incline..

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #13

Jul 242019

Pilot

  • 67,848 miles
My 2011 Pilot was purchased new in Aug 2011, has less than 68000 miles and I live in southern ca, yet: My battery died and had to be replaced Apr 2018 (car was parked < 1hr and would not start, but started fine the hour before). My engine check transmission system light/warning came on and we had to add a quart of oil on July 18, 2019, even though I had an oil change done in May 2019 less than 500 miles before. On 7/24/19, my front windshield wipers stopped and today I had to have the motor replaced not just a fuse. I'm concerned why a Honda < 9 yrs old is having these issues - burning oil & motors dying. Is my car a lemon? can you please help to allow me to have a dealership service do a full inspection/fix on the oil issue at no cost and possibly a reimbursement on the cost of the new windshield wiper motor (part & labor approx. $411 - I can provide a copy of the invoice later as the work is being done today)? thank you for your consideration. I would appreciate any assistance in ensuring that my car does not progress as a lemon. I have been a dedicated Honda owner since 1981 and this is the first one I've owned that has problems. Thank you.

- Chatsworth, CA, USA

problem #12

May 312019

Pilot

  • 146,000 miles
Driving on the highway the steering wheel was shaking but nothing else seemed to have an issue, then the check engine/emissions light came on, followed by the VT4 and then shortly after the vbs light. From what I read this has been an issue with the model year I own, however it also states it can cause the car to not accelerate properly which when driving on highways as much as I do, can be a safety concern. I feel this issue should have been resolved with a recall versus an extended warranty, due to this took place right after the 8 year mark of it being purchased. Losing acceleration on a major highway, with cars and semi trucks driving well at 80 mph or more, can be a scary thing if the car will not accelerate properly due to an issue that has been reported, taken to court and in the end should have been corrected versus extending the powertrain warranty. The cost per our local Honda dealership will be $4,000 which is about what I have left to have the vehicle paid off. Now I have to consider if it is an item I spend a fortune on to fix the SUV I love or trade for another vehicle.

- Jefferson City, MO, USA

problem #11

Dec 152018

Pilot

  • miles
Paint is peeling off from the hood and the doors. This car is kept in great condition and well taken care of to have paint issues. It's kept indoors away from bad weather so this has to be a pint defect problem. Not happy with Honda if this is what you sell your costumers that buy your product.

- Burbank, WA, USA

problem #10

Aug 212017

Pilot

  • 66,000 miles
2011 main rear view interior mirror. The original mirror began to degenerate over time, within 3 years of owning can, causing mirror to loose ability to visibly see what was behind you. Mirror was replaced by Honda, now 2nd mirror is doing the same thing. Honda refuses to replace it and ignores the situation, indicating that we must have put something on it to cause that. I have found online, under piloteers.org, that shows many other vehicles were effected by the same defects where Honda did not little to help. I feel you should look into this issue, as I am sure accidents have happened in the past due to this condition and Honda ignores the issue and passes it off on the consumer. Every other car we have ever owned has never had any issues with rear view mirror, and therefore must be caused by the manufacturer of the mirror that Honda selected.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #9

Mar 082018

Pilot

  • 78,000 miles
Driving onto on ramp of highway from prior highway at approximate speed of 30 mph. Driver noticed a lurch from front of vehicle. Unknown part that was involved. Possibly transmission or fuel line but only suspicion with no evidence left to investigate (see pictures included). Acceleration no longer engaging. Driver pulled vehicle over to side of highway. Driver and passenger exited the vehicle. After a few minutes, noticed a stream of smoke emitting from under hood of vehicle. Small fire noticed at bottom of car. Within minutes the car went up in flames. Ems extinguished fire eventually. Total time of incident 10-15 minutes.

- Arlington, VA, USA

problem #8

Sep 202017

Pilot

  • miles
Lately I've noticed my 2011 Honda Pilot has been accelerating slower than normal. I've done all scheduled maintenance but the problem remains. My car has 100K miles and is also burning oil. I think the two issues might be connected.

- Hilliard, OH, USA

problem #7

Dec 082017

Pilot

  • miles
I notice my 2011 Pilot's brakes don't function normally. Instead of smooth brake application the brake pedal 'clicks' while being pressed and released. Brakes don't feel weak, they still stop well but just the pedal makes me worry. This issue has been ongoing for a few weeks now. The problem doesn't go away either, no matter if you're stationary or have been driving for 2 hours the brake feel is the same.

- Hilliard, OH, USA

problem #6

Dec 032017

Pilot

  • miles
I purchase this Honda Pilot touring 2011 and would like to know if there is a recall for airbags or any other matter.safety is my concern and my family.

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #5

Nov 102017

Pilot

  • miles
Takata airbag recall November 2017

- Verona, PA, USA

problem #4

Sep 062017

Pilot

  • 76,000 miles
My hatch door window has exploded for no reason what so ever while I and 2 other persons were standing and conversing. We all got cuts and were shaken from window explosion. Car was parked and not on or moving. It was very scary experience!

- Leesburg, VA, USA

problem #3

Jun 012016

Pilot

  • miles
My wifes Honda Pilot 2011 has a severe shutter when excelarating from a dead stop up to 50 mph. It now has approximately 119000 on it but has been doing this for about a year and this shutter or missing condition is getting worse. I have read reviews and seems to be a problem Honda has had for some time. What can Honda do to correct this problem for all of us?

- Pulaski, MS, USA

problem #2

Jan 062016

Pilot

  • 96,000 miles
Some times when turn on my Pilot the SRS ligt stay on in the dash bord for my whole ratite and another times does not stay on just for around 5 seconds I don't know what is that but the ligth is red and thats mean danger and someone told me thats something about the airbag. I bought this car in November 2016

- Bell Gardens, CA, USA

problem #1

Apr 152011

Pilot 6-cyl

  • 1,000 miles
Shortly after purchasing the 2011 Honda Pilot my wife complained of eyes and throat irritation when traveling in the car for a half hour or longer. There is no odor. I did not seem to be sensitive to these symptoms at this time. We took it to the dealer to be checked and they found no leaks, engine/heater/air conditioning. Problem continued year round with both the heater in operation and/or the air conditioning. Over the months and years my wife continued to complain and subsequent visits to the dealer resulted in checks for leaks (none found) and replacements of cabin filter but no results. My wife continued to tolerate by turning of vents and opening her window over the past few months the problem has markedly worsened and it bothers me now as well as my four grand children who are frequent passengers. Eyes, nose, throat and lips feel a burning sensation plus headaches. Took it back to the dealer yesterday with the same result. They found no leaks, replaced cabin filter, 15 mile test ride with manager and he said he did not notice our symptoms ($170). I talked with 2 other Honda dealers afterwards and they claim to know of no such problem but are willing to troubleshoot to try to find out what the problem is (at my expense). My internet search of the last 12 hours indicates that our symptom are totally consistent with the exposure to the exposure to chemicals used in the air bags, namely the highly toxic sodium azide and potassium nitrate. Could they be releasing gas" any one else have this problem? if so, have you found the source and fixed it"

- Plymouth, MA, USA