10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
28,433 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2016 Honda Pilot:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #534

Feb 182025

Pilot

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the stability control, head start, TSA, and other warning lights were illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed that the fuel injectors had failed. The fuel injectors were replaced. Approximately one month after having the vehicle repaired, while driving approximately 60-65 MPH, there was a rumbling noise coming from underneath the vehicle and the vehicle started shaking abnormally. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact decelerated the vehicle, turned on the hazards, and continued to drive home at speeds of approximately 40 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine failed due to a driveshaft failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact learned of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and was linked to the failure. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The manufacturer confirmed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer opened a case. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

problem #533

Mar 142025

Pilot

  • miles
Our stop/start feature consistently causes the car to stall instead of restarting the engine. This leaves us stranded in or at intersections while waiting for the car to respond to pressing the park and restart buttons. This regularly takes enough time we have narrowly avoided being hit multiple times from suddenly not being able to move. Because it can turn off at any time you are fully stoped we have been caught after having to make a complete stop in the middle of an intersection and then still being stalled when the light changed. Honda has experienced the problem and has only been willing to change the battery. A fully charged and new battery does temporarily reduce the number of occurrences. This has only been inspected by Honda because we have not had an actual accident yet. There are no other warning lights on the car at any point. This is a regular and known issue that they have failed to fix.

- Roseville, CA, USA

problem #532

Mar 012025

Pilot

  • miles
When I was paring my phone to Bluetooth I noticed my car started to pop up alerts in accessory mode (low power state engine off) that my Honda was hiding critical safety alerts with the Brake System and Charging System Problem and a Anti-Lock Brake System Problem when fully powering the car most of theses alerts are fully hidden from driver view the only thing I was able to see consistently was the U3006 control module input power fault with my scan tool this is very concerning that a driver would have to do all of this work to find essential hidden driver major safety alerts

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #531

Feb 012025

Pilot

  • 154,717 miles
The engine shuts off while driving and attempting to accelerate, happens frequently.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #530

Jan 082025

Pilot

  • miles
Rear passenger door is marking open when door is locked

- Youngstown, OH, USA

problem #529

Dec 192024

Pilot

  • miles
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request" "Keyless Start System" message has been haunting me for close to a year now. Yes, available for inspection and has been by a local Honda service center. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I was left stranded when my vehicle would not start. Battery jumped and I was able to get on but the issue is not my battery, it is the start/stop electrical malfunction that so many others have cited experiencing. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center" Yes and I've scheduled an appt. with local service center (again). Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others" No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear" Yes, Keyless Start System problem which originated in 2023. The warnings fluctuated for a while intially but have been on since my car would not start as reported above. This incident took place a few weeks ago.

- Annapolis, MD, USA

problem #528

Oct 032024

Pilot

  • miles
The engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the Auto Start/Stop function engaged. Vehicle struggles to restart on various occasions. Honda America has an extended warranty to replace the starter.

- Grayson, GA, USA

problem #527

Jul 162024

Pilot

  • miles
I was driving the car and suddenly it stopped working in the road luckily I was near my home when it happened it was due to my alternator dying without any warning besides a low battery warning on my car I later took it to the dealer and was told it was due to a oil leak on the alternator luckily I was not on the turnpike or the expressway or I would be dead

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #526

Jun 152022

Pilot

  • miles
We have had consistent, non-stop, unknown and unresolved engine issues from the day we purchased this vehicle. The dealership has not been able to identify or resolve these issues, which include the Rocker Arm, Cam Shaft and Cam Shaft sensors, numerous electrical, fuse and sensor failures and more. The symptoms appear to be the same as those cited with the connecting rod bearing issues but for some reason our vehicle has not fallen under the recalls.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #525

Oct 192024

Pilot

  • miles
In 2021, while driving on a highway all vehicle warning lights came on. Engine ran at high rpm and low speed. Honda said is was a software update. Charged for update. This seemed to resolve issues. Car is regularly maintained and transmission fluid changed 2/1/2024. In 2024, the vehicle warning lights (in multiple & varying groups) began coming on and off at various intervals. The car stalled while at a red light on at least two occasions. When I was not near home I would stop at AutoZone for computer readings; misfiring of cylinder 2, random multiple misfire detected, system too rich bank 2. Car was at Honda for 2nd software update and lights were off at pickup. Lights started again. The mechanic found the vehicle was sending upwards of 100 codes. Repairs were made (and paid for) at local shop 2 separate times. Car is now at Honda diagnosed with engine failure due to bent rod. Honda will not offer goodwill on vehicle. However, the car has a "soft" recall for fuel injectors which seems to be the likely culprit. KBB in early '24 was $16k. Honda wants $18 k for repair and nearly $1k for diagnostic fee.

- Cramerton, NC, USA

problem #524

Nov 212024

Pilot

  • miles
This vehicle was recently recalled for the START / STOP in 2023 after complaining about it since 2017. The vehicle was repaired which resulted in starter and all related components associated with the recall. I questioned the repair as if you can't duplicate the failure (turn it on and turn it off) how do you know you have it fixed. They assured me they replaced all the associated components. Guess what the same problem is happening again. Start/Stop system is not working properly again post recall and software update. The US Government should go after Honda on this as it is truly a safety issue when your car dies at a stop and go light and then you have cares approaching you from behind at 55mph.

- Blaine, MN, USA

problem #523

Jan 012024

Pilot

  • miles
My vehicles engine will stop running sometimes while the car is at a complete stop and sometimes while it's in motion. Sometimes the vehicle restarts immediately and sometimes it struggles to restart. The problem happens sporadically sometimes going weeks between occurrences. This has caused me to be stalled in busy traffic and has also caused more dangerous situations where the vehicle loses power while in motion. I have taken the vehicle to a dealer and a local repair shop and neither were able to reproduce or confirm the problem. They each performed what they thought could be helpful maintenance procedures but these did not seem to work. Other than the local repair shop and the dealer nobody else has inspected the vehicle.

- Los Banos, CA, USA

problem #522

Nov 152024

Pilot

  • miles
Car keeps hesitating to accelerate, stalled a few times & is burning through gas extremely quickly. Error code "engine emissions problem" came up, believe this is part of the recall

- Alhambra, CA, USA

problem #521

Jul 052024

Pilot

  • miles
I have a 2016 Pilot (Touring), and about a month ago, I started experiencing static in the audio. It begins faintly in the background and gradually increases in volume until it completely overtakes the audio, leaving only static. The issue persists regardless of the audio source selected.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #520

Oct 112024

Pilot

  • 135,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, all the warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the highway where the vehicle stalled and restarted. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number:?23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined the failure was due to the fuel pump. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer informed the contact there was no recall coverage. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

- Mckinney, TX, USA

problem #519

Oct 012024

Pilot

  • miles
Rolled into a parking lot and the car suddenly stalled right before I could get into the spot - electriconics were still working and what not. Turned the car off and on and pulled in and then proceeded to charge my portable jumper just in case. Came back a few hours later and drove it home - all sorts of sensors were going off but the car was still fine. Once I got home, I swapped the battery with one that I was charging. At this point there was light flickering and more sensors failing. I went to replace with a new battery and it drove fine for a day or two. On the last day, my girlfriend said it started happening again, and she turned around and came back home where it stalled out again. We are terrified to drive this vehicle and purchased a different one out of fear. Please fix this issue, Honda, as it is pretty rampant from the other reports here.

- Helena, AL, USA

problem #518

Sep 082024

Pilot

  • miles
- The idle engine function does not work. I turn it off in general because if it is on, when I stop the car dies and the dashboard and electric functions, malfunction. They turn on and off and I cannot automatically start the car; it takes several times for the car to restart. - Today, I went to a pharmacy and when I tried to restart my car to leave, it would not begin. The dashboard went on and off and it took 1 minute for it to restart properly. - My teenage son is now a driver but I will not let him drive the car because it will stall. We drive to school everyday 45-60 minutes there and back; we are in the car a lot. - When I went to the dealer 1 year ago, they were going to charge me $200 for a diagnostic and then $2000 to fix the problem. I told them if I turn the function off, I have no problem. They suggested I do this. They offered no other solution. - Now, however even when the function if off, the engine is now stalling. - A few years ago, it stalled at a light on an incredibly hot day so I attributed it to the heat.

- Oak Park, IL, USA

problem #517

Nov 032021

Pilot

  • miles
In 2021, my 2016 Honda Pilot had routinely had restart issues from when going idle at stop. In some situations, it simply would not start again and had to be jumped off. I ended up getting the battery replaced multiple times, but on [XXX] I went to my vehicle to start up and it was dead yet again. I then hooked up a jumper and the vehicle instantly started smoking from under the motor. Within 20 seconds, fire had started under the hood and it caused extreme damage to my home. The car was also destroyed. There seemed to be some sort of electrical system issue. I was able to get my 1 year old daughter safely away and nobody was hurt. However, this caused extreme losses. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Flowood, MS, USA

problem #516

Jul 212024

Pilot

  • miles
Car started displaying "Keyless start system problem". I changed both batteries in the key fobs, but it continued. After about 2 weeks of this, the car would not start. Just clicking and flickering of lights and gauges. Would not jump off or anything, so I had to tow it home. After researching it and checking the brake light switch to make sure it was still operational, and after purchasing and installing a new start/stop button, I decided to get a new battery. I took the old battery in and they said it was good, but I still got another one and installed it. The car started up and has been working for about 4 weeks, but now the same message is popping up again. I am worried that my wife will drive it somewhere and get stranded. I have seen that there are recalls on this on some of the Honda sites, but can't find it anywhere else. This needs to be addressed as it seems like a lot of people are reporting the same issue.

- Porcupine, SD, USA

problem #515

May 022024

Pilot

  • miles
On several occasions in 2024 1 - 2 months apart I have been stopped at a light in my 2016 Honda Pilot I have around 150,000 miles on it. The car will stall out and I can barely make it to the side of the road. All the dashboard lights come on Vehicle Stability Assist Problem, Power Steering System Problem, Emissions System Problem, Road Departure Mitigation System Problem, Trailer Stability Assist Problem, Hill Start Assist Problem. I had the Catalytic Converters changed about 2 months ago at a cost of $3,000 and this is still happening. Once the battery is disconnected the codes go away and the car drives fine for a while, but not this last time. We had AAA come out and put a new battery, they AAA service drove off, I pulled out 3 feet and the car cut off again and all the lights came back on and the car would not move.

- Pittsboro, NC, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »