Equipment Problems of Honda Pilot - part 1

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.

See all problems of the 2024 Honda Pilot 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2017 Honda Pilot 🔎.

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.

Honda’s auto idle stop system shuts vehicle off when at a full stop and fails to restart after removing foot from the brake. Instead, when you remove your foot off the brake, the vehicle switches to neutral or park and does not restart despite following on screen instructions to restart (example: switch to park, put foot on the brake, and press start button). We have to put the hazard lights on and try the steps over and over again until it restarts. This is a major safety issue, especially when at a traffic light or in heavy traffic, where every second counts and you have to worry about someone not noticing that you are stopped or have hazard lights on and plows into you.

See all problems of the 2021 Honda Pilot 🔎.

Wife was driving car and it stalled when slowing down for a red light. No check engine light or dash warning notices. Car then displayed instructions to restart the car tried to restart 4 or 5 times. Finally started. We were lucky she was not on a highway driving at highway speeds.

Car alarm going off randomly when locked. When car is near fob and turned off the head unit will randomly turn on and off rapidly, appears to be a Smart power module failure. This has been going on intermittently since 50k miles. Most recently today, I had to disconnect the battery to make it stop.

See all problems of the 2022 Honda Pilot 🔎.

Unknown - the hydraulics of the power tailgate in the 2016 Honda Pilot are defective. After opening, it randomly starts 1 long continuous beep while the power tailgate closes - and it will not stop. I have had multiple items crushed. I have known other owners of the 2016 Honda Pilot where the hatch closed on them and trapped them in it. This is a huge safety issue! I am afraid when my teenage son opens the power tailgate that it will happen and trap him! it has happened since the purchase of the vehicle, which was brand new off the Honda dealer lot, in 2016. Honda dealer blew me off multiple times. They cannot "recreate" the issue - but it is random, however it does seem to happen more often once the air temperature is below 40 degrees.

See all problems of the 2016 Honda Pilot 🔎.

This is about the auto stop/start feature that kicks in when you are stopped in traffic or at a stoplight. The car shuts down and is supposed to restart. Twice now, the car has refused to restart when I took my foot off the break. I had to turn the car off, open the door, and close the door and restart the car. I have no shut off that feature.

See all problems of the 2020 Honda Pilot 🔎.

Car goes idle/shuts off with the auto shut off feature but won't turn back on automatically.

My battery died while the vehicle was parked. I needed to physically move the vehicle but could not because the electronic button shifter would not allow me to put the transmission in neutral. The only way to move it out of park is a lengthy process requiring tools, engine component removals and a manual shifting of the linkage using a long wrench. My solution, was I had to leave the vehicle unattended, call a friend, get tools and replace the battery while blocking traffic. Safety concerns were that the vehicle was blocking traffic at a business and no documentation by Honda of how to fix or even shift the vehicle into neutral. Now consider if someone has to try and manually tow the vehicle while in park! I replaced the battery myself, but this is a well documented issue with electronic shifters, that will never make a dealership or service departments records or statistics! there was no warning of the failure, or battery light illuminating. Previous vehicle inspections at the dealership gave no indication that the battery was failing.

2009 Honda Pilot VIN [xxx] mileage 128,000 issue: transmission shuddering, a known and acknowledged problem why is there not been a recall for this problem? I have spoken with other Pilot owners and all have experience this problem. The dealership gave me about 3 reasons, all out of pocket costs. I am on fixed income, this is a problem for me. Honda knows there is a problem and yet the us government has not enforced any recall, why !! help us. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2009 Honda Pilot 🔎.

The car is prefect everything is great.

See all problems of the 2019 Honda Pilot 🔎.

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.

Driving to work on the freeway, all of a sudden acceleration stopped. Pulled over as warning lights came on due to transmission. Additionally, the check engine light appears randomly due to emission and also the “awd” light comes on. Within a few days or even weeks it turns off. This has been on and off since we purchased the vehicle from carmax.

See all problems of the 2018 Honda Pilot 🔎.

“camera system failure” backup camera failing to operate when in reverse. Recall not showing for our vehicle even though recall shows its for the 2019+ models. Online talk points to a camera issue and not a wiring one.

The auto stop - start when idle shuts off the vehicle and then does not auto start when lifting off the brake. This has happened 3 times on the road and is incredibly dangerous as you are left immobile until you are able to wait and restart the engine manually.

In August 2022, with approx. 92,000 miles, my 2017 Honda Pilot received fuel injector replacement and a pcm update under Honda TSB 20-100, performed by schaumburg Honda. This technical service bulletin is known to have downstream impacts on emissions systems if the root cause is not fully corrected. On August 13, 2025, at 134,045 miles, the vehicle triggered a p0430 code (“bank 2 catalyst efficiency below threshold”). Schaumburg Honda again replaced the injectors. Less than a month later, on September 8, 2025, at 135,101 miles, the vehicle triggered a second emissions code, p0420 (“bank 1 catalyst efficiency below threshold”). Schaumburg Honda informed me that both catalytic converters had now failed and quoted over $5,800 in replacement costs. This sequence of events strongly suggests a long-term emissions defect potentially caused by unresolved impacts from TSB 20-100. American Honda denied goodwill assistance based on mileage, despite the clear connection to prior manufacturer-directed service. I have purchased several vehicles from this dealer over the years and have maintained all service through authorized Honda service centers. This raises safety and environmental concerns due to the catalytic converter failure, and may indicate a systemic issue tied to the TSB.

The catalytic converter system on my vehicle is failing prematurely due to the vehicle’s built-in fuel management and energy-saving computer settings. These settings cause excess fuel to be burned and pushed into the catalytic converter, damaging the unit. In addition, this flaw is causing oil to be pushed out of the car, creating both a mechanical hazard and an environmental concern. This is not the result of poor maintenance or misuse — it is a hazard caused by a design flaw in the system itself.

See all problems of the 2015 Honda Pilot 🔎.

When driving long distances (10+ miles), the entertainment system suddenly goes black and shows an error message that says “network communication lost. Most net off. ” this includes the carplay/navigation system, backup camera, etc. Which causes distractions, navigation challenges, and impacts safety when happening mid-drive. It takes between 30 seconds and 3 minutes to re-boot. It typically happens multiple times during long drives (approximately every 5-10 minutes) which becomes very dangerous as dealing with this issue shifts attention away from driving.

All safety features on the dashboard have lit up all are constantly on. Honda America states no open recall, I see many forums for Honda owners having this issue that also impacts safety.

Engine developed noises while driving and seized up. Prior to engine seizure, auto start/stop was having issues where it would not restart after stopping at a light or stop sign. Rear unibody rusting really badly due to cheap quality metal?.

Car does not restart after auto start stop is engaged, car stalls at intersections, causing dangerous conditions.

My 2016 Honda Pilot has continued to have engine restart issues with the automatic engine stop feature after taking it in for the initial recall. Upon telling this to the dealer, they said the recall work was already done and won’t address it further. They only did the software upgrade and did not tell me about the 2nd stage of repairs available. The issue is random but happens commonly, and seems to be worse on hot days. It also can sometimes struggle to restart after putting it in park after the auto restart fails.

In 2022, in traffic on i35 in temple, TX, I was in "drive" and my car went automatically to neutral and I could not get it out of neutral or turn my car on and off. My two children were in the car and had cars moved, I would have been clobbered. I finally got my car to turn off after several tries, but it would not turn on. I waited a a minute and tried to turn it on again and after several attempts, it turned back on and traffic began to move so I did not have to stop and brake again. This same issue happened at a stop light a month ago and I could not move my car. I did not hit anything in my car, I did not shift it to neutral, it automatically did this on it's own. I finally turned the car off and after many attempts was able to get it back on, put it in drive, and move the car out of the intersection. The automatic engine shut off also comes on and off in my car without me touching anything. It works sometimes and it doesn't. This issue is a total safety concern and should it happen again, I may not be so lucky with other vehicles. Please help with this recall on my VIN.

The rear camera has suddenly changed to a rainbow effect and is very difficult to distinguish details related to be safe view it is designed to display. There was a recall related to the cable connection of the rear camera which is not related to this new color change issue. Honda dealership only offers to replace camera not under a warranty.

The back glass suddenly shattered. No cause was discovered. It was not vandalism. There was no prior damage to the back glass. We were seated in the front seats. Normally, we would have had our grandchildren in the back seats closest to the glass. I looked it up on the internet and found out that this occurrence is fairly common among Honda makes. I took pictures of the damage and filed a claim with my insurance company. No warning occurred before the glass shattered.

See all problems of the 2023 Honda Pilot 🔎.

Problem with auto idle stop mechanism. There was an event of no restart after the auto start/stop engaged. There have been several issues with it over time. For a while it cut out completely until we got a new car battery. Especially in the past 3 weeks the car has hesitated to start after a stop. Then, yesterday, 8-9-2025 it failed to start creating a traffic hazzard. We were at a red light and once green, I removed my foot from the brake and it would not start. Traffic was approaching behind us and it was a dangerous situation. It was stressful for me, the driver as well. After putting the car into several gears and pressing the start button twice, it eventually started. A display messages appeared only when the car would not start. I believe it said to put the car into neutral. If the car failed to start, it would have been stuck at a major intersection posing danger to ourselves and fellow drivers. Previously, when the feature stopped working, we reported the issue to our local Honda dealer and they did not offer a solution but said there are a number of factors that could cause it to not operate. We didn't mind it wasn't working because we loathe it. Later we purchased a new battery and it started working again. Also previous to 8-9-2025, we updated the software system. We were aware that there was an update for this issue. To ensure we have the update, I checked it again, today, 8-10-2025 and our software was up to date. We (my wife and I) were so alarmed by yesterday's operation failure that we are considering getting rid of the vehicle. However, we don't want to pass the problem onto someone else. We are petitioning that this become a bulletin or recall fully covered by Honda. We see that similar 2016 to 2021 vehicles are under a bulletin. Honda is aware of the issue since 2016. 2022 Honda Pilot should be included. The software update did not resolve the issue. Please escalate from investigation phase to a mandatory Honda fix. Ty!.

The foreward collision warning is too sensitive and the alert message and steering wheel shaking are distracting. Especially driving on a two lane road, the forward collision messages occurs under normal driving situations. Simply a vehicle approaching in their lane in the opposite direction triggers the warning. You get a large orange box popping up on the dash screen which diverts your attention from the road to the screen. It's an obnoxious panic message. Also, the steering wheel shakes to alert you, which startles you. I fear the mechanism could malfunction and take over steering and cause an accident. I know how to drive and I don't need the absurd "assistance". I submitted another report for the auto idle problem. These driver assist things are horrid. They don't enhance the driving experience and seem to be items that unnecessarily tack on to the cost of purchasing a vehicle. We have complained to the Honda dealer and car mechanics about these matters. Regarding forward collision warning, no resolution was provided. This is an ongoing problem and so an approximate date below is not applicable. Thank you thank you.

The front winshield camera stop warning and now im getting the following warnings: lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control automatic emergency braking blind spot warning forward collision warning lane departure warning lane keeping assistance and now the car is showing: emission system warning.

All of the safety features are failing starting about August 2025. Warning lights are lit for collision mitigation, cruise control, high beam, lane departure, braking, everything!!! we replaced the battery but that is not the problem. The transmission was always a problem. The braking assist never worked from day 1. The vehicle is completely defective.

The auto idle stop caused my Pilot to not restart as I was taking my foot off the brake turning left on a busy road. I had to be towed as my car would not start. The Honda repair center said there is an engineering request ([xxx]) trying to gather information about the issue, but no fix other than having to turn off the feature every time I restart the car. I am now extremely concerned about my safety and others because if I forget to turn off this feature, my car could unexpectedly now stop working and I could immediately be put in an unsafe situation. Honda said they can’t automatically turn off the feature. They have shifted this responsibility to the driver of the car. This is not right and they don’t seem to care when I call 1-800-880-1072. All they said is it your responsibility to turn off the feature each time you get in the car rather than give me options. I asked repeatedly if I were to forget and my car won’t restart after an auto idle stop, what can I do. Could not answer other than I need to be mindful before putting the car in drive. This is so wrong, I could come up with several scenarios now my car could cause me danger and others if it stalled suddenly in a heavy traffic area. What are my option? information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I am the original owner of my Honda Pilot and have always taken the vehicle to Honda dealerships for all scheduled maintenance and service. On [xxx], I noticed the air conditioning was blowing only warm air, with no cold air at all. I scheduled an appointment at germain Honda in beavercreek, ohio, where the vehicle was inspected on July 28, 2025. I was informed that the a/c system had suffered what is often called “a/c black death” and that the entire a/c system would need replacement at a cost of $6,753. 93. I was also told that no parts were available and that I would be contacted when they became available. I have not been contacted since. When I asked why this happened, I was told it was rare and that I was just unlucky. However, my own research has shown that many Honda Pilot owners (and likely ridgeline owners as well) have experienced the same failure, sometimes repeatedly, even after dealer repairs. Honda has issued recalls and extended warranties for a/c failures in other models such as the civic and cr-v, but not for the Pilot, despite widespread reports. This is a serious safety issue. Where I live, July and August were extremely hot. The lack of a/c made the vehicle unsafe to operate, as every year children and pets tragically die in overheated vehicles. Driving without functional a/c in extreme heat creates a health hazard for families. I was unable to use my vehicle at all during these peak summer months. My Pilot has fewer than 100,000 miles, has been well maintained, and should not have suffered a complete a/c system failure this early in its life. Honda has clearly known about systemic a/c issues in multiple models yet has not taken responsibility for Pilot owners. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C.

I feel the engine is failing.

While driving our 2024 Honda Pilot touring, I came to a full stop at a red light. When the light turned green and I attempted to accelerate, the vehicle completely shut off without warning. There was no sputtering, no warning lights, and no error messages. The engine shut off instantly, and all systems—including both screens, air conditioning, horn, and hazard lights—were completely unresponsive. The vehicle was entirely disabled. It remained unresponsive for 5–10 minutes before showing any sign of power. It took four attempts to restart the vehicle. This happened in an active intersection, creating a serious safety risk. I could not move or signal to other drivers, and the car gave me no way to handle the emergency safely. The vehicle was taken to a Honda dealership for inspection. They ran diagnostic tests but were unable to reproduce or identify the issue and called it a “fluke. ” no repairs were made, and the root cause was not identified. I was told to take the vehicle home and monitor it. This issue has not recurred yet, but I am concerned it could happen again at any time. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The problem has not been confirmed by the manufacturer or a third-party inspector. No warning lights or other symptoms appeared before the failure.

As I understand it from a law firm, other Honda Pilot owners have filed complaints with the NHTSA the following which is an exact description of what is occurring on our Pilot. Ref: 25v-031. Our problem is that there is about a “2-5 second hesitation” or “delay in acceleration” where the engine seems to “bog down for a few seconds before it ‘kicks in’ and then there is a ‘surge of power. ’” this surge of power causes a rapid acceleration where the vehicle “jumps forward at a rapid rate. ” I took this to Honda two years ago after we first purchased it and they said that "all vehicles are made this way now. " this has proven "very dangerous" when trying to do a 3-point turn or a u-turn in traffic. I'd be happy to demonstrate this with someone if they want to ride along so they can see for themselves. I checked your site but it says there aren't any recalls for my vehicle. Problem is, Honda told me the same thing two years ago so if it isn't on your site, appears that it isn't a problem for them. Please help look into this before someone in my family or someone else's gets hurt.