Car Defect Radar

Honda Pilot vs Toyota Highlander: problems, recalls & years to avoid

NHTSA owner complaints and recalls for the Honda Pilot and the Toyota Highlander, with the 15 model years both have (2010–2024) set side by side. Each model is measured against its own typical year, not against the other model.

Years to avoid and years with the fewest complaints

Honda Pilot

Years to avoid
201620172018201920202021
Fewest complaints
201020142015

The typical Honda Pilot year has 197 complaints on file, across 17 model years (2010–2026).

Toyota Highlander

Years to avoid
20192021
Fewest complaints
201120122023

The typical Toyota Highlander year has 206 complaints on file, across 15 model years (2010–2024).

A year is one to avoid when it drew at least 2 times the complaints of its model's typical year (the median across the model's years on this site) and at least 200 complaints, or when its complaints include 5 or more reports of a death. The years with the fewest complaints have no such flag and are from 2023 or earlier: newer years have not been on the road long enough to compare. Each model is measured only against its own years. Source: NHTSA owner complaints, as of October 26, 2026.

The 15 model years both have, side by side

Complaints by model year

Honda Pilot

8.6× its typical year in 2016, its worst year

1,699 complaints against a typical year of 197.

Years to avoid: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021. Fewest complaints: 2010, 2014, 2015.

Toyota Highlander

2.5× its typical year in 2021, its worst year

512 complaints against a typical year of 206.

Years to avoid: 2019, 2021. Fewest complaints: 2011, 2012, 2023.

typical yearavoid zonesolid bar = a year to avoid

Honda Pilot6 years to avoid · typical year 197avoid zone: 394+05001,0001,5002,0002010Honda Pilot 2010: 111 complaints, 0.6× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints111fewest2011Honda Pilot 2011: 293 complaints, 1.5× its typical year2012Honda Pilot 2012: 171 complaints, 0.9× its typical year2013Honda Pilot 2013: 271 complaints, 1.4× its typical year2014Honda Pilot 2014: 116 complaints, 0.6× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints116fewest2015Honda Pilot 2015: 109 complaints, 0.6× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints109fewest2016Honda Pilot 2016: 1,699 complaints, 8.6× its typical year, a year to avoid1,699avoid2017Honda Pilot 2017: 920 complaints, 4.7× its typical year, a year to avoid920avoid2018Honda Pilot 2018: 439 complaints, 2.2× its typical year, a year to avoid439avoid2019Honda Pilot 2019: 903 complaints, 4.6× its typical year, a year to avoid903avoid2020Honda Pilot 2020: 485 complaints, 2.5× its typical year, a year to avoid485avoid2021Honda Pilot 2021: 432 complaints, 2.2× its typical year, a year to avoid432avoid2022Honda Pilot 2022: 153 complaints, 0.8× its typical year2023Honda Pilot 2023: 139 complaints, 0.7× its typical year2024Honda Pilot 2024: 112 complaints, 0.6× its typical year2025Honda Pilot 2025: 197 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2026Honda Pilot 2026: 20 complaints, 0.1× its typical yearHonda Pilotavoid zone: 394+typical 1972026Honda Pilot 2026: 20 complaints, 0.1× its typical year202025Honda Pilot 2025: 197 complaints, 1.0× its typical year1972024Honda Pilot 2024: 112 complaints, 0.6× its typical year1122023Honda Pilot 2023: 139 complaints, 0.7× its typical year1392022Honda Pilot 2022: 153 complaints, 0.8× its typical year1532021Honda Pilot 2021: 432 complaints, 2.2× its typical year, a year to avoid432avoid2020Honda Pilot 2020: 485 complaints, 2.5× its typical year, a year to avoid485avoid2019Honda Pilot 2019: 903 complaints, 4.6× its typical year, a year to avoid903avoid2018Honda Pilot 2018: 439 complaints, 2.2× its typical year, a year to avoid439avoid2017Honda Pilot 2017: 920 complaints, 4.7× its typical year, a year to avoid920avoid2016Honda Pilot 2016: 1,699 complaints, 8.6× its typical year, a year to avoid1,699avoid2015Honda Pilot 2015: 109 complaints, 0.6× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints109fewest2014Honda Pilot 2014: 116 complaints, 0.6× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints116fewest2013Honda Pilot 2013: 271 complaints, 1.4× its typical year2712012Honda Pilot 2012: 171 complaints, 0.9× its typical year1712011Honda Pilot 2011: 293 complaints, 1.5× its typical year2932010Honda Pilot 2010: 111 complaints, 0.6× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints111fewest
Toyota Highlander2 years to avoid · typical year 206avoid zone: 412+02004006002010Toyota Highlander 2010: 216 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2011Toyota Highlander 2011: 181 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints181fewest2012Toyota Highlander 2012: 182 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints182fewest2013Toyota Highlander 2013: 206 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2014Toyota Highlander 2014: 135 complaints, 0.7× its typical year2015Toyota Highlander 2015: 191 complaints, 0.9× its typical year2016Toyota Highlander 2016: 110 complaints, 0.5× its typical year2017Toyota Highlander 2017: 265 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2018Toyota Highlander 2018: 265 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2019Toyota Highlander 2019: 480 complaints, 2.3× its typical year, a year to avoid480avoid2020Toyota Highlander 2020: 314 complaints, 1.5× its typical year2021Toyota Highlander 2021: 512 complaints, 2.5× its typical year, a year to avoid512avoid2022Toyota Highlander 2022: 245 complaints, 1.2× its typical year2023Toyota Highlander 2023: 180 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints180fewest2024Toyota Highlander 2024: 42 complaints, 0.2× its typical year2025none2026noneToyota Highlanderavoid zone: 412+typical 2062024Toyota Highlander 2024: 42 complaints, 0.2× its typical year422023Toyota Highlander 2023: 180 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints180fewest2022Toyota Highlander 2022: 245 complaints, 1.2× its typical year2452021Toyota Highlander 2021: 512 complaints, 2.5× its typical year, a year to avoid512avoid2020Toyota Highlander 2020: 314 complaints, 1.5× its typical year3142019Toyota Highlander 2019: 480 complaints, 2.3× its typical year, a year to avoid480avoid2018Toyota Highlander 2018: 265 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2652017Toyota Highlander 2017: 265 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2652016Toyota Highlander 2016: 110 complaints, 0.5× its typical year1102015Toyota Highlander 2015: 191 complaints, 0.9× its typical year1912014Toyota Highlander 2014: 135 complaints, 0.7× its typical year1352013Toyota Highlander 2013: 206 complaints, 1.0× its typical year2062012Toyota Highlander 2012: 182 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints182fewest2011Toyota Highlander 2011: 181 complaints, 0.9× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints181fewest2010Toyota Highlander 2010: 216 complaints, 1.0× its typical year216
Bars are NHTSA owner complaints per model year. The dashed line is the model's typical year (the median of its years on this site). A year that reaches the hatched avoid zone, twice the typical year and at least 200 complaints, is a year to avoid. The two panels have different scales. Each model is measured only against its own years: the counts are not adjusted for sales, so the chart does not say one model has more problems than the other. Hover a bar for its numbers; every value is also in the table below.
Model yearHonda PilotToyota Highlander
ComplaintsTimes its typical yearRecallsOur readComplaintsTimes its typical yearRecallsOur read
20241120.6×6Few red flags420.2×7Few red flags
20231390.7×5Few red flags1800.9×9Few red flags
20221530.8×5Few red flags2451.2×5Some concerns to check
20214322.2×10Approach with caution5122.5×4Approach with caution
20204852.5×11Approach with caution3141.5×4Some concerns to check
20199034.6×13Approach with caution4802.3×3Approach with caution
20184392.2×7Approach with caution2651.3×5Few red flags
20179204.7×4Approach with caution2651.3×4Few red flags
20161,6998.6×8Approach with caution1100.5×3Some concerns to check
20151090.6×4Few red flags1910.9×2Few red flags
20141160.6×3Few red flags1350.7×5Some concerns to check
20132711.4×6Few red flags2061.0×3Some concerns to check
20121710.9×9Few red flags1820.9×2Few red flags
20112931.5×11Few red flags1810.9×5Few red flags
20101110.6×10Few red flags2161.0×10Few red flags

Complaints link to each model year's report. "Times its typical year" sets a year against the same model's typical year. The two models' counts can't be compared directly: they are not adjusted for how many of each were sold.

Most reported problem, by model year

Model yearHonda PilotToyota Highlander
2024Seat beltsBrakes
2023Seat beltsBody and structure
2022Forward collision avoidance systemTransmission and drivetrain
2021Electrical systemTransmission and drivetrain
2020Electrical systemTransmission and drivetrain
2019Electrical systemTransmission and drivetrain
2018EngineTransmission and drivetrain
2017EngineTransmission and drivetrain
2016Auto idle-stop fails to restart engineBrakes
2015EngineElectrical system
2014EngineElectrical system
2013EngineSteering
2012EngineSteering
2011AirbagsWipers and visibility
2010AirbagsElectrical system

Top problems of each model

The areas of the car NHTSA owner complaints name most, all model years together. A complaint can name more than one area.

Honda Pilot

Biggest named problems, in the model years whose complaints we have read and grouped: Auto idle-stop fails to restart engine (2016, roughly 374 complaints); Connecting rod bearing engine failure (2016, roughly 351 complaints); Keyless start system warning (2016, roughly 278 complaints).

Toyota Highlander

Recalls

NHTSA recall campaigns. A campaign that covers several model years is counted once.

What the data can't show