10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
9,323 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 2017 Honda Pilot:

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

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #27

Mar 052021

Pilot

  • 49,000 miles
The vehicle when stopped or at low speeds when idling, flips from drive to neutral. The the battery lights red and the oil lights red on the dash. The vehicle seemingly shuts off. You have to put it in park, press the start/stop button and the vehicle restarts. It generally happens several times in a row episodically, but not over long stretches of time. It seems impossible to replicate until it happens the next time.

- Sparrows Point, MD, USA

problem #26

Jul 312020

Pilot

  • 63,000 miles
Keyless start system problem - seems to be a common occurs on Honda Pilot. Got the error around 60K miles. 90% of the time it comes on. My car no longer locks on its own when I walk away.

- Wesley Chapel, FL, USA

problem #25

Dec 162020

Pilot

  • 57,000 miles
When the car is stopped by applying the brake pedal, the auto-stop feature idles the engine as expected and normal for the feature. However, on occasion when the brake pedal is released, the engine stalls instead of restarting as expected. The engine stall is difficult to recover from since the car must first be put in park then restarted, which is not intuitive, especially when under stress in traffic or departing from a traffic light. The problem has been intermittent for about a year. Our local Honda dealer attempted to fix the problem but the only thing they could speculate was that under the auto-stop feature with the engine idled, battery voltage drops and the car's computer restarts the engine before the voltage gets too low. However, if the system doesn't restart the car with adequate battery cranking amps remaining, the engine may stall vice restart as required. This occurs either when the voltage gets low enough or when the brake pedal is released. Based upon thier best assessment and inability to find any specific fault, we replaced the battery per their suggestion. However the problem recurred about two months later. On the internet, we found numerous cases of this type of fault. In several instances, it caused a challenging situation in traffic or at a traffic light, which has been our experience as well. The only work-around that others have reported reasonable success with was to push the auto-stop disable button upon starting the car. This of course is a work-around and Honda should issue a more permanent solution to the problem.

- Honolulu, HI, USA

problem #24

Nov 192020

Pilot

  • 69,500 miles
1. I had a routine oil change a few weeks ago and I was told by Honda dealer in san luis obispo, ca that my brakes were in good shape. But I noticed that when I am driving in the highway at around 70 mph then apply brakes, the car shakes. I brought it back to Honda and they think it is the rotor and fixed it yesterday. The other new problem is the alarm that kept going off randomly when the car is parked and locked. When I picked up my car after the oil change a few weeks ago, the technician did not mention any problems with my alarm going off while my car was at the delearship. I went back to the Honda dealer for diagnostic test yesterday and they recommend replacing the keyless access control unit. This will cost close to $ 1000 diagnostic, parts and labor. I am told if I do not replace the control unit, the problem can get worse where my car won't start anymore. So I have no choice but replace it. So I brought my car just for routine oil change weeks ago and now I have problem with rotor and control unit that cost me $ $502.72 yesterday and another $700 plus dollars to replace the control unit. For the control unit to fail in just 3 years, suggests it may be defective to begin with or very poor quality. Unfortunately it just went out of warranty. I am reporting this in case this is a common problem for Honda Pilot that the manufacturer needs to address and fix.

- Templeton, CA, USA

problem #23

Mar 122020

Pilot

  • 40,000 miles
Keyless start system error started to appear as soon as the 3 years warranty was over! the error would go on but the car does turn on. Lately, it would take several presses on the button and it appears to work better if the fob is close to the button. The walk away lock has not worked since the keyless start system error began. This happens when start the car.

- Walnut Creek, CA, USA

problem #22

Sep 302020

Pilot 6-cyl

  • 41,400 miles
When stopnidle engages (at a stop light for example) when you let off the brake and it would normally start back up it completely shuts down. Tells you to shift into park. It is extremely scary to be sitting there at a light and your car is totally dead. I was on a 2 lane road, stopped at a stop light and let off the break to re-engage and go but nothing. Had to shift to park, keep foot on brake and re-start. Praying I don't get rear ended. Car has 41K on it and at 35K dealership replaced the battery cause it would cut out when it re started but never had shift completely down like today. It was just a at the dealership for oil change 5 days ago. 2017 Pilot elite. I bought brand new just under 3 yrs ago.

- Santa Fe, TX, USA

problem #21

Jan 012020

Pilot

  • miles
Keyless start system problem error message on dash. We are the original owner since December 2016, this isn't covered beyond 3 year warranty. It's intermittent, sometimes it goes away and message comes back within 24 hours. I do not recall the exact date when it first occurs, it is an estimated date.

- Glendale, CA, USA

problem #20

Jul 182020

Pilot

  • 35,000 miles
While traveling South on I-95 from baltimore, md to Washington D.C., near kenilworth avenue, the engine idle shutoff on my 2017 Honda Pilot touring engaged when I was forced to stop due to a traffic slowdown. When I took my foot off the brake, instead of restarting as it should have, all of the warning lights came on and the engine stalled. I shifted into "park", engaged my emergency flashers, and attempted to restart the engine several times without success. While stopped, I was nearly rear-ended several times because traffic started moving as soon as I took my foot off the brake. I was in a center lane and unable to exit the vehicle or move it from traffic. I was finally able to get restarted after a few minutes and several more tries. I had previously had the vehicle in for issues with the engine idle shutoff and the dealer had replaced the battery, which I thought had fixed the problem. When I took it in this time it happened they say the battery is good and "cannot duplicate the problem". there is a broad base of internet postings for this problem on 2016 - 2018 Pilot elite and touring vehicles, with the 9 speed transmission. There is no way to permanently turn this feature off and I believe it represents a serious safety hazard, especially for highway travel.

- Springfield, VA, USA

problem #19

Jun 182020

Pilot 6-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
Idle stop system sensor fail.. when can stops the engine shuts off but I did not came back on!! a lot of lights came on with instructions while I was at a busy light.. went to the dealer and it was close to $1,000 for the repair.. they said its a known issue.. please do a recall.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #18

Jun 132020

Pilot 6-cyl

  • 41,319 miles
Going uphill SUV hesitates between 1000 and 2000 RPM's. feels without power. Only way to avoid it is to press the pedal all the way down to make it respond. It's been doing it for three months. Most recent time that it was felt, was today.

- Patillas, PR, USA

problem #17

May 152020

Pilot 6-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
This is in regards to the idle stop "feature" of the Honda Pilot. When the vehicle comes to a full stop, the engine cuts off in order to save fuel like it's supposed to. However, when it is time to move again, the vehicle randomly stalls causing the car to completely turn off. This can be potentially fatal as the brakes then do not engage fully (car is off) and a message appears in console saying "to start engine: Press brake and push (engine on)". this is most definitely a safety issue especially if this happens in the middle of traffic. Honda says it is not covered under any warranty. This behavior is random and unpredictable.

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #16

May 012020

Pilot 6-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
Vehicle hesitation between 1st and 2nd at 1000 to 2000 RPM's. loosing power...

- Patillas, PR, USA

problem #15

Feb 062020

Pilot

  • miles
My car jerks often when accelerating, especially around 12mph. I have took my car to the dealers many times. The most recent one is four days ago. The dealer said the car is operating as designed, and the jerks is due to the 9-speed transmission. I can't agree with it. It is not safe when the car suddenly hop forward.

- West Linn, OR, USA

problem #14

Dec 232019

Pilot

  • 42,000 miles
While driving down an empty highway I experienced a large explosive sound upon opening my sunroof cover I noticed my sunroof had exploded. I immediately went to a Honda dealership where I was told there is no such known issue with sunroofs with my model car and that it will not be covered

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

problem #13

Dec 022019

Pilot

  • 33,351 miles
My car was bucking and shut off on me while on the highway not even a full month after the vehicles transmission was serviced and back in the 9 times again within a year.I was told that I was sold a vehicle brand new I do not believe the transmission and or vehicle for that matter should be giving me safety issues at only 16,000 miles and then again at 33,351 miles; without recourse. The dealer suggested to buy my car back ' put it back on the lot and put me into a different loan that would increase my payments. I am looking for some assistance here so that I may be in a vehicle that is safe, dependable, and reliable. I am firm in my belief after driving this vehicle and experiencing the faultiness of the vehicle that the transmission is defective. *update 3rd gear pressure switch replaced twice.

- Springfield, MA, USA

problem #12

Sep 192019

Pilot

  • 34,000 miles
Auto engine idle stop malfunctioning, leaving vehicle stalled and stranded in the middle of traffic. Has happened two times in last month (Sept 2019) now with last being on a busy highway with young son in car. Required a tow ($174 towing bill) and then jump (vehicle had to be removed from busy traffic asap) and very fortunate we were not hit as vehicle was stalled in the middle of 60 mph traffic for nearly 2 hours. The issue happens after the engine idle auto off kicks off the engine but then will not restart when foot is taken off the brake. This does not appear to be a battery issue as battery has been fine since and has not been replaced. Engine idle auto stop feature cannot be turned off permanently and one must remember to turn it off every time you drive the vehicle to mitigate this problem. This is a huge safety issue! car is approx 2.5 years old and has approx 34K miles. Issue has only surfaced recently however. Towing bill attached.

- Wellington, FL, USA

problem #11

Mar 202019

Pilot

  • 26,500 miles
I was driving on I-40 in nashville, tn, moving slowly due to traffic congestion when what sounded like an explosion occurred. I could not immediately figure out the cause but my passenger noticed wind noise and pushed the sunroof visor back. Glass fell in the car. We stopped at the next exit and found that the sunroof had a huge hole and the glass had fallen onto the visor. Nobody was injured because the visor kept the glass out of the cabin. We were shaken but I was able to maintain control and get out of the way of traffic.

- Dyersburg, TN, USA

problem #10

Aug 212018

Pilot

  • miles
Water leaks under front passenger/driver foot area under the dashboard when going through a carwash. Dealership stated it could be because sunroof was not completely flush with the body and water enter through sunroof in excessive amounts.

- North Brunswick Township, NJ, USA

problem #9

Aug 082018

Pilot

  • 20,000 miles
Excessive hydroplane with stock tires

- South Williamson, KY, USA

problem #8

Jun 132018

Pilot

  • 6,500 miles
While driving with the family on the freeways in Arizona, California and Nevada at speeds between 65-70 mph, the Pilot hood vibrates and flexes intensely. The flexing movement is very unstable when strong winds or a semi is passing. We are worried this stress and fatigue on the locking mechanism will become compromised and let go of the hood.

- Anthem, AZ, USA

Read the next 7 complaints »