10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
8,489 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #311

Oct 012024

Pilot

  • miles
While the vehicle was being driven, the engine suffered catastrophic failure putting the driver and nearby motorists lives at risk. Vehicle was taken to Honda dealership for inspection, and it was found that there was a large hole in the bottom of the engine block with one of the pistons poking through the hole.

- West Bloomfield, MI, USA

problem #310

Sep 022024

Pilot

  • miles
I am the original owner and have regularly maintained my vehicle. Current miles is around 69k, now needs a new engine. Early engine failure, something about a rod. This is the same problem the 2016, 2018, and 2019 Pilots have been recalled for. Original quote from dealer (Norm Reeves Honda in Vista, CA) to repair was over $10k. I have gotten an offer from Honda America to repair it for $1982 now, but the value may be as low as $11,500 after I pay to repair it. About 2 weeks ago I had a Carmax offer for $19,000. Not sure why the value of the car would drop almost $8,000 after I pay to repair it. I see many people online reporting early engine failure on their 2017 Honda Pilots, too. After we shared on Instagram that we were stranded 700 miles from home (and had to pay for a hotel, two rental cars, and $700 to have the vehicle shipped to our dealer for repair) we have heard personally from other owners who had the same problem with the same car.

- Oceanside, CA, USA

problem #309

Sep 072024

Pilot

  • miles
After driving for over 30 minutes, mixed highway and road, at a stop light, the autostart failed, engine turned off, and went into neutral, w/ a warning the autostart failed. Put into park and restart engine. Cars honking, got the car started after 30 seconds or so. Did not immediately go into park when pushed!

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #308

Aug 232024

Pilot

  • miles
I was sitting at a red light with my foot on the brake. The Auto Engine Idle Shut Off system was engaged. When the light turned green, I lifted my foot off the brake to start moving an the engine wouldn't turn back on. Instead, the vehicle automatically kicked itself into neutral and displayed a message on the screen telling me that I had to put the car in park when the engine was off. It so happened that a police car was a couple of cars back from me. So I put the car in park, turned on my emergency blinkers, and went to tell the policeman what happened. When I went to show him, I turned the engine on and it started up like normal. It sounds like the Honda Pilot Auto Engine Idle Shut Off is a dangerous and defective feature that can leave a person getting rear-ended or stranded.

- Gate City, VA, USA

problem #307

Jul 202024

Pilot

  • miles
Engine spun connecting rod bearing on Cylinder 1 just as described in TSB 23-097. Car shutoff going highway speeds on the interstate. The car is currently at the honda dealer getting an engine replacement. Honda OEM certified powertrain warranty will only put a used engine with potentially the same issue in the vehicle Check engine light, and transmission problem lights all came on. Engine initially reported a misfire and transmission complained of not enough torque coming from the engine.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #306

Jul 262024

Pilot

  • miles
The auto idle stop feature restart did not work properly and instead the car froze in stop and go traffic on a freeway. Not only did the restart, not work properly in addition the car's electronics froze with multiple error messages on the dashboard coming up. I had to turn the car off by pressing the engine start/stop button, waiting and then restarting it like normal.

- Wayland, MA, USA

problem #305

Jul 172024

Pilot

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a pinging noise coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the engine rod bearings were failing and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #304

Jul 122024

Pilot

  • miles
Emissions system error

- Rialto, CA, USA

problem #303

Jun 082024

Pilot

  • miles
My engine seized up and needs to be replaced. There was no warning lights on, no check engine lights, no sounds coming from the engine. It wasn-??t overheating. It just suddenly stopped working. It-??s been properly maintained & now I have to replace it. There was metal shavings in the oil and I noticed how there were issues with the bearings on the 2016, 2018 & 2019. It-??s just fishy that the problem was fixed for one year but then was an issue again for the next 2 years again.

- Houston , TX, USA

problem #302

May 012024

Pilot

  • miles
Rod bearing failure, engine replacement required. Recall for 2016, 2018, 2019 Pilots for same issue.

- Timnath, CO, USA

problem #301

May 032024

Pilot

  • miles
The vehicle was driven from my house with a plan to reach destination about 30 miles away. 1st half was on back roads, the 2nd half was on highway. Once the vehicle reached the highway, the pilot started to overrev, loud bang, a bit of smoke from hood. Vehicle was pulled over on closest shoulder which was the left shoulder on highway. I had my 2 twin 4 year olds in the car and had to call someone to come get us safely off the highway with cars passing at high rates of speed while shuffling car seats and children off the highway. I then had it towed to a honda service center. They tried to crank the engine over and couldn't and stated it was seized. Since I was out of warranty by time and mileage (6.5 years and 61K miles), they wanted to charge me $1K for diagnostics and provided the quote for a used and new engine. Since they didn't diagnose first, I had it towed to another mechanic and he took the bottom splash guards off and there was oil all over and a hole in the lower engine block, which appeared to be caused by a broken rod.

- Bel Air, MD, USA

problem #300

Apr 252024

Pilot

  • miles
Twice in the past week my 2017 Honda pilot equipped with the auto start/stop feature completely shuts off at traffic lights. Usually it turns back on but it completely shut down and would not restart at very busy intersections. I was very afraid of being rear ended while i was stuck there at the light, and this is a known issue that Honda has yet to address.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #299

Apr 262024

Pilot

  • miles
After owning 2017 pilot (brand new) for 3 to 4 years, started experiencing intermittent stalling at stops when auto idle engaged. Similar to many other complaints, car would stall out, entering into an accessory mode. At times takes several attempts to restart the car. Have replaced battery and had the software update related to the issue done at the dealer. However, the issue persists and we now much remember to turn off the auto idle feature every time we start the car, or else we will end up stalled after a stop - usually creating a very dangerous situation and infuriating the drivers around us.

- West Islip, NY, USA

problem #298

Oct 282023

Pilot

  • 55,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the contact stated that the acceleration was delayed. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with a fuel injection failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, however the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact researched and discovered Technical Service Bulletin 20-029 which described a similar failure, however, the contact was informed that the contact's VIN was not associated with Technical Service Bulletin 20-029. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #297

Jan 172024

Pilot 6-cyl

  • miles
Heard slapping noise. Took to auto repair shop AND to dealership. Both confirmed failed rod bearing and need for engine replacement. Vehicle 2017 Pilot Elite 4D AWD V6 with about 93,000 miles. Car was routinely serviced and in good shape except for failed rod bearing. Repair estimate $10,000. I am aware of recall for other years. I am seeing Pilot Forum discussion that this is problem for more than the years Honda is allowing recall. This is unconscionable. This is a KNOWN manufacturer defect and Honda should not be allowed to avoid liability just by limiting the recall years. The contact attempted to obtain the requested repair diagnosis already performed by one of Honda's dealerships and there has been no response to the inquiry.

- New Brighton, MN, USA

problem #296

Mar 072024

Pilot

  • miles
I purchased my 2017 pilot in Oct 2022, when I test drove the car I asked the sales rep is it normal for it to take off like this with a little hesitation. He said yes and I believed him since I was use to CVT transmissions. A month later I had to take it back to the dealership for service with my RPM fluttering. After 8 hours of sitting there I ended up leaving the car and going home and picked up the next day. After all that, they told me that the did several flushes and had a software update. Now fast forward to March 2023, I am having problems again when going into second gear. I have only put 11,386 miles on my car in over a year. This year has a lot of issues with the transmissions. I bought my car certified and I will never buy another Honda. I think it should be some type of recall on this issue. You should not have engine problems on a HONDA (so everyone says they are the best) at this low millage. Not sure how to handle this or who to reach out too. Maybe get a lawyer.

- Mechanicsville, VA, USA

problem #295

Jan 192024

Pilot

  • miles
There is a significant power loss while driving and power up all of a sudden!! This is a major safety concern. Last time nearly missed the hit by behind vehicle due to sudden power loss. today I was taking left turn and suddenly accelerated and it went out of my control. I think it-??s due to a fuel pump issue. And from last month in the dashboard -??EMISSION SYSTEM PROBLEM -?? light pop up twice. First time took to service in Aberdeen SD at Harr motors service center and he adjusted the program I guess. Please take an immediate action regarding this. Thanks, [XXX] Cell [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Huron , SD, USA

problem #294

Feb 182024

Pilot

  • miles
Oil Bank sensors failed, causing the system emissions problem light to come on and essentially disable the vehicle in the middle of driving. It is a 2017 and had routine oil changes on time, there is no reason for the sensors to fail and put my car at risk as well as our lives.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #293

May 312023

Pilot

  • miles
Regular issues with Fuel injection system, had to change the fuel injectors multiple times. Severe vibrations in the car between 2nd and 3rd gear, had changes transmission fluid including full flush but made no change. Several complaints online on this model. NHTSA/DOT need to investigate the lemon issues. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Eastvale, CA, USA

problem #292

Feb 102024

Pilot

  • miles
For no reason the Alarm is going off randomly the dash lights, interior lights, driving lights and headlights are flashing and loud clicking noises come from the dash. This happens frequently and has been going on for some time. I have had to remove the fuse from the Horn to keep it from waking us up at night which creates a potentially dangerous situation if I forget to plug it back in. Also this keeps running down the battery and when it is doing this, it sometimes won't start. I worry about it damaging other electronic parts and causing a dangerous situation. Honda must be aware of this issue with the Pilots. You can search online and find hundreds of others that have experienced the same issue. The Honda Ridgeline has the same issue and they have issued a TSB for it. I find it totally irresponsible that they would try to correct the Ridgeline but not also the Pilot. They know the TPMS Control Units are the problem and they need to fix them.

- Kenna, WV, USA

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