Power Train Related Problems of the 2021 Honda Pilot

Table 1 shows one common power train related problems of the 2021 Honda Pilot.

Table 1. Power Train related problems of Honda Pilot

Problem Category Number of Problems
Power Train problems
16

Power Train problem #1

My Honda Pilot experiences a serious safety issue with the auto idle stop feature. When the system engages at a stop (such as a red light), the vehicle sometimes fails to restart, leaving me stalled in traffic. This creates a dangerous situation for myself and other drivers. The problem appears to be related to the auto idle stop system and/or the auxiliary battery. Many other Honda owners are reporting similar issues, which suggests this may be a widespread defect that needs investigation. I just dropped the car at Honda dealership for further inspection.

Power Train problem #2

My 2021 Honda Pilot awd (40,200 miles) shifting from drive to neutral at intersections by itself, then engine dies. It happened multiple times. If you need more information, pls contact me at [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Power Train problem #3

While driving on the highway, I heard a loud whirring noise then my vehicle started to decelerate. After continuing to push on the accelerator, an error message appeared that stated something to the effect of "move vehicle from neutral to park". I tried to put the vehicle back into drive but my car had thrown itself into neutral and would not go back into drive. Another error message came up and indicated something about the transmission and that I should pull over to safety and put the car in park (or something of that nature). I was able to pull over but the car was frozen and I could not put the car back into drive, only into park. The vehicle was towed to a dealership where I was told the car needed to have the transmission replaced and that the carfax report showed the transmission fluid had never been changed/replaced. The car is only four years old and I have never received an error or warning on the vehicle that there was an issue with the transmission fluid.

Power Train problem #4

When shifting from reverse into drive, there is a 5-10 second hesitation. I push the gas and the car does not go. It will eventually accelerate at a very high speed. Does not happen every time, but often enough to be very dangerous.

Power Train problem #5

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic signal, the vehicle independently shifted into neutral(n). The contact shifted vehicle into park(p) and turned off and restarted the vehicle and shifted into drive(d). There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with a faulty brake switch and determined that the 12-volt battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred, and the vehicle independently shifted into neutral(n). The contact stated that the failure had occurred while stopped with the vehicle still in drive(d). The vehicle was taken to the same dealer however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure or determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

Power Train problem #6

When driving the car and stopped, the car goes into idle engine automatically. There are have been 5 incidents where the engine wouldn’t turn back on. The car starts beeping and flashing to put in park, shut off and restart. This is extremely dangerous when in the middle of traffic, cars honking and my children in the car getting nervous. Luckily I have not had an accident yet and figured out how to not use the “idle stop” feature to prevent this from happening but it’s not a long term solution as I have to stop idle feature every time the car is turned on.

Power Train problem #7

Connecting rod bearing failure resulting in the short block having to be replaced. Currently at Honda dealership having short block replaced. 56000 km currently on vehicle and all oil changes made at correct intervals.

Power Train problem #8

When stopped at red light idle stop feature was active and car wouldn’t restart couldn’t turn the truck off or on all electrical components such as radio, screen and heating were on but engine wouldn’t start or stop.

Power Train problem #9

The heat stopped working last year when parked. To the point where it's blowing out cold air. I brought it to the dealership and they told me nothing is wrong. It appears to be the thermostat which I now have to replace on my own. Also the transmission slips randomly and I was told that could not be repeated either. Yet the car only has 90,000 miles, this should not be occurring.

Power Train problem #10

Hello, twice in the past two months, my car's engine has lost power while driving on the highway. First, while entering and merging onto the highway, and once while exiting the highway. Both times, the check engine light came on, pressing the gas pedal had no effect, and we could only coast to the side of the road. Both times we had to restart the vehicle. After the first incident, I went to the dealership. They "fixed" the vehicle, replacing gaskets that Honda knew might fail but didn't issue a recall (only fix if there is an issue). This obviously did not fix the issue. Thankfully we did not have an accident, but complete loss of power could have been disastrous. I now have to go back to the dealership.

Power Train problem #11

Honda Pilot 2021 elite awd w/ 34k miles shuts down at a complete stop e. G. Traffic light, stop sign or highway stop and go rush hour. Panel says put in neutral, but the push button transmission shift does not respond. Attempts to restart with the push start/stop button and fails multiple times first and then it starts again, while other motorists are honking behind you for blocking traffic. Major safety concern.

Power Train problem #12

The auto idle stop is defective on this vehicle and has resulted in multiple incidents where the vehicle stalls after the break is applied in sitting traffic. I have had near collision experiences that pose a severe safety risk. The car jolts forward after releasing the break at an intersection, and immediately becomes immobile. This has happened in sitting traffic, at intersection and more dangerously, while trying to make a left turn which has left me stranded in the middle of busy intersections at risk of nearly being hit by moving traffic. Honda has done the software update on the vehicle and yet, this continues to happen. Honda needs to be held liable as this will result in injury and/or death to consumers.

Power Train problem #13

Unresponsive dash control screen. Hands free bluetooth disconnects. Popping sound through speakers. Carplay option disappears. Am/fm radio muffles while error message states no audio available. Restarting car fixes these issues for short while. Turning off radio while engine is on does not work. Gear hunting in transmission 2,3,4 fourth gear.

Power Train problem #14

I will be filing a issue with our 21 Honda ridgeline too as the same problem has occurred in both vehicles with the same engine and transmission. This has happened a total of 3 different times. When I drive the Pilot for a long time (over 4 hours)on the expressway and then pull off on a ramp and turn left the vehicle will go into safe mode. The engine light will start flashing and you can not drive over 30 mph. The engine runs rough and idles hard. I have contacted Honda and the dealership I purchased it from. Honda has acknowledged this is a problem and has occurred multiples with many different vehicles. The dealership I work with has acknowledged the same thing as they have several vehicles that have been brought in with this problem. I have waited several months for Honda to come up with a solution, so far they have not. This is a safety concern because what would happen if this same situation came up when I'm pulling my trailer or on the expressway at higher speeds. This could cause an accident. This first started on my Pilot in December of 2021. It has happened several times since then. Every time there is no code the computer keeps, even though each time the engine light is flashing. What I have been told is the computer thinks the engine has backfired and goes into safe mode, but Honda doesn't know why it does this. If you turn the vehicle off and restart it, the problem goes away. When the dealership has run a diagnosis off the computer, there are no codes the computer throws. Even though the check engine light is flashing when this occurs.

Power Train problem #15

This vehicle has a pushbutton transmission "gear selector". It is impossible per the owner's manual, and further confirmed by the dealership, to place this vehicle in neutral without the engine running. This is an unacceptable safety hazard. If the vehicle stops running in busy traffic or in an intersection, or otherwise in a zone such that imminent danger of collision is necessarily introduced, it is impossible to push the vehicle out of danger, off to the side of the road. Further it cannot be towed without necessary imparting damage to the drive train. Honda requires the owner to buy a special tool, lock release 07aaa-tz3a100 which requires removal of underhood components to place the transmission in neutral, and it (apparently) cannot be maintained there without an extra person available to hold the tool against spring return pressure. This whole affair is simply unbelievable. As I write this, there is no incident, as the vehicle is relatively new to us. But I'm 61 years old, and have had to place inoperative cars in neutral to get them out of harms way, at least a dozen times in my life. Note that this shortcoming manifests itself as simply as whenever the vehicle runs out of gas. This cannot be allowed to happen. Are there no adults left in the building designing these cars?.

Power Train problem #16

I just bought my brand new 2021 Honda Pilot I had it for 1 week so I decided to take it to las vegas on the way there it was fine but on the way home I'm coming down I started to feel a jerk in the transmission I didn't think nothing of it so I kept driving. But for a new car it should not be doing anything like that at all so I took it to Honda dealer and they did a multi inspection check and said they didn't find anything wrong with it and everything shift fine but when I took it home a week later it's happening more and more especially when it's traffic you will feel it way more I just hope it don't go out after my 60k miles warranty right now it's only 2,500 miles and I feel I got a lemon I already have transmission problems but it just too new to go out right now.


Power Train related problems in other Honda Pilot model year vehicles:



Pilot Service Bulletins
Pilot Safety Recalls
Pilot Defect Investigations