2018 Honda Pilot VIN Check, Recalls & Reliability
The 2018 Honda Pilot has good reliability. There are 5 recalls and 408 owner complaints on file for the 2018 Honda Pilot. Severity signals include 9 crash-related complaints and 2 fire-related complaints. The most commonly reported problem areas are: Engine (72), Electrical System (68), Power Train (66).
Pilot reliability snapshot
Data sourced from Auto Reliability Index, aggregating NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and RepairPal repair-cost records.
Used-car research
Research the Honda Pilot before checking the VIN
Compare model years, recurring problems, safety campaigns and market value first. Then use the VIN to verify the history of the individual car.
Most-reported 2018 Honda Pilot issues
Owner-reported problem categories from NHTSA complaint filings. Counts reflect complaints per category for the most-recent model year on file.
- Engine72
- Electrical System68
- Power Train66
- Fuel System, Gasoline61
- Unknown Or Other47
- Fuel Propulsion System21
Pre-purchase inspection checklist for the 2018 Honda Pilot
Hands-on checks distilled from real NHTSA complaint patterns and recall histories. Bring this list to a test drive or mechanic inspection.
- Test Auto Start/Stop feature for consistent restart
- Check for transmission shudder or hesitation during test drive
- Inspect infotainment system for intermittent failures
- Verify fuel system components for recalls and proper operation
- Ensure torque converter is functioning properly
- Check for any engine warning lights or unusual noises
2018 Pilot recalls (5)
Every NHTSA safety recall logged against the 2018 Pilot. A VIN check confirms whether any recall remains unrepaired on a specific vehicle.
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINENHTSA 23V858000Dec 18, 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGNHTSA 23V751000Nov 13, 2023
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.
Consequence: A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
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.
- STRUCTURE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGESNHTSA 21V932000Nov 29, 2021
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Passport, 2016-2019 Pilot, and 2017-2020 Ridgeline vehicles. The hood latch striker may become damaged and separate from the hood, which can result in the hood opening while driving.
Consequence: A hood that opens while driving can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will either repair the hood latch striker, or replace the hood if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is PBV.
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGNHTSA 19V298000Apr 12, 2019
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.
Consequence: Teeth separation from the timing belt may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
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.
- SEATSNHTSA 18V221000Apr 5, 2018
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018 Honda Pilot and Ridgeline vehicles and 2018 Acura MDX vehicles. The front driver and passenger powered seats in the Honda vehicles and the driver powered seats in the Acura vehicles may have been assembled with improperly manufactured rivets. In the event of a crash, the rivets can break causing the seats not to be secured to the floor. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems," and 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the seat does not remain secured to the floor, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
Remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver seat frame assembly in Acura MDX vehicles, and replace the driver and front passenger seat slide rail frames in Honda Pilot and Ridgeline vehicles, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall is D0S, and T0T.
Used-market value
2018 Honda Pilot resale snapshot
Listing benchmarks establish a market range; trim, mileage, condition, title history and prior damage determine what one vehicle is worth.
2018 Honda Pilot on the road
159,615 2018 Honda Pilot units were sold new in the US — a key signal for the size of today's used-market inventory.
How the 2018 Honda Pilot stacks up against rivals
The most-shopped alternatives in the same segment. Each link opens a side-by-side reliability and cost comparison.
Reliability verdict for the 2018 Honda Pilot
With a score matching the segment average, the 2018 Honda Pilot lands in the near-average reliability range rather than standing out as a clear strength or weakness. As the third year of its generation, the data suggests a mature design phase, but the overall record still reads as mixed.
Complaints are not dominated by a single subsystem. Instead, they cluster across major, high-impact areas including the engine, electrical system, powertrain, and fuel system, with additional reports falling into uncategorized buckets. That spread points to multiple potential touchpoints rather than one contained problem area. Recall activity is elevated, adding to the overall complexity of ownership risk.
Overall, the data supports a moderate buyer risk level.
What you get in a 2018 Honda Pilot report
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2018 Honda Pilot — Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Honda Pilot reliable?
With a score matching the segment average, the 2018 Honda Pilot lands in the near-average reliability range rather than standing out as a clear strength or weakness. As the third year of its generation, the data suggests a mature design phase, but the overall record still reads as mixed.
How many recalls does the 2018 Honda Pilot have?
5 NHTSA safety recalls have been issued for the 2018 Honda Pilot. A VIN check confirms whether any remain unrepaired on a specific vehicle.
What are the most common 2018 Honda Pilot problems?
The most-reported 2018 Honda Pilot problem areas are: Engine (72), Electrical System (68), Power Train (66).
Should I run a VIN check on a 2018 Honda Pilot?
Yes. A VIN report verifies title brands, odometer history, accident records, and recall completion on a specific 2018 Honda Pilot, complementing the model-year reliability data on this page.