Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 4% | — |
| 2025 | 33 | 15% | 8,000 miles |
| 2024 | 11 | 9% | — |
| 2023 | 13 | 9% | 36,000 miles |
| 2022 | 36 | 22% | 72,000 miles |
| 2021 | 113 | 25% | 68,000 miles |
| 2020 | 104 | 21% | 42,000 miles |
| 2019 | 249 | 27% | 58,000 miles |
| 2018 | 162 | 37% | 90,000 miles |
| 2017 | 487 | 52% | 55,000 miles |
| 2016 | 817 | 48% | 70,000 miles |
| 2015 | 24 | 22% | 55,000 miles |
| 2014 | 33 | 28% | 27,000 miles |
| 2013 | 84 | 31% | 5,000 miles |
| 2012 | 45 | 26% | 15,000 miles |
| 2011 | 36 | 12% | 50,000 miles |
| 2010 | 28 | 25% | 90,000 miles |
| 2009 | 38 | 28% | 90,000 miles |
| 2008 | 17 | 13% | 88,000 miles |
| 2007 | 24 | 11% | 60,000 miles |
| 2006 | 32 | 12% | 100,000 miles |
| 2005 | 90 | 13% | 98,000 miles |
| 2004 | 50 | 9% | 91,000 miles |
| 2003 | 62 | 9% | 100,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2025 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH up a ramp with an incline in the rain and merging onto the freeway, the accelerator pedal was depressed down to the floorboard, but the vehicle hesitated while responding and slowly accelerated. It was unknown whether a warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that it felt like the transmission was slipping. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,435.
Vehicle was driving normally when the engine failed and lost power. The vehicle following nearly rear ended ours. Pulled the car over into a side street and tried to restart with no success. Emission control problem warning displayed. Called road side assistance and had the vehicle towed to the dealer from where it was purchased. Dealer contacted us an told us that the engine had seized an would need a new motor. The vehicle was 7 days old and had 160 miles on it.
recall has been open since December of that year I have documentation that I took it last year to get this recall fix and your web site is stating that it is incomplete. today 11/12 at 7:30am my engine caught on fire there was a lot of witness at the elementary school waving me down that my car was on fire. I panic and got away from the elementary where a lot of kids and families where present and went where there was no one insight and rush and got my set of 2 year old twins and my 3 year old son out there car seats and ran from the car and called 911 the fire department came and put out the fire and I have a report from them as well. now that I remember about this recall I remember it stating that if this recall wasn't fix that it can start a fire so I put two and two together and order my car fax report and seen that this was never completed. and have paper work that it was completed.
When pushing the accelerator there is typically anywhere from a 2 to 5 second delay before the vehicle starts to move. On average the delay is around 2 seconds, but there have been times where trying to pull into traffic the vehicle would not move for approximately 4 to 5 seconds creating a hazard. When the care is moving at higher speeds, the acceleration and gas pedal response is accurate, this only occurs when at a stand still or at very slow speeds. I have taken the car to the dealership to be evaluated and they informed me that the vehicle is operating as it is intended to and the delay is normal. I believe that this acceleration delay is inevitably going to cause an accident because it is difficult to gauge when the care is going to begin moving due to the inconsistent acceleration issue.
The contact owns a 2023 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the engine was making a loud ticking sound. The dealer was contacted about the knocking sound and informed the contact that the sound was normal. The vehicle was taken for an inspection, and the contact was informed that the sound was not normal. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and it was diagnosed with catastrophic engine failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
Car wouldn't go more than 25-30 miles/hour and rpm was at 5-6, had to use blinkers on highway. Luckily there weren't any injuries, i was scared of the situation as I was travelling with my toddler and newborn. After reaching home, car wouldn't reverse. I had shutdown and started the car multiple times before i could reverse. There was smell as if something was burning in the engine. I shutdown the car for 15-20 mins for smell to go away and restarted the car again, that is when check engine light was turned on with warnings about transmission, AWD and emission systems. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Transmission failure, AWD system failure, Emission system failure. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Confirmed by dealer, full diagnostics not available. …
2022 Honda pilot will have engine stall and will not accelerate while in motion. First time it happened was February 2024. Vehicle completely stalled in traffic and would no longer accelerate. Vehicle had to get pushed out of traffic and towed to Honda dealership. Honda service department replaced the transmission saying that was the issue and reason the vehicle engine was stalling. Vehicle has continually stalled but not as severe as the first time throughout the year of 2024. It is now 2025 and vehicle is progressively stalling more frequently. Honda says there is no recall for what is occurring to the 2022 Honda Pilot, but is now having the same engine stalling issue while in motion with their Honda Pilot 2023-2025 models having over 295,000 vehicles involved in a recall reported through National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. -Vehicle is available to inspection upon request. …
The contact owns a 2022 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that after coming to a complete stop, the engine failed to restart with the Auto START/STOP feature engaged, causing the vehicle to stall. The vehicle was manually restarted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Action Number: EA25004 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.
Related recalls (4)
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Hard parts internal/mechanical
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura MDX and Honda Pilot vehicles and 2019 Acura RLX, RLX Sport Hybrid, TLX and Honda Odyssey and Ridgeline vehicles. The timing belt teeth may separate from the belt.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any affected timing belt free of charge. Vehicles receiving a replacement timing belt will also have the engine inspected and any damaged…
Engine
Honda is recalling certain model year 2013 Pilot 2WD and 4WD vehicles and certain model year 2013 Odyssey vehicles. During manufacturing of the engine piston, it is possible that the heat treatment process was not properly applied, resulting in the piston having an insufficient hardness level, making it more susceptible to…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine short block free of charge. The recall began on September 16, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
On certain minivans, sedans, coupes, and sport utility vehicles equipped with v6 engines, a timing belt tensioner pulley on the water pump is misaligned and could cause the timing belt to contact a bolt on the cylinder head. Eventually the belt could be damaged and fail.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the water pump and if it is one of the defective pumps, the water pump and timing belt will be replaced. Owner notification began August 30, 2002.
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 failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 414 reports of connecting rod bearing failures in the 3.5L V6 engine used in the following vehicles: Model Years (MY) 2018-2020 Acura TLX, MY2016-2020 Acura MDX, MY2016-2020 Honda Pilot, MY2018-2020 Honda Odyssey, and MY2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline. The subject engine failures were analyzed as part of a Recall Query (RQ24013).
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
On June 3, 2022, the O ce of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several eld reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a tra c light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged.
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
On June 3, 2022, the O ce of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several eld reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a tra c light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged.
Frequently asked questions
Which Honda Pilot years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2016 (817), 2017 (487), 2019 (249), 2018 (162) and 2021 (113) model years. Engine complaints make up 48% of all complaints for the 2016.
Is there a recall for Honda Pilot engine problems?
Yes — 4 recalls, including 23V-751 (hard parts internal/mechanical, Nov 13, 2023); 19V-298 (belts and associated pulleys, Apr 12, 2019); 13V-382 (engine, Aug 27, 2013). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Honda Pilot engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 68,000 miles; 35% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine (27 mentions), followed by the cooling system (7).
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.