Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
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 owned a 2006 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that initially, her check engine light had been illuminated on her instrument panel. She then took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who replaced both her fuel injectors and spark plugs. The mechanic then took the vehicle to a dealer since the check engine light remained illuminated on the instrument panel. The PCM software was updated by the dealer; however, the light still remained. Upon picking up the vehicle, the contact was informed that her check engine light remained illuminated due to a misfire in cylinder#1. The contact was assured by the mechanic that the vehicle passed the PCM test and that the vehicle was safe to drive. While dropping her child off at school, a cloud of white smoke began to emit from the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle quickly became engulfed in flames as the contact exited the vehicle. …
The contact owns a 2006 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the vehicle stability assist system, ABS, check engine, and brake system warning lights illuminated. The contacted stated that after pulling over, placing the gear shifter into park(P) and turning off the vehicle, the vehicle was able to restart but was unable to accelerate above 15 MPH. The contact also stated that after coming to a stop at a stop light, the failure recurred, and the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it remained awaiting diagnostic test and repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.
On the day that the fire occurred, I drove the car approximately 8-10 miles round trip between10:30-10:45 a.m., and then the vehicle was parked in my garage for 3 hours. After that, I drove my car approx. 1 mile, and it was parked outside for a little over an hour. Then, about 30-45 seconds after I began driving my car back home, my son noticed smoke. I didn't see the smoke and thought my window was hazy, so I continued driving. About 1/2-1/4 mile from my home, I saw a little smoke coming from under the hood and my engine began sputtering. It was during this time, I noticed that different indicator lights began displaying. However, my temperature gauge showed normal levels. Because I was so close to home, I decided to continue to drive into my driveway, where I parked and exited the car and noticed additional smoke and flames under the hood. …
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
Attention!!! All Pilot/oddy/ridgeline/3.5 v6 Honda owners. Check your plugs and coils just wanted to get the word spread around there is a serious issue with the Honda 3.5 v6 engine which can lead to serious damage to the cylinder head and possibly the entire engine. I didn't learn of this until recently, when the spark plug in the #5 cylinder shot out of the head and destroyed the coil, and trashed the threads. I found a bunch of different people this has happened to, and all of the results aren't good. The extended warranty which was through Honda care denied my claim because they said it was damage from the spark plug and they don't cover spark plugs. What a load. If they want to play that game, what the heck would they ever have to cover? …
Voice commands shutting radio off putting radio on air on air off asking to repeat .dashboard lights going haywire lost all electrical to dashboard instruments car started vibrating while driving replaced battery and alternator and battery light flashing on and off but battery and alternator testing fine car accelerates on own with cruise set all this happened while I was driving on a city street. Car accelerated on own while I was driving on highwy doing 65 my I had to apply brakes and shut down cruise. Had computer tested to see if anything wrong had computer checked to see whats wrong with engine indicated no codes everything fine. Also while making a turn steering wheel locks up but everything OK with power steering fluids. …
My 2006 Honda Pilot started to show the p0301 error code and had the check engine light and vtm-4 caution light come on suddenly. Both lights came on when I pulled out of my driveway on a Monday morning. The day before I had driven my car about 20 miles on an interstate highway and about 2 miles on city roads. The lights were not on at that time nor were any obstacles hit, such as potholes, and no change in the driving characteristics of the car were experienced. I took the car to a local repair shop which diagnosed the problem as a misfire in the number one cylinder caused by faulty valves. I have since taken it to a shop which reconditions and repairs engines as a specialty. They found the same problem and also found that the intake snorkel was split in two. …
While driving my vehicle on the highway at approximately 60 MPH I heard a ticking noise for about 5 seconds then it went away. Shortly thereafter my vtm-4 light came on and shortly after that my check engine light started blinking. This caused my car to stall out at a traffic light in a 4 way intersection at 11 pm. With the help of a person who happened to be walking by, the vehicle was pushed into a restaurant parking lot. After getting it towed to a mechanic, I was told that the spark plug in cylinder 2 shot up out of the cylinder, damaged the threads and exploded. I have been seeing this issue on many forums with this same exact problem. Now I am without a vehicle for an issue that has been common with these engines but not addressed as a recall.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Honda Pilot. While driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle lost power as it jerked. In addition, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate. All warning lights on the instrument cluster illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the timing belt and engine oil filter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who diagnosed that the software needed to be upgraded. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Honda Pilot. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. Also, the vehicle started to decelerate, the steering and braking ability seized, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted, but the lost of acceleration continued. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the camshaft position sensor failed and needed replacement. The contact stated that the vehicle was currently being repaired. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnosis. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
Engine complaints in other Pilot years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2006 Honda Pilot?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2006 Honda Pilot, 12% of the model year's 268 complaints. The component named most often is engine (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Honda Pilot engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling 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 engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 2 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling 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.