Common problems
Honda Pilot Common Problems
We grouped the top NHTSA owner-complaint categories across 9 Honda Pilot model years, then counted how often each issue recurs. The result shows patterns worth inspecting without pretending every vehicle will have them.
Data updated June 2026
- Owner complaints
- 2,382
- Top recurring issue
- Electrical System
- Crash reports
- 53
- Fire reports
- 14
9 model years
8 affected years
Owner-reported severity signal
55 injuries · 0 deaths
Pattern overview
Most reported Honda Pilot problem categories
Electrical System
632complaints representedAppears among the leading issues for 8 model years; highest in 2019.
Unknown Or Other
288complaints representedAppears among the leading issues for 8 model years; highest in 2019.
Power Train
232complaints representedAppears among the leading issues for 8 model years; highest in 2019.
Engine
245complaints representedAppears among the leading issues for 5 model years; highest in 2019.
Forward Collision Avoidance
94complaints representedAppears among the leading issues for 4 model years; highest in 2021.
Fuel System, Gasoline
153complaints representedAppears among the leading issues for 3 model years; highest in 2019.
Steering
52complaints representedAppears among the leading issues for 3 model years; highest in 2025.
Fuel Propulsion System
75complaints representedAppears among the leading issues for 2 model years; highest in 2019.
Seat Belts
15complaints representedAppears among the leading issues for 2 model years; highest in 2023.
Air Bags
24complaints representedAppears among the leading issues for 1 model year; highest in 2021.
What owners reported
Issue summaries by Honda Pilot model year
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Owners report frequent issues with the 2019 Honda Pilot's electrical system, particularly involving the infotainment and safety systems. Common symptoms include the infotainment screen freezing, blacking out, or displaying error messages such as "Network Communication Lost," which affects features like navigation and the backup camera. Multiple owners describe problems with the Auto Idle Stop feature, where the engine fails to restart after stopping, posing a stalling risk in traffic. Additionally, there are reports of the forward-facing camera failing, causing multiple Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) warnings and malfunctions. These issues often appear within the first few years of ownership and can lead to significant safety implications, such as loss of vehicle control or increased crash risk.
Severity signals: 0 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury reports
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Owners report frequent electrical issues with the 2020 Honda Pilot, particularly involving sudden power loss and infotainment system failures. Complaints commonly describe problems such as the vehicle stalling unexpectedly, warning lights illuminating without clear cause, and infotainment screens going blank or displaying error messages like "Network Communication Lost." These issues often emerge around 50,000 to 86,000 miles, with some reports of recurring battery failures and difficulties starting the vehicle. Safety implications are noted, including incidents where the car stalls on highways or at intersections, posing a risk of crashes, and one report mentions a fire. Potential buyers should be aware of these patterns, especially if considering a vehicle with mileage in the affected range.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 1 fire, 3 injury reports
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owners of the 2019 Honda Pilot frequently report issues with the rear-view camera, describing distorted images with colors such as yellow, purple, and green, which obscure visibility and potentially increase the risk of accidents. Complaints also highlight problems with the vehicle's infotainment system, including flickering displays, error messages like "MOST Net off," and complete screen blackouts that affect backup camera and hands-free phone functionality. Multiple owners detail safety-related malfunctions, such as the vehicle unexpectedly shifting to neutral or stalling during stops, which have led to near-miss incidents and one reported injury. These issues often begin to emerge after a few years of ownership, with some reports noting occurrences as early as 2022. Buyers should be aware of these potential safety and functionality concerns when considering a used 2019 Honda Pilot.
Severity signals: 3 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury reports
ENGINE
Owners report frequent issues with the 2019 Honda Pilot's engine, primarily involving connecting rod and rod bearing failures. Symptoms commonly described include knocking noises, engine stalling, and complete engine failure, often necessitating engine replacement. These problems are noted at varying mileages, with some occurring as early as 38,000 miles and others beyond 100,000 miles. Additionally, the auto-idle stop system is mentioned as problematic, with multiple owners experiencing the engine not restarting after stopping, posing potential safety risks in traffic. Two complaints involve engine fires, highlighting a severe safety implication. Buyers should be aware of these issues, especially concerning engine reliability and potential repair costs.
Severity signals: 0 crash, 2 fire, 0 injury reports
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Owners of the 2021 Honda Pilot frequently report issues with the electrical system, particularly involving the infotainment screen and the Auto Idle Stop feature. Complaints often describe the infotainment screen going black, impacting the functionality of the rearview camera, with some owners experiencing these issues around 32,000 miles. The Auto Idle Stop feature is reported to cause the engine to stall and fail to restart promptly at traffic stops, which poses a potential safety risk due to the possibility of rear-end collisions. Additionally, some owners note failures with safety sensors, such as the forward-facing camera, which can disable crash-avoidance systems. These issues highlight potential safety implications, especially in traffic or when relying on safety features.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury reports
POWER TRAIN
Owners of the 2019 Honda Pilot frequently report issues with the vehicle's transmission and power train, particularly a hesitation or stutter during acceleration, and sudden loss of propulsion at highway speeds. Typical symptoms include the vehicle shifting into neutral unexpectedly, rough or delayed shifting, and the vehicle automatically shifting to park or neutral when stopped. These issues often occur around 60,000 to 70,000 miles, though some reports mention problems starting earlier. Safety implications are significant, with reports of crashes and injuries due to unexpected loss of power and control, highlighting concerns for potential buyers.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 4 injury reports
FUEL SYSTEM
Owners of the 2019 Honda Pilot frequently report issues related to the fuel system, with a significant number of complaints mentioning difficulties in starting the vehicle and unexpected stalling. Symptoms often include illuminated check engine lights, abnormal engine noises, and in some cases, strong gasoline odors. These problems are commonly reported around mileage ranges of 50,000 to 110,000 miles. A notable concern is the delay in recall repairs, with multiple owners indicating parts unavailability for the necessary fixes, which may contribute to recurring issues. Additionally, one complaint involves a fire, highlighting potential safety risks associated with these fuel system problems.
Severity signals: 0 crash, 1 fire, 0 injury reports
ENGINE
Owners report several recurring issues with the 2018 Honda Pilot's engine, primarily involving the Auto Start/Stop feature, which frequently fails to restart the engine at intersections, causing the vehicle to stall. Complaints frequently mention engine seizures, often attributed to connecting rod bearing issues, with some reports indicating engine failure without warning at mileages ranging from 80,000 to over 165,000 miles. A few owners describe incidents of complete engine shutdown while driving, sometimes accompanied by warning lights, and one complaint involves a fire following a transmission overheating warning. These issues present safety risks, including the potential for accidents due to sudden loss of power or control, particularly in traffic or at high speeds. Potential buyers should be aware of these patterns, especially given the vehicle's history of recalls related to engine components.
Severity signals: 0 crash, 1 fire, 0 injury reports
Pre-purchase inspection
What to check on a used Honda Pilot
When problems are reported to begin
- Steering system noises — 1,000–7,000 miles on the 2025 model-year record
- Forward collision avoidance failures — 100–1,700 miles on the 2025 model-year record
- Power train issues — under 1,000 miles on the 2025 model-year record
- Steering noises — 300–35,000 miles on the 2024 model-year record
- Transmission jerking — 1,300–23,000 miles on the 2024 model-year record
- Electrical system failures — 300–23,000 miles on the 2024 model-year record
- Electrical system failures — 500–1,000 miles on the 2023 model-year record
- Steering issues — 2,000–8,500 miles on the 2023 model-year record
Buyer red flags
- Test steering for creaking or clicking noises during low-speed turns
- Check for unexpected braking by the Collision Mitigation Braking System
- Verify transmission shifts smoothly without hesitation or lurching
- Inspect windshield for cracks, especially at lower driver-side corner
- Ensure all safety features and warning lights function correctly
- Check for any active recalls and confirm repairs are completed
- Test acceleration response from a stop and during merging
- Test steering for crunching or clicking noises at low speeds
How to interpret the counts
Complaint totals are not failure rates
A popular or older model can accumulate more complaints simply because more vehicles exist and have spent longer on the road. The categories above aggregate the counts embedded in each model year's leading issues. Use recurrence across years and severity signals to decide what to inspect; use the VIN and a mechanical inspection to judge one car.
Source trail
Where this Honda Pilot data comes from
VinExposed combines model-level research with the vehicle-specific history you get from a VIN. Reliability scores and complaint patterns come from Auto Reliability Index's Honda Pilot research, which analyzes NHTSA records and independent repair data.
Recall counts describe a model year, not the repair status of one car. Confirm the exact VIN with the official NHTSA recall lookup and a vehicle-history report before buying.
Buyer questions
Honda Pilot research FAQ
What is the most common Honda Pilot problem?
Electrical System is the broadest recurring complaint category in the available model-year records, appearing among the top issues for 8 years with 632 complaints represented.
Which Honda Pilot year has the most reported problems?
The 2019 has the largest electrical system count among the years where that category appears. Compare the full year record because a different year may lead on another problem category.
Do NHTSA complaints prove a Honda Pilot has a defect?
No. Owner complaints are unverified reports and can be duplicated or influenced by sales volume and vehicle age. They are useful patterns to investigate alongside recalls, service records, inspection results and the exact VIN.
Check the actual car
Model research narrows the list. The VIN confirms the car.
Check title brands, accidents, odometer history, auction records and recall status for the specific Honda Pilot you are considering.