Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Honda Pilot owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2006 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that following a State Safety Inspection, the vehicle failed due to extensive corrosion to the rear suspension and to the rear trailing arm. The contact was advised by the State Inspector not to drive the vehicle due to the advanced state of corrosion. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V228000 (Structure). The contact had called the manufacturer and was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.
The car's rear subframe has rusted to the point where the suspension no longer correctly mounts to the frame causing an unstable ride and handling issues. Yes, the car can be inspected. This is a safety issue because other parts of the suspension system or brake system could become loose or break off or otherwise be negatively affected by this corrosion. It could also cause me to be unable to control the vehicle properly if it gets worse. Yes, the problem has been confirmed by both a dealer and an independent mechanic. The Honda dealership has inspected it. There is a very similar problem with some of Honda's other models from this era including the Ridgeline and the CRV that have recently been recalled and I think this vehicle should be recalled for this issue as well.
Rear suspension cradle attachment points at the frame corrode. This is common on all pilots in northern climates. Honda has recalled both the Ridgeline and CRV models for corrosion issues related to suspension attachment point corrosion but refuses to recall the pilot. While they claim you will not lose control when the suspension disconnects from the frame the vehicle cannot pass inspection and thus becomes disposable. When vehicles are otherwise perfect this is not acceptable from both safety and fiscal aspects. Please investigate this further as Honda has a repair kit and guidelines but charges thousands for the work .
2006 Honda Pilot Subframe rust which is causing the subframe to pull away from the body of the vehicle. Known issue with a patch kit, but no dealership or auto body shop willing to fix it. Honda has recalled the Ridgeline and CRV for the same issue, but not the Honda Pilot. Vehicle is in perfect running condition except for this design flaw. Would like to get it repaired instead of junking a perfectly drivable vehicle.
The left rear frame of the vehicle is rusted out where the rear drive line bolts to the body or frame. Causing the rear drive line to have the ability of failing to stay attached to the vehicle. The rear suspension also connects at the same area. Just a huge rotted out hole at the moment.
Hi Honda pallet is completely rusted out and corroded on the back underneath. My mechanic said it is dangerous. The left-hand side could literally fall out while driving and this is not something normally seen even with the car being older
My wife was turning into our garage when the engine suddenly reved up causing her to crash into several items in the garage (air compressor,gas grill,shop vac,shelving, and other things)pushing them against the back wall before stopping and allowing her to turn the car off. She had the brake fully depressed and the steering wheel turned but had no control. The car is a 2006 Honda Pilot with about 170,000 miles.
While moving slowly in a private drive and turning steering wheel to the right the car suddenly accelerated to full throttle causing the car to crash into another parked car and a support post of a carport
2006 Honda Pilot ex mileage: 144,309 I was accelerating from a stop when I felt a jolt coming from the rear of the car. Several warning lights lit up in the dashboard, there was a loud exhaust leak, and the car was no longer accelerating. There was an auto care center 50 yards away so I slowly drove it there for an inspection. The mechanic lifted the vehicle and showed me that the back two rear subframe mounts were detached from the body which made the car inoperable. There was no visible rust on the undercarriage; the subframe mounts rusted from the inside out. My insurance company would not cover the damage as it was a rust issue. The car was irreparable so I had to total the car and received 10% of what the car was worth running from the junk yard. I purchased the Pilot new in feb. 2006 and performed all the recommended Honda maintenance. …
While pulling into a parking lot a loud bang happend in our 2006 Honda Pilot. We thought we had bottomed out. It turns out that the rear subframe, suspension, and drive train had fallen out of the rear crossmember. This is due to premature rust and inadequate metal used in the rear subframe. The rear subframe and suspension is only being held in with 2 more rusty bolts. This vehicle is not rusty anywhere else and is in excellent condition. It does have 165,000 miles on it. The vehicle is no longer safe to drive . I hate to think what would have happened at 70 MPH on the highway with my family. This is a serious safety issue and needs to be addressed immediately. The certified Honda dealer that I took it too says they can't fix it, and the vehicle is junk. The vehicle is in excellent condition in every other aspect. The failure is obviously a manufacture defect. …
Body complaints in other Pilot years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2006 Honda Pilot?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the body & structure of the 2006 Honda Pilot, 10% of the model year's 268 complaints. The component named most often is body (18 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Honda Pilot body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2006 Honda Pilot, though it has 8 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Honda Pilot body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 155,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.