Honda Pilot years to avoid (and the best years)
6,570 NHTSA owner complaints and 44 recalls across 17 model years, 2010 to 2026. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
Compared with: Honda CR-V, Toyota Highlander
- 6,570complaints
- 44recalls
- 183reported crashes
- 43reported fires
- 180reported injuries
Which Honda Pilot years should you avoid?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the Honda Pilot years to avoid are 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2018 and 2021. The typical Honda Pilot year has 197 complaints on file.
- 2016: 1,699 complaints, 8.6 times the typical year. Most reported problem: Auto idle-stop fails to restart engine.
- 2017: 920 complaints, 4.7 times the typical year. Most complaints name the engine (52% of complaints) and the electrical system (29% of complaints).
- 2019: 903 complaints, 4.6 times the typical year. Most complaints name the electrical system (29% of complaints) and the engine (27% of complaints).
- 2020: 485 complaints, 2.5 times the typical year. Most complaints name the electrical system (43% of complaints) and the engine (21% of complaints).
- 2018: 439 complaints, 2.2 times the typical year. Most complaints name the engine (37% of complaints) and the fuel system (28% of complaints).
- 2021: 432 complaints, 2.2 times the typical year. Most complaints name the electrical system (29% of complaints) and the engine (25% of complaints).
What are the best Honda Pilot years?
The Honda Pilot years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2015 (109), 2010 (111) and 2014 (116). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 20 | 0.1× | 1 | 0 | 0 | Few red flags | Steering |
| 2025 | 197 | 1.0× | 4 | 11 | 11 | Few red flags | Forward collision avoidance system |
| 2024 | 112 | 0.6× | 6 | 2 | 2 | Few red flags | Seat belts |
| 2023 | 139 | 0.7× | 5 | 3 | 3 | Few red flags | Seat belts |
| 2022 | 153 | 0.8× | 5 | 7 | 4 | Few red flags | Forward collision avoidance system |
| 2021 | 432 | 2.2× | 10 | 12 | 8 | Approach with caution | Electrical system |
| 2020 | 485 | 2.5× | 11 | 10 | 13 | Approach with caution | Electrical system |
| 2019 | 903 | 4.6× | 13 | 13 | 15 | Approach with caution | Electrical system |
| 2018 | 439 | 2.2× | 7 | 9 | 11 | Approach with caution | Engine |
| 2017 | 920 | 4.7× | 4 | 9 | 6 | Approach with caution | Engine |
| 2016 | 1,699 | 8.6× | 8 | 23 | 20 | Approach with caution | Auto idle-stop fails to restart engine |
| 2015 | 109 | 0.6× | 4 | 7 | 13 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2014 | 116 | 0.6× | 3 | 8 | 7 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2013 | 271 | 1.4× | 6 | 12 | 12 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2012 | 171 | 0.9× | 9 | 17 | 19 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2011 | 293 | 1.5× | 11 | 29 | 31 | Few red flags | Airbags |
| 2010 | 111 | 0.6× | 10 | 11 | 5 | Few red flags | Airbags |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 1,959 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Engine & powertrain511 (26%)
- Electrical & infotainment462 (24%)
- Brakes240 (12%)
- Structure & body203 (10%)
- Airbags & seat belts202 (10%)
Recalls (44)
Suspension · 26V424000 · Jul 2026 · model year 2026
Loose rear subframe bolts can lead to a loss of vehicle stability or rear subframe detachment, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Structure · 26V365000 · Jun 2026 · model years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Failure of rear suspension components, such as the rear control arm, can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Airbags · 26V332000 · May 2026 · model years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Safety · 26V054000 · Jan 2026 · model year 2024
A loose driver's seat may not adequately restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Brakes · 25V391000 · Jun 2025 · model years 2023, 2024, 2025
A brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Seat belts · 25V056000 · Feb 2025 · model year 2025
A non-functioning seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fuel system · 25V031000 · Jan 2025 · model years 2023, 2024, 2025
An engine stall or loss of power can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fuel system · 24V900000 · Nov 2024 · model years 2023, 2024, 2025
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Safety · 24V859000 · Nov 2024 · model years 2023, 2024
An unsecured driver's seat may not adequately restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Airbags · 24V064000 · Feb 2024 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022
An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fuel system · 23V858000 · Dec 2023 · model years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Engine · 23V751000 · Nov 2023 · model years 2016, 2018, 2019
A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
Steering · 23V735000 · Nov 2023 · model years 2023, 2024
A loss of steering control or steering lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
Brakes · 23V458000 · Jun 2023 · model years 2021, 2022
Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.
Safety · 23V431000 · Jun 2023 · model years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Body & glass · 23V174000 · Mar 2023 · model years 2020, 2021
Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Structure · 21V932000 · Nov 2021 · model years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
A hood that opens while driving can obstruct the driver's view and increase the risk of a crash.
Fuel system · 21V215000 · Mar 2021 · model year 2019
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Tires · 21V165000 · Mar 2021 · model years 2019, 2020
Overcured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation, which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Tires · 20V725000 · Nov 2020 · model year 2021
Over-cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Safety · 20V439000 · Jul 2020 · model years 2019, 2020, 2021
Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 20V440000 · Jul 2020 · model years 2019, 2020, 2021
A delayed or inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 20V067000 · Feb 2020 · model year 2020
If the operator is unable to refer to the label information, the vehicle may be overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Structure · 19V784000 · Oct 2019 · model years 2019, 2020
In the event of a crash, incomplete body welding may provide inadequate protection to occupants, increasing the risk of an injury.
Airbags · 19V502000 · Jun 2019 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Airbags · 19V378000 · May 2019 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Engine · 19V298000 · Apr 2019 · model years 2018, 2019
Teeth separation from the timing belt may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
Structure · 18V848000 · Nov 2018 · model year 2019
In the event of a crash, if the curtain air bag does not deploy as intended, it can increase the risk of injury.
Airbags · 18V661000 · Sep 2018 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Airbags · 18V268000 · Apr 2018 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012
An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 18V221000 · Apr 2018 · model year 2018
In the event of a crash, if the seat does not remain secured to the floor, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.
Airbags · 18V042000 · Jan 2018 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Airbags · 17V545000 · Aug 2017 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012
In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
Fuel system · 17V219000 · Mar 2017 · model year 2016
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Airbags · 17V030000 · Jan 2017 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fuel system · 16V417000 · Jun 2016 · model year 2016
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Airbags · 16V346000 · May 2016 · model years 2010, 2011
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Electrical system · 15V668000 · Oct 2015 · model year 2016
If a safety system cannot immediately warn the driver when needed, the driver may be at increased risk of a crash.
Seat belts · 15V424000 · Jul 2015 · model year 2016
If the third row seatbelt is trapped, the occupants may not be restrained properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 13V382000 · Aug 2013 · model year 2013
A worn piston may suddenly fail, causing the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 13V016000 · Jan 2013 · model years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
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.
Fuel system · 12V063000 · Feb 2012 · model year 2012
AS A RESULT, FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE TANK, INCREASING THE RISK OF FIRE.
Seat belts · 11V468000 · Sep 2011 · model years 2010, 2011
IF THE STITCHING IS INCOMPLETE OR MISSING, THE SEATBELT MAY DETACH FROM THE ANCHOR WEBBING, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY IN A CRASH.
Suspension · 10V640000 · Dec 2010 · model year 2011
LOSS OF STEERING INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.