Honda Pilot
Registered from 2003 to 2027.
About this model
The Honda Pilot is a mid-size crossover SUV with three-row seating manufactured by Honda since 2002 for the 2003 model year. Primarily aimed at the North American market, the Pilot is the largest SUV produced by Honda. As of 2025, the Pilot is manufactured in Lincoln, Alabama, and the Pilot was produced in Alliston, Ontario, until April 2007. The first generation Pilot was released in April 2002 as a 2003 model.
From the Wikipedia article Honda Pilot, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it stands out against its peers
- Engine: more complaints than 90% of 2016 cars — 45% of its 1,686 complaints, where an ordinary 2016 car has 21%.
- Electrical system: more complaints than 93% of 2016 cars — 34% of its 1,686 complaints, where an ordinary 2016 car has 17%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- ENGINE — 433 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash, 4 involving a fire
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 273 owners reported this
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — 113 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash, 2 involving a fire
- POWER TRAIN — 86 owners reported this, 2 involving a crash
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 79 owners reported this
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING — 38 owners reported this
- STRUCTURE — 36 owners reported this
- POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — 33 owners reported this
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 26 owners reported this
- POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE — 22 owners reported this
Crash test
| Overall | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash | ★★★★☆ |
| Side crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ |
| Stability control | Standard |
| Forward collision warning | Standard |
| Lane departure warning | Standard |
Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 285 hp · 2117 kg · 2890 mm wheelbase · 11.2 L/100km (EPA) · 12.4 L/100km city · 9.4 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2025 | 285 hp · 2117 kg · 2890 mm wheelbase · 11.2 L/100km (EPA) · 12.4 L/100km city · 9.4 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2024 | 285 hp · 2117 kg · 2890 mm wheelbase · 11.2 L/100km (EPA) · 12.4 L/100km city · 9.4 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2023 | 285 hp · 2117 kg · 2890 mm wheelbase · 11.2 L/100km (EPA) · 12.4 L/100km city · 9.4 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2022 | 280 hp · 1932 kg · 2820 mm wheelbase · 10.7 L/100km (EPA) · 12.4 L/100km city · 9.0 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2021 | 280 hp · 1932 kg · 2820 mm wheelbase · 10.7 L/100km (EPA) · 12.4 L/100km city · 9.0 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2020 | 280 hp · 1932 kg · 2820 mm wheelbase · 10.7 L/100km (EPA) · 12.4 L/100km city · 9.0 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2019 | 280 hp · 1932 kg · 2820 mm wheelbase · 10.7 L/100km (EPA) · 12.4 L/100km city · 9.0 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2018 | 280 hp · 1930 kg · 2820 mm wheelbase · 10.7 L/100km (EPA) · 12.4 L/100km city · 9.0 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2017 | 280 hp · 1930 kg · 2820 mm wheelbase · 10.7 L/100km (EPA) · 12.4 L/100km city · 9.0 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2016 | 280 hp · 1930 kg · 2820 mm wheelbase · 10.7 L/100km (EPA) · 12.4 L/100km city · 9.0 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2015 | 250 hp · 2047 kg · 2780 mm wheelbase · 11.8 L/100km (EPA) · 13.8 L/100km city · 9.8 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
27% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.
12V063000
AS A RESULT, FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE TANK, INCREASING THE RISK OF FIRE.
HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VSF ASSEMBLY DATE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 13, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-999-1009.
13V016000
The absence of more than one rivet could alter the performance of the driver's airbag during deployment. This could potentially increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda dealer. The dealer will inspect the driver's airbag module and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
13V382000
A worn piston may suddenly fail, causing the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine short block free of charge. The recall began on September 16, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's recall numbers are JB4 (Honda Odyssey) and JB5 (Honda Pilot).
15V424000
If the third row seatbelt is trapped, the occupants may not be restrained properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the rear third row seat belt, free of charge. The recall began on August 6, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-310-783-2000. Honda's number for this recall is JS7.
15V668000
If a safety system cannot immediately warn the driver when needed, the driver may be at increased risk of a crash.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began on December 11, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JV7.
16V417000
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda/Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. The recall began on July 29, 2016. Honda's numbers for this recall are KA9 (Honda vehicles) and KB0 (Acura vehicles).
17V030000
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has mailed an interim notification, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KE1 and KE2.
17V219000
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KE8.
25 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.
Regulator investigations
Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.
Inaccurate Rear Passenger Seat Belt Warning Status
Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2025, still open.
Engine failure
Preliminary evaluation, opened August 2025, still open.
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
Engineering analysis, opened March 2025, still open.
Engine failure
Recall query, opened November 2024, closed August 2025.
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
Preliminary evaluation, opened June 2022, closed March 2025.
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Engineering analysis, opened September 2021, still open.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Engineering analysis, opened February 2015, still open.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Preliminary evaluation, opened June 2014, closed March 2015.
Vehicle Stability Assist Malfunction
Engineering analysis, opened February 2013, closed March 2013.
Vehicle Stability Assist Malfunction
Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2012, closed March 2013.
Ignition Interlock Failure - Rollaway
Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2012, closed January 2013.
Vehicle Stability Assist Malfunction
Defect petition, opened June 2012, closed October 2012.
Low Beam Headlights Stop Illuminating
Engineering analysis, opened September 2011, closed September 2012.
What the maker told its dealers
Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.
Honda filed 34 bulletins about the 2025 Pilot.
- Electrical system: 13
- Engine: 11
- Structure: 6
- Wheels: 2
- Seat belts: 1
- Visibility/wiper: 1
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2025 Pilots with customer complaint of Check Engine Light (CEL) on with DTC P0420 [Catalyst System Efficiency Below… · May 2026
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2025 Pilots with customer complaint of Check Engine Light (CEL) on with DTC P0420 [Catalyst System Efficiency Below… · April 2026
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2025 Pilots with customer complaint of Check Engine Light (CEL) on with DTC P0420 [Catalyst System Efficiency Below… · April 2026
- Over The Air - This update contains various performance enhancements and UI improvements. · March 2026
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2025 Pilots with customer complaint of Check Engine Light (CEL) on with DTC P0420 [Catalyst System Efficiency Below… · February 2026
- Service Bulletin - The seat belt reminder incorrectly indicates that the second-row right passenger seat belt is unfastened even after the passenger has fastened it. · February 2026
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2025 Pilots with customer complaint of Check Engine Light (CEL) on with DTC P0420 [Catalyst System Efficiency Below… · January 2026
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2023-2025 Pilots with a customer complaint of a no auto re-start condition after going into an auto idle stop. The push… · November 2025
26 more.
Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.