Honda Pilot owners have reported 1,892 problems related to engine and engine cooling (under the engine and engine cooling category). The most recently reported issues are listed below. Also please check out the statistics and reliability analysis of Honda Pilot based on all problems reported for the Pilot.
Car does not want to start even though the batter and alternator are good (tested by tow truck company). Restarts fine once batter is disconnected and then reconnected again. This has now happened twice.
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My 2017 Honda Pilot (3. 5l v6) is experiencing severe, rhythmic engine knocking and loss of power. The vehicle has no active warning lights or check engine codes. I am aware of the active NHTSA investigation pe25008 regarding connecting rod bearing seizure in this model year. The engine failure creates a significant safety risk, including potential stalling at highway speeds and the risk of engine fire. I am requesting that this vehicle be included in any forthcoming recall for the 3. 5l v6 engine crankshaft/bearing defect.
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Honda Pilot 2016 and 83k miles and original owner. The car was traveling at I-95 going to vermont when the engine light come on the dashboard showing low pressure oil. The car was stopped in a safe place and called aaa and towed to nearest mechanic in massachusetts. The mechanic diagnosed and said the engine is shut and needed to be replaced. I called american Honda and was being told to tow it to a Honda service dealership nearby and we did. Confirmed by them that the engine was shut and they found a metal inside the engine which is caused by the rod bearing. The american Honda did nothing at all to address it. So frustrating. The car is still sitting on the Honda service lot in massachusetts. The cost to replace the engine with a used one is $7500. 00.
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While stopped at an intersection, the car died, the transmission shifted to neutral automatically and the radio would not turn on. The agm battery was replaced approximately one year ago when a similar situation took place.
The car has 83k miles and the Honda service said the engine needs to be replaced due to internal engine problem.
Repeatedly there has been a cylinder 1 misfire causing the check engine light to activate. The vehicle starts to shake and idling is rough. It has happened repeatedly over the past 3-4 years. In 2025 it happened in August, October and December despite repeated maintenance. Error codes that have popped up due to the issue primarily include cylinder 1 misfires a known and documented issue related to the faulty vcm system. The problem has repeatedly been identified by multiple mechanics. I use my vehicle primarily to transport my children to and from school. We have all been in the car during these misfires endangering their safety. At many of the times when the misfires have happened my children have been in the car and any engine failure while operating the vehicle puts them in danger. My children are adhd/autistic and during the times the vehicle has broken down while driving it has caused them extreme distress. The vehicle is available for inspection at any time. I have reached out to Honda repeatedly to have the issue resolved however despite repeated promises the vehicle would be fixed due to recalls and extended warranties Honda officials have repeatedly made erroneous claims and insist my vehicle's VIN needs to be approved for any repairs. This is a well documented known issue for this make and model due to the faulty vcm system causing oil to get into the cylinders leading to the misfires and piston ring wear and corroded spark plugs. All I am requesting is for Honda to make the necessary repairs so my vehicle is safe to transport my children. I have kept up with the maintenance of the vehicle. The problems we have experienced are directly caused by the known vcm/mil failures. Also we have consistently had codes come up for the abs as well. Under the magnuson-moss warranty act Honda is responsible for making the repairs.
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Rod bearing knocking noise.
Failing rod bearing.
With no warning, the engine has completely stopped while I was driving. The engine will not turn over at all after that moment. All maintenance was maintained on the vehicle, including regular oil changes. There were no lights, signals, or even engine sounds leading into it stopping. It appears that there are others who have had the same issue with this engine.
My car is a 2019 Pilot and with 105k miles, engine has the rod bearing knock problem currently being investigated by NHTSA.
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This 2018 Honda Pilot has been taken to mechanic after a number of check engine and other dash lights came on while trying to accelerate to merge with freeway traffic. Mechanic pulled a p0369 code and I paid for replacement of the cam shaft sensor. Problems continued shortly after work and mechanic conducted further inspections and determined the sensor had been worn by a walking camshaft. There are hundreds of these same complaints posted on the web by angry customers dating back over 5 years yet no recall. The car will unexpectedly lose power at any time and shudder and will not accelerate with difficulty steering when all the engine lights start flashing. With luck, you can pull over to side of road. Repair is over $3500 after spending a lot of money already replacing the camshaft sensor which didn't fix the problem.
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Was driving down highway i40 near nashville and the engine started making a noise. I was able to drive to my mothers house. My dad looked at it and stated it sounded like a rod knocking. So we went to take it to the dealer because after some research we found a recall for rod bearing failure. My vehicle was not on the recall list. We then proceeded to take the car to the dealer to check if there was a safety bulletin at the dealership when the engine locked up. My dad came to rescue us and towed the car back to his and my mom’s house.
When driving and wanting to accelerate at 65mph car just because limp, won’t go when accelerating for a few seconds, speed drops, then you press back on the accelerator and after a few times the car goes back to normal. So, you loose control of the accelerator for a few seconds and you cant go faster, it just freezes and speed drops. This has been happen g for awhile. I even called Honda corporate to advise them. It’s been happening for over 2 years. It comes and goes. We are starting to hear a clunk noise now.
Purchased my 2016 Honda Pilot with 3. 5 v6 engine at baierl Honda in November 2024. In December 2025 my engine failed. Towed to dealer I purchased from . Mechanic said there is metal in the oil the motor is done and needs replaced. Many of these motors were recalled , but for some reason mine is not on the list. I still owe 12,000 on loan on this car. I contacted Honda said nothing they can do because it hasn't been recalled "yet". There were other recalls from Honda in the same motor. Why wasn't mine recalled?.
While driving home the car started making loud noises and lost power. I pulled over as quickly as possible and had the vehicle towed to a Honda dealer where they they reported: "new engine assembly (long block with heads) due to internal engine failure. Found metal shavings in engine oil when strained through filter and magnet ran across bottom of pan. Includes engine replacement, gaskets and fluids" when researching my repair options I found that there were known issues with the 2016 Honda Pilot, but my vehicle was on included in the initial VIN list.
Transmission is sluggish and the rpm’s fluctuate between 1200 and 1400 at any speed going back and forth so the car has a back and fourth motion. Engine failure on 12/3/25 car stopped while driving. Makes a loud knocking sound. Most likely faulty bearings due to poorly engineered camshaft. White pear paint peeling since I purchased car. Capital Honda in san jose unable to address any issue saying nothing is covered under warranty. These issues where taking place even while under warranty.
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all problems of the 2020 Honda Pilot
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Was at a complete stop and my car turned off and all my dash lights came on. On the freeway.
Car has been serviced at same dealership I purchased from. All service up to date, gas type shell gas brand used 95% of the time. (noticed November 2025)issue a month after recommended transmission flush and an engine oil change. Rough idling (especially when temp below 60?) and almost like a miss fire when driving. No check engine light, and dealership had vehicle for two days but claimed unable to replicate issue suggested these engines are prone to carbon buildup. But recommended I switch to premium gas. SUV drives rough and then randomly reverts to normal smooth driving, also seems to struggle when switching gears, spoke to other owners of same type and a pattern of previous years owners mentioned potential issue with vcm. Major issue: rattling during start up and driving ( sometimes goes away randomly) car struggles with gear switching. Engine/transmission hesitation.
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all problems of the 2023 Honda Pilot
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We had road issues recently and the care stalled on thanksgiving. We ended up having it towed to 2 mechanics, the final mechanic determined that this issue is a recall for other Hondas. Ours is not listed. I called the recall hotline and they will not fix the car under the recall because they did not add our VIN number to the recall. They informed us we could pay for the repair and keep our receipt for reimbursement if/when the VIN number is added. I was not happy with this outcome as if it's a problem with other vehicles why are we not being added. The recall is "a manufacturing defect in the connecting rod bearing that could cause the engine to seize and fail, leading to stalling while driving. ".
When driving on highway, heard loud engine cranking sound, followed by sudden jolts of the car. Stopped the car in the road median and then noticed smoke coming out from under the hood. Passengers got out of the car and noticed fire under the engine; called 911 immediately, then police and fire engine arrived to extinguish fire. Towed the car to local Honda service center. Diagnosis from the service center mentions: "a connecting rod broke and exited through the engine block/oil pan area on back of engine. . . . . And engine assembly need to be replaced along with other fire damaged and water damaged parts/sections. . . . " this looks to be related 2016 Honda Pilot connecting rod recall ( NHTSA recall# 23v-751 ). Car maintenance has always been done on-time at the Honda service center (records available for inspection). There were no warning lights before the incidence. Insurance company has inspected the car for claim purpose.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? the engine failed in a matter of seconds on the interstate to where the vehicle was inoperable making a loud knocking sound and every system light on the dashboard turned on. We were able to take it to a local oil shop that was within a few miles and had them check on the car. The mechanic stated the oil looked brand new even though we just had it changed 2 months ago and he couldn't service the inside of the vehicles engine. We had to have it towed over 100 miles to chicago. To a Honda dealership that stated the engine looked like it was starved of oil. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? vehicle violent started shaking while myself, my wife, and our three kids were in the vehicle. All systems had failed by the time we got it to a dealership 5 miles away. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes the Honda dealership stated we need a new engine costing us well over $15,000. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? no we have only had a mechanic at a Honda dealer confirm what was said initially that the engine seems to be malfunctioning. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? there was zero issues until all systems lights came on within a matter of 5 minutes.
Emissions system problem- unknown reason.
My check engine light come on and started flashing on 11/24/25 and came along with a knocking sound. Got it to the shop, and they confirmed that the vehicle has a rod bearing knocking in the engine. I see that this has been a frequent known issue with this specific car and believe my car should be apart of this recall.
Dealership believes the conneting rod bearing failure. Engine seized and was towed to dealership. So was driving 35mph and lost all power and braking on a 2 lane road. He was able to direct the car off the road safely without further incident. Car was towed to the dealership and has been there since.
Engine connecting rod bearing failure diagnosed at the dealership. At 30mph, engine lost power and clunking noise was heard, coasted into a parking lot and had the vehicle towed to the baierl Honda wexford PA dealership quoted total engine replacement at $9,978. 93 +labor, + tax.
My vehicle has 1,500 miles on it. Last time I drove it from work back home was Friday 11/21 and nothing was wrong. Got back in the car Sunday 11/23 and my engine light was blinking and all kinds of warnings were displaying such as engine, break, and steering problems. My wife and I noticed the car vibrating a lot and I had to drive 20mph. If not the car felt like it was going to shut down.
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Following all repair/recall/warranty work recommended by Honda, the auto stop/start feature is again failing. This results in the vehicle not restarting after the auto idle engine stop is engaged while in traffic, stop lights, stop signs etc. This is a random occurrence, but results in a significant safety hazard as a stopped vehicle in a lane of travel. This is a recurring issue, no specific date of incident.
Incident happened on November/22/2025 was driving on a major highway with 2 other persons in the vehicle the check engine light began to flash and all the power form the engine was lost immediately pulled over. Called the Honda dealer when they opened took it to them to look at engine was knocking was told at the dealer there was metal in the oil and the knock is coming from the bottom of the engine. The engine is in non repairable shape and needs an engine replacement.
Vehicle has approximately 145k miles and regularly maintained at the dealership. With no prior warnings, the low fuel pressure light came on, started jerking, and making noises, and was unable to start. The vehicle was towed to the nearest mechanic where they said the engine has failed. The car was driven up to that point with no warning signs.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? 2017 Honda Pilot (127k miles) has experienced complete engine failure. Independent mechanic and Honda service have both said an engine replacement is required. Vehicle is at Honda of katy and available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? a breakdown occurred while my young son was driving. Thankfully, he was not on the highway, but the situation was distressing and has shaken my confidence in the vehicle's safety and reliability. He had to push it out of an intersection into a gas station, posing a safety risk to him, his passengers, and other cars on the road. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? it was towed to our mechanic and then to Honda after his inspection found the problem to be consistent with the NHTSA recall 23v-751. Honda's inspection shows that the engine needs to be replaced. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? an engine light came on 11/17 while my son was driving (1 mile from home. ) once he arrived, we immediately took it to the shop, but the light disappeared between his stop at home and when we started it up again. The mechanic could find nothing wrong. He took a drive for a few miles and the light never came back on and no codes were found. The oil was then changed (as part of routine maintenance) and the breakdown happened after driving about 10 miles post-visit. After having it towed back to the mechanic when the engine failed, it was confirmed that the oil levels were still good, but metal was found in the newly replaced clean oil.
While driving on the freeway at a slow speed due to two freeways merging, my Honda Pilot suddenly stopped/stalled. When I tried to restart the car by pressing the auto idle stop button to vehicle did not start. It took three times of pressing the auto idle stop button for the engine to restart. I am lucky that the traffic was going at a slow speed due to the merging of freeways so I was able to right away press my emergency signal lights on. I panicked and was scared for my safety and what could have happened to myself and others if the vehicle was running at a higher speed. This could have caused a major accident. Because this happened yesterday, I will be calling Honda to report the issue as well and have my vehicle inspected. My vehicle has had issues many times in the past with the auto idle stop button not starting, however, it has never happened while driving. The concerning part as well is that the vehicle did not give any kind of warning light or message.
Recall has been open since December of that year I have documentation that I took it last year to get this recall fix and your web site is stating that it is incomplete. Today 11/12 at 7:30am my engine caught on fire there was a lot of witness at the elementary school waving me down that my car was on fire. I panic and got away from the elementary where a lot of kids and families where present and went where there was no one insight and rush and got my set of 2 year old twins and my 3 year old son out there car seats and ran from the car and called 911 the fire department came and put out the fire and I have a report from them as well. Now that I remember about this recall I remember it stating that if this recall wasn't fix that it can start a fire so I put two and two together and order my car fax report and seen that this was never completed. And have paper work that it was completed.
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all problems of the 2024 Honda Pilot
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The auto engine idle stop system just quits and stalls out at intersections. I have to put the car in park and restart the vehicle. Some times it takes a few minutes to get it moving. I’ve brought it to the dealership and they updated the software but it didn’t make any difference. It doesn’t happen all the time but it’s very frequent. I’ve started disabling it because it’s frightening when your call stalls and people are coming up behind you quickly at a green light. Today it’s entirely malfunctioning with a warning so I will have to take it back to the dealership again for them to tell me nothing is wrong. Honda should do a recall on this. I’ve searched the internet and I’m apparently one of many people having the same issues with this feature. Thanks so much.
Car engine developed a knock in the lower end we took it to the dealerships service department and they accessed it to have connecting rod bearing failure it is not safe drive with this issue as major engine failure is very possible we have owned this car for 8 years and done all recommended maintenance and repairs.
This car loses speed when passing while highway driving. Car decelerates and throws you into neutral throws dash errors of "blind spot" & "transmission problem". I was luck to be able to get over 2 lanes to break down lane without being hit from behind on several occasions. Car message to put in park and turn off. Car was in neutral and wound not go into park. I had to put emergency break on and power down car in neutral. Waited a few minutes then restarted and no errors on dash. Car back to normal. Car has major faults and you can't show the codes when you get to dealer because they are gone then they also want to charge you $175 diagnostic fee. Car also has issues with the stop light idle turning off feature and not turning back on for 5-10 minutes yet another way someone can hit you from behind. I am stuck with this unsafe car and Honda never has to recall anything. I am going tomorrow yet again to try and get the service bulletin 23-078 warranty extension for the torque converter covered to see if that will resolve issue.