Honda · Known Issues
2003-2025 Honda Pilot Problems: 42 Known Issues
2003-2025 model years · 10,815+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
All years · All trims · All engines
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2003-2025 model years · 10,815+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
All years · All trims · All engines
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According to Au7o's analysis of 10,815+ owner reports, the 2003-2025 Honda Pilot has 42 documented known issues, with 12 rated critical. The most serious are VCM System Causes Excessive Oil Consumption and Misfires, Fuel Pump Impeller Failure Causing Stalling and No-Start, ZF 9-Speed Transmission Rough Shifting and Hesitation, Brake Master Cylinder Can Separate From Brake Booster, Fuel Injector Debris Causing Misfires and Catalyst Codes, Expensive Timing Belt and Water Pump Replacement Required, Unsecured Driver's Seat From Untightened Cushion Frame — Pilot Recall 24V859 (2023-2024), Auto Idle Stop Engine Fails to Auto-Restart (No-Restart / Stall at Stop) ($0-$400 repair), Automatic Transmission 2nd-Gear Overheating and Torque Converter Failure ($1,800-$4,500 repair), Ignition Switch Internal Wear Causes Intermittent Stall or No-Start ($250-$700 repair), Honda Sensing / Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) Phantom Unintended Braking ($0-$600 repair) and Engine Stall and Power Loss from Mis-Programmed Fuel Injection ECU ($0-$0 repair). The most commonly reported issue is VCM System Causes Excessive Oil Consumption and Misfires with 2,843 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $20 to $4,500. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, which can cause the brake master cylinder to separate from the booster assembly.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Honda Pilot, 2017-2023 Ridgeline, 2019-2023 Passport, and 2014-2020 Acura MDX vehicles that were sold in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. The rear subframe may corrode at the suspension mounting points, which can result in rear suspension component failure.
+ 12 more recalls. Check all on NHTSA.gov
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According to Au7o's analysis of 10,815+ owner reports, the 2003-2025 Honda Pilot has 42 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: VCM System Causes Excessive Oil Consumption and Misfires, Fuel Pump Impeller Failure Causing Stalling and No-Start, ZF 9-Speed Transmission Rough Shifting and Hesitation. Of these, 12 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2003-2025 Honda Pilot has 42 known issues documented across 10,815+ owner reports. 12 issues are rated critical: VCM System Causes Excessive Oil Consumption and Misfires and Fuel Pump Impeller Failure Causing Stalling and No-Start and ZF 9-Speed Transmission Rough Shifting and Hesitation and Brake Master Cylinder Can Separate From Brake Booster and Fuel Injector Debris Causing Misfires and Catalyst Codes and Expensive Timing Belt and Water Pump Replacement Required and Unsecured Driver's Seat From Untightened Cushion Frame — Pilot Recall 24V859 (2023-2024) and Auto Idle Stop Engine Fails to Auto-Restart (No-Restart / Stall at Stop) and Automatic Transmission 2nd-Gear Overheating and Torque Converter Failure and Ignition Switch Internal Wear Causes Intermittent Stall or No-Start and Honda Sensing / Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) Phantom Unintended Braking and Engine Stall and Power Loss from Mis-Programmed Fuel Injection ECU. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Honda Pilot issues range from $0 to $4,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
Reliability varies across model years of the Honda Pilot. Based on documented issues, problems are most commonly reported in earlier model years. Au7o recommends checking the specific known issues for your target year before purchasing, and having a pre-purchase inspection performed by a qualified mechanic. Our known issues database covers the 2003-2025 Honda Pilot with 42 documented issues documented across 10,815+ owner reports.
Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) causes excessive oil consumption (1 quart every 1,000-1,500 miles), engine misfires, and fouled spark plugs. The reciprocating effect creates vacuum that pulls oil past piston rings. Leads to premature failure of spark plugs, catalytic converter… Severity: high.
Honda recalled 2,539,902 vehicles including 2017-2020 Pilot for fuel pump impeller defects. Improperly molded low-density impellers deform over time and interfere with fuel pump body, rendering pump inoperative. Causes difficulty starting, engine stalling while driving, or comple… Severity: high.
The ZF 9HP transmission produces rough and delayed shifting, loud noises during shifting, sudden harsh accelerations/decelerations, jerking/hesitating at all speeds, and loss of power. Problems stem from improper software calibration and electrical connection defects. Honda issue… Severity: high.
Brake master cylinder may have been improperly fastened to brake booster during production, resulting in loose or missing tie rod nuts. Tie-rod studs may break due to bending load when brake pedal pushed, causing master cylinder to separate from booster and loss of braking abilit… Severity: high.
2016-2018 Pilots suffer from debris in direct-injection fuel system causing internal wear or clogging inside injectors. Causes misfire codes (P0300-P0306), catalyst efficiency codes (P219A/B, P0420/P0430), rough idle, and stalling. TSB 20-100 addresses this defect. Honda extended… Severity: high.
3.5L V6 uses timing belt (not chain) that must be replaced every 105,000 miles or 7 years. Timing belt failure causes catastrophic engine damage (bent valves, damaged pistons) costing $3,000-$6,000. Water pump is driven by timing belt and should be replaced simultaneously since l… Severity: high.
A limited number of 2023 and 2024 Honda Pilots are covered by recall 24V859000 because the driver's seat cushion frame may not have been properly tightened. An improperly tightened cushion frame can leave the driver's seat unsecured to the vehicle. Honda filed this as a noncompli… Severity: high.
On third-gen Pilots with the J35Y6 V6 and ZF 9-speed automatic, the Auto Idle Stop (engine stop-start) system shuts the engine off at a stop but the engine then fails to automatically restart when the driver releases the brake, leaving the vehicle dead in traffic and sometimes re… Repairs typically run $0-$400. Severity: high.
Early first-generation Pilot models share a well-documented 5-speed automatic transmission weakness with other Honda/Acura trucks of the era. Honda issued a safety recall to install an oil jet intended to improve lubrication/cooling of second gear because inadequate lubrication c… Repairs typically run $1,800-$4,500. Severity: high.
Early Honda Pilot models had a documented ignition switch failure where internal electrical contacts wear or overheat, interrupting power to the engine management and accessory circuits. Owners report the vehicle stalling while driving, dash lights flickering, or the engine crank… Repairs typically run $250-$700. Severity: high.
Pilots equipped with Honda Sensing exhibit 'phantom braking,' where the Collision Mitigation Braking System applies sudden, hard, unexpected braking when no obstacle is present. Owners report it triggering on overpasses, near oncoming traffic, over bridge shadows, or on open high… Repairs typically run $0-$600. Severity: high.
Fourth-generation Pilots built on the 2023 redesign store P061B when the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) mis-handles a fast throttle transient. Supplier Denso reported to Honda that the settings for the correction control logic of the air flow rate and fuel inject… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
Center console touchscreen goes completely black or becomes unresponsive. Audio/navigation system may enter infinite loop during shutdown that drains battery. Loose fuse connections in 2016 models and software glitches across all years are common. Class action lawsuit includes 20… Severity: medium.
Honda Pilots experience excessive parasitic battery drain (over 80mA) causing dead batteries after 24-48 hours. Common causes include radio/audio staying active when off, Bluetooth module constantly searching, and AC compressor clutch relay sticking on. Normal draw should be 12-3… Severity: medium.
Honda Pilots experience premature wear and failure of Active Control Engine Mounts (ACM), especially front and rear mounts. 2016+ Pilot uses 28-volt ACM system with sensors and actuators that cancel vibration. Rubber and metal components degrade due to heat, oil, and road conditi… Severity: medium.
The Omron A/C clutch relay (Honda part 39794-SDA-A03) is defective and gets hot, causing failure. Honda-specific part with reduced coil current known to be problematic. When relay fails, either battery dies overnight (relay stuck closed) or AC stops working (relay stuck open). Lo… Severity: medium.
AWD Honda Pilots experience rear differential fluid leaks from temperature/pressure sensors, axle seals, and case deterioration. Loose or damaged fluid pressure sensors drip onto axle seals. Some cases involve holes in differential case with extensive aluminum deterioration. Leak… Severity: medium.
First-generation Pilots commonly develop coolant leaks from the plastic radiator end tanks or crimp seams as the radiator ages. Owners often notice a sweet smell, coolant residue on the radiator side tanks, or a gradual drop in coolant level before an overheating event. If ignore… Repairs typically run $400-$900. Severity: medium.
Second-generation Pilots with the 5-speed automatic develop a torque-converter lockup-clutch shudder felt as a brief vibration or 'rumble-strip' shake, typically during light acceleration around 25 mph or while cruising at 55-65 mph when the converter clutch partially engages/sli… Repairs typically run $150-$1,500. Severity: medium.
First-generation Pilots commonly develop worn front compliance bushings and lower control arm bushings, leading to clunking over bumps, vague steering feel, braking instability, and uneven front tire wear. This is widely reported by owners and independent shops because the heavy… Repairs typically run $500-$1,200. Severity: medium.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.