Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2015 Honda Pilot owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I bought my 2015 Pilot in 2024 and since then my local mechanic has told me I am burning oil and I have had to replace several spark plugs. I have had error codes like P0304 come up in conjunction with the replacements. I now have a total engine failure. I looked online after my failure and saw the VCM Warranty Extension, but I was never notified about it. I saw where the codes could come up as "misfires" but might actually be the engine failing. Component failure - engine Safety Risk - I was driving when it died. if i had not come to a complete stop i would have hit a snow covered rocky hill. Inspections - awaiting insurance inspector, engine failure confirmed by mechanic. Warnning - no lights were on when it happened.
The contact owns a 2015 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the error message instructed the driver to pull over immediately. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with piston ring failures. In addition, DTC: P0301 (Misfire in Cylinder #1) was displayed. The contact was informed that the piston rings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
We were on our way out of town in May 2022 when the car suddenly idled and wouldn't go past 35 mph. The spark plugs would constantly need replacement and we bought a connector which seemed to make them last longer, but eventually still burn out sooner than they should've. We've had diagnostics through friend mechanics and family and cylinder 2 was the main culprit. We took the car to honda recently and there is valve repairs that need to be done, to include all necessary gaskets, water pump and tensioner. There's also need to replace power steering pump, bushings and vtec spool valve. There were no prior indicators, the engine light suddenly came on when the car idled and riding on the highway at 35-40 mph was not very fun or safe. We've left the vehicle in the garage since the malfunction as is since we had other vehicles until we saved funds for the fix. …
On July 3, 2026 the check engine light, check VSA warning and check emissions warning indicators all illuminated simultaneously and the vehicle began to misfire and sputter which triggered an immediate slow down of traffic behind me. My local Honda dealership acknowledged a known defect with 2013 - 2015 Pilots in which the piston rings deteriorate leading to cylinder misfires. After system diagnostics they confirmed the spark plugs were damaged due to the piston rings defect causing engine misfires, rough idling, and slow minimal acceleration. This situation absolutely placed me, my family and others on the roadway at immediate risk due to the sudden nature of the engine malfunction. While there were no police report or insurance claims the Honda dealer did inspect and perform diagnostics on the vehicle. …
Started hearing a loud ticking/knocking noise, but it would get quiet once the car was running over 2500rpm. Noise was overheard by a pedestrian while dropping my kids off at school and he let me know he was a mechanic and that I should not be driving the car with that noise as the engine sounded like it could be on the way to seizing up. After inspection by 2 independent service center mechanics, it was found that there are 2 faulty connecting rod bearings. The Rod bearings to cylinder 2 and 5, specifically. There were metal shavings in the oil and a piece of a rod was found when the bottom pan was dropped. We either have to rebuild the engine or replace it. No warning lights other than the Tire Pressure Management System light. Checked VIN to recall list after hearing that this is a common issue with 2016 Pilots, but our VIN is not on the list.
Hello my car has had an ongoing issue that was recalled for the 2009 to 2013 year Honda pilots regarding oil consumption. My car constantly has issues with misfiring due to oil on the spark plugs. This started happening around 90000 miles on my vehicle. After several expensive repairs including having the heads on my engine rebuilt, having the coils replaced and having the cylinder 1 spark plug replaced at least 4 times. My mechanic pointed me to the VCS system in the car which many have complained about causing this issue. When the vehicle exhibits these symptoms it has caused me to lose speed instantly on the highway and the vehicle begins to shake.
The catalytic converter system on my vehicle is failing prematurely due to the vehicle's built-in fuel management and energy-saving computer settings. These settings cause excess fuel to be burned and pushed into the catalytic converter, damaging the unit. In addition, this flaw is causing oil to be pushed out of the car, creating both a mechanical hazard and an environmental concern. This is not the result of poor maintenance or misuse - it is a hazard caused by a design flaw in the system itself.
The valve cover gasket spool valve is leaking oil. Oil appears to be leaking on the alternator causing it to short and die. There is a Honda service bulletin 20-023 which shows 2009-15 pilots having this problem. However, Honda has declined to cover my repair saying my VIN is not covered and my warranty is expired. Sad
In my 2015 pilot I have rod bearing connector that failed,The report says that the engine in all vehicles is the 3.5L V6 that was popular from 2016 through 2020. However , my engine is a 3.5L V6 as well, and it has the same issue. The car has 162K .
While driving in traffic the vehicle suddenly began to sputter and lose power with check engine light flashing on the dash board. I was able to pull over and limp the car the one mile to my home on side streets. I parked the vehicle and called for a tow truck to tow the vehicle to my local dealership that I purchased the car from brand new. This is the third time this failure has occurred. The first occurrence was in October of 2023, the second was in November of 2024. The first two repairs were made at a local independent repair shop in the city of Orange ca. the first occurrence was cylinder 1 and the repair shop indicated that this is a common occurrence in this make and model. The report was a replacement of the spark plug and coil pack as oil was found to be in spark plug chamber. The second occurrence was similar but on a different spark plug (I believe number 2 or 3). …
NHTSA investigations
Engine failure
On November 8, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ24013 to assess the scope of Honda recall 23V-751 after receiving complaints that alleged connecting rod bearing failures in vehicles that were not within the scope of recall 23V-751. In November 2023, Honda recalled 248,999 various Model Year (MY)2016-2020 Honda and Acura vehicles equipped with the 3.5L V6 engine.
Engine complaints in other Pilot years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2015 Honda Pilot?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2015 Honda Pilot, 22% of the model year's 109 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2015 Honda Pilot engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2015 Honda Pilot, though it has 4 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 2015 Honda Pilot engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 55,000 miles, and 18% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire 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.